Very_Boring_Name
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:17 PM
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Has anyone here ever had to get a wisdom tooth pulled, but been unable to afford it? |
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I'm 23 and no longer on my parent's dental insurance, one of my wisdom teeth is coming in all wrong and its INCREDIBLY painful. I have no insurance, and NO money.
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Iris
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:19 PM
Response to Original message |
1. You could try going to the emergency room |
SheilaT
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
14. Emergency rooms are not dental clinics. |
Iris
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Sun Apr-10-11 07:42 AM
Response to Reply #14 |
45. removing an impacted wisdom tooth is a surgical procedure |
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And with no insurance, this could be one of the options.
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ReturnoftheDjedi
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:19 PM
Response to Original message |
2. you can get on your parent's insurance until you're 26 now because of Healthcare Reform. |
pnwmom
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:20 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
K8-EEE
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Sat Apr-09-11 06:56 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
28. Unfortunately it doesn't include dentistry |
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Or vision. But I'm really happy my 20 year old can be on our policy after college graduation this June!
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boston bean
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #28 |
31. getting wisdon teeth pulled is under medical insurance. it's surgery. nt |
K8-EEE
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Sat Apr-09-11 08:25 PM
Response to Reply #31 |
37. My daughter's last week was paid thru Delta Dental. |
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Edited on Sat Apr-09-11 08:25 PM by K8-EEE
our dental ins, although I notice they didn't pay the anesthesia so I guess I have to submit that part to med ins. We had to pay $380 per tooth up front & got reimbursed 80% $307/per tooth.
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dflprincess
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Sat Apr-09-11 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #31 |
40. That's often only true if the tooth is completely impacted |
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if even a corner has poked through the gum the health insurance company will call it dental, not medical.
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pnwmom
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:19 PM
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3. Someone I know had extensive dental work at a University's Dental School. |
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A student dentist did the work, under the supervision of a faculty member. It was free.
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Cronus Protagonist
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:22 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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Edited on Sat Apr-09-11 04:23 PM by Cronus Protagonist
Had fillings, crowns, braces and so on at UCLA's dental school. The work was passable and the most important thing is that the pain stops and the problem is solved. It's not free there, but if what you need is part of a student's test matter, you can get it done free.
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a la izquierda
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:23 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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If you leave near a university that has a MD/DD program, you can get it done there. You may have to wait a bit, though.
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formernaderite
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:43 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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used them years ago myself. I had a painful wisdom tooth for years.... also no money. Unless you have an abscess... it won't kill ya.
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soleft
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Sat Apr-09-11 05:49 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
26. Me too - had 3 pulled |
MilesColtrane
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:39 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
33. If the tooth is impacted, an oral surgeon is required to remove it. |
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You won't find one at a dental school, as they are required to have four years of surgical residency after they graduate.
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dflprincess
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Sat Apr-09-11 09:29 PM
Response to Reply #33 |
42. I had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed at the U of Minnesota's dental school |
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though that was a long time ago. At the time I was told that because they used a general anesthesia an oral surgery resident had to do the procedure (apparently someone with less experience could have done it it I hadn't been put under).
Surgical residents need people to practice on too.
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JVS
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:21 PM
Response to Original message |
5. My brother had a similar situation. |
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He filed down the tooth himself.
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pnwmom
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:23 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
9. Ugh -- but that won't work with an impacted wisdom tooth. /t |
JVS
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:26 PM
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15. It depends on how it's impacting. |
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In my brother's case, the teeth were hitting above the gum line.
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Ed Suspicious
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:21 PM
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6. It's getting rarer all the time, but some dentists will set up payment plans in house. |
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Most of the time now they would have you seek financing from a bank or maybe they have sources of outside financing. Ask your dentist about the options. An emergency surgical extraction may be something the emergency room could help with otherwise search for free dental clinics in your area. I once used a service like that. I was basically a dentist who did pro bono work at a school once or twice per month.
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bluestate10
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Sat Apr-09-11 08:41 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
39. My dentist has a payment plan. The financing is minimal. |
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It seems to be a good deal for people that are unemployed or have limited capacity to pay large bills with a check or credit card.
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Cleita
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:21 PM
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7. Try to find a dental school in your area. |
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Some do sliding scale fees according to what you can afford. You will have a student work on you, but it will be under the supervision of an experienced dentist/teacher.
I had mine removed with pliers by my dentist and they cost $10 each and that was fifty years ago. However, I don't recommend it. Although if you are close to Mexico you might be able to get them removed for a lesser cost than here in the USA as well.
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htuttle
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:23 PM
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11. Tried stopping in at any public hospital ERs yet? |
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They don't do teeth (and will tell you so), but if you think you also have an infection of any kind (additional swelling, etc...), they will set you up with some antibiotics and possibly a prescription for some halfway decent pain pills. It might help you get through it, anyway.
The only other solution I can think of is looking around for a dental school (we have one in a tech college nearby). They often provide very inexpensive dental care done by their students (and supervised by a real dentist, usually...).
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pinto
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:23 PM
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12. Might try contacting a dental school, if there's one near by. Years ago I had work |
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done at Tuft's for very little $. Student did a great job and the work was supervised by a licensed dental instructor. Or, contact the local professional dental association and ask for ideas / leads / resources. Good luck. :hi:
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Rex
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:24 PM
Response to Original message |
13. I had all my wisdom teeth yanked out at once in the Army. |
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Edited on Sat Apr-09-11 04:25 PM by Rex
Bled like a stuck pig for 2 weeks. Sadly, that is the only way I know to get it done for free.
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Lasher
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:30 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
19. I had one done in the Army. |
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They certainly didn't worry about being gentle. Looks like they haven't changed any.
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littlewolf
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Sat Apr-09-11 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
25. yep navy boot camp all four .... |
WorseBeforeBetter
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:26 PM
Response to Original message |
16. No. My father was a county government employee with... |
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excellent medical benefits (although he didn't make that much money). Are you anywhere near a university with a dental school? How to Receive Inexpensive Dental Care at an Accredited Dental Schoolhttp://www.ehow.com/how_4697556_dental-care-accredited-dental-school.htmlIsn't your dentist willing to work out a payment plan for you? Hope you find some relief soon.
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david13
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:27 PM
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17. Not me, but a neighbor. But some of the other neighbors took up |
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a collection, and gave him some work to do, and lent him some money, and drove him over to get it done. dc
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appleannie1
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:29 PM
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18. I have gone to a dental school to have work done on my teeth, as did both my brothers. |
girl gone mad
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:40 PM
Response to Original message |
20. The oral surgeon who removed mine gave me a big discount. |
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I was an uninsured student at the time.
You can try calling different offices to see if they are willing to work with you on a payment plan and/or reduce their fees.
Others mentioned contacting a local dental school, which is also an option.
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Demeter
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:45 PM
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22. I took one daughter to the Dental School At U of M |
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because she had 3 impacted teeth. It cost about $30.
Her sister had only one impacted tooth, and I had enough money to cover it, about $200. There is a discount program called Dentemax which can help you stretch what money you have--look it up on the web. You need a dentist that accepts the plan. A regular dentist is less time-consuming than a dental school.
Some dental schools have faculty providing services, too, a little less likely to bring bad work. If it's not a filling, but an extraction, there's less chance of serious complications and bad work.
Your parents should be able to get you coverage through age