OT -- Expensive dental problem (VERY off-topic)

This does have something to do with music, yep, cuz it's about a smile and a smile is important to someone on stage!

I have rotten teeth. A mouthful of fillings. I admit, I have neglegted these rotten teeth for years, even decades. Catching up with me. So, now, I have issues that I must address and it involves root canals and crowns and bridges. But, there are cosmetic issues that are hugely important to me. To fix all of this... $23,000. I knew it would be huge, I predicted at least $20k.

So, I went to a local dentist that has a decent reputation but I know zero about him. My question is... $23k... even if I don't spend that much... say, I spend $12k... still a lot of money. But, I am wondering about going to a cosmetic dental specialist. How much worse could it be than $23k? That amount is to take care of all that needs to be done, plus, the cosmetic issues. The cosmetic issues are more than the must-do stuff. But, it's something I want to do. I just want to get the best results. At age 58, hopefully, this would last me the rest of my life.

OTOH, I could be like my brother and get them all pulled and have dentures. Which he NEVER wears, and he got them five years ago. I am not kidding, he never wears them. Six grand down the toilet and he looks terrible. Toothless. Never thought I'd see a brother of mine like that. Talk about not give a damn!

Anyone know anything about dentistry? Wondering about second opinion or going to a cosmetic specialist. (I really have no clue about this recent dentist's skills.) Guys who go to Nashville and end up with perfect, Hollywood smiles, no telling how much that costs. I suspect those are implants, picture perfect.

Go get a second, third fourth, and fifth opinion......also try the dental college in your area and discuss your problems with some dentists in the know....
good luck.

Yes, what DNJ said. Get more opinions. Ask Dr. Matt Hollis (our golfing buddy). Also ask Ricky Fox.
DonM

I have been all through this years of neglect business years ago. I took the practical approach, as money was tight but I had to do something when one of my front teeth fell out.

I went to a local dentist for advice, and he advised me to pull all my remaining teeth except for my eye teeth, and fit a full upper and a partial anchored to the eye teeth, which he did a root canal on.

First of all, it saved me a ton of money, not counting future trips to the dentist.

Secondly, the biggest disadvantage of having dentures is the lower plate shifting. Even if you eye teeth are not saveable, you can put in two implants.

I know it is best to keep your natural teeth to a certain extent, but if they are too far gone, that is what I would do.

Just because your brother didn't wear his, doesn't mean you have to.

I have had mine for thirty years.

Bernie

I've been through much of this during the past 20 years--it's all very expensive. The crowns are pretty much a stop-gap procedure that will cost you a fortune. And, eventually, they'll all end up breaking off. Crowns in this part of the world go for about $700 to $900 per tooth.

Miniature implants and dentures seem to be the latest craze. The implants are nothing more than metal posts screwed into the jaw to snap the dentures to. The implants average about $3,000 each (which is utterly ridiculous) many reports of infections, and sometimes may require bone grafts in order to support them.

Dentures here go for about $1,500 per denture, total about $3,000. More often than not they won't fit worth a damned, have to be resurfaced as your gums shrink, and some folks just cannot seem to wear them with any degree of comfort.

Our dearly departed friend Pose had all kinds of problems with dentures, eventually went to a dental school and had new impressions made. He said they were the least expensive and best fitting dentures he ever had. He said they were just like having his reel teeth in his mouth, and for the most part they were difficult to remove. I asked him if he had noticed any problems singing with them. He chuckled and said "No. I couldn't sing prior to getting dentures and I still can't!"

Go the dental school route - I could save you a lot of grief. Be sure, however, to go to a dental school affiliated with a major university - that's where the best of the best usually teach.

Good Luck,

Gary

HEalth insurance in holland covers most of the dental costs, as long as you have a yearly checkup (which is covered too)

I have lots of dental work, including root canals, crowns, bridges, etc., but they were done as needed. It would be scary to figure the total cost.

Several problems were caused by an unethical dentist doing root canals and leaving the drill he used in the tooth; then capping it. He did that to over 300 patients.

My youngest son works for Pepsi, is afraid of dentists and drinks way too much of the product. He has had over $10,000.00 of dental work done the last two years and is not done yet (he stops every year when he uses up his dental insurance benefits and then waits for the next year).

MAKE SURE YOU DO SOMETHING ASAP! I just finished a training film for University of Kentucky dental professor to be used to train Nursing Assistants to do dental care at nursing homes. As you probably know, dental care is virtually non-existant at nursing homes, even though it is required by Federal Law. Dental problems are the start of lots of other issues, including pneumonia, heart failure, and lots of other bad things...the kinds of things that kill people.

A year after I had my botched root canal, I was so exhausted I couldn't walk from my car to my classroom (about 300 yards).
I was in a constant state of exhaustion and sweat.

I finally found out that it was the result of the infection resulting from the botched dental work, which hid the problem.

Whether it's pulling the teeth or correcting the problems, it needs to be done as soon as possible to eliminate the possibility of terrible things happening-health-wise.

There is STILL a possibility that I may eventually have some negative effects of the botched work.


Be healthy, everyone,

Russ

A friend of mine, who is dirt poor, smokes three packs of cigs a day and a chronic alcoholic, had three strokes recently. (Says he changed his ways... only drinking a fifth/day and smoking one pack/day.) Got admitted and they said he needed a valve in his heart. First, they pulled five teeth and he didn't have very many to spare. They were infected.

As for me, I'm nothing near that bad.

One of my concerns is the dentists wants to crown one tooth of mine that I think... he might could do a filling. This molar used to have a filling but it fell out. He says it can't be fixed now except to crown it. Hmmmm... makes me wonder.

The other thing I wonder about is the main cosmetic thing I want fixed is my front teeth on bottom. A couple have gotten very out of line, one especially, over the years. I used to have perfect teeth but in those days, the orthodontist did not prescribe wearing a retainer forever, but only for about a year. Over 40 years, my teeth moved. Anyway, to fix this one tooth jutting out, he wants to pull it and one next to it, and I think that is mandatory. But then, he wants to crown two on each side of that (four) and then anchor the bridge to the outside (canines). Hmmm... obviously, as a layman, I know nothing of dentistry but I wonder why he has to crown and anchor to the canines. I wonder why he couldn't use the ones inside that. Which would save me two crowns... over two thousand saved right there.

As for going to a dental school... hmmm... how does one do that? Just call 'em up and say, Hey, can I get an appointment? And, I also wonder about a youngster practicing on me. I do want it done right. I don't relish the thought of a do-over.

The best dental payment we ever made was helping our son through dental school ... that probably cost more than getting dental work, but at least I trust my dentist ...

LOL! Tony. My daughter's an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. I don't think there's a lot she can do for me. :-)

Bill,

Sounds like the guy is a con artist who's out to make some big bucks off of you. Get a second and third opinion and don't tell the new guys that you already saw someone else. I've done that a few times and you would be amazed at the difference in opinions--especially if you tell them that you don't have much of an income, no insurance and you would have to make small, monthly payments. That crown will likely become a filling that will last another 20 years, and those extractions, well, they really sound suspect to me.

Give me a call when you have time,

Gary

I would hope NOT !!!

Hi,
wow that's a lot of money.
I actually broke one of my front teeth about 10 years ago on a piece of walnut shell.
$5K to get an implant, but I'm ever so glad my husband insisted I get it done rather than the cheaper option of a bridge or partial denture.

Over here they seem to be advertising getting a beautiful smile, overnight. Definately involves an implant plus I imagine dentures. I'm guessing that the implants hold the dentures permanently in place ( or something)

I'd be checking the various options out thoroughly before spending $23K.

I went to the dentist last week to have two wisdom teeth fitted I am still posting on SZ they didn't work, going for my money back next week..heeeeeeeeee

Bill,

Take a little trip to Mexico. You'll have a little vacation and save a ton of money.

Tom

There are great medical people south of the U.S. border with
Mexico..... You can stay in El Paso, TX and take the transportation into Mexico for dental/doctor appointments. Passport is necessary....

If you are in an RV there are places to park and probably many in the area who will refer you to good dentists, who may speak American!

Tom is correct, a TON of money can be saved....

I have had other people mention Mexico, as well. I know one thing, I doubt I would ever again go to the interior of Mexico, too dangerous. A border town, maybe. Then there is the issue of finding a recommended dentist. I am sure you could save a bunch with as much work as I am talking about.

The boarder towns are the worst. Stay out of Ciudad Juarez (boarder with El Paso) Take a plain to Mexico City. The violence is among the drug cartels. Just use common sense and you'll be fine in most of Mexico.

Not only that, but it will take many visits to accomplish all of this if you are not going the denture route.

Hi Guys,
gosh , you guys are scaring me. My son's travelling thru Mexico at the moment , sure hope he knows what he's doing.
Hearing about all those dumped bodies was horrid.
He tends to pick some pretty wayout places when he goes overseas.
Be glad when he rings & tells us he's back travelling thru the USA.

Bill ... Stay in the US, get good treatment and spend the extra money ... you'll only lose it to DonM on the golf course anyway ...

Bill, move to Holland

I'm not sure Bill meets the "yearly checkup" criteria ...

Bill I've been to a dental school twice. It was very clean and professional. I would assume you would not have a greenhorn doing the work that you need. They only do cleaning etc. You would get someone near geaduation with experience. The instructors were always within 10 to 12 feet of the chair that I was in. Most people are vain like me and will wear their teeth. If you are vain you will wear yours.

I started with a one tooth denture when I was twelve. It got knocked out during gym class. I've had to have teeth added over the years and every time it took a few weeks to get use to them. You just have to do it. You just don't walk around the house all day without them and just try to wear them to go out for a few hours. Hey you gotta be tough to get old. You didn't look like a whimp to me at the jam when I was there. You can do it friend.

Go visit the school and talk to them. My wife called and made an appointment the same as calling a dentist to make an appointment. You've got nothing to lose by a vist.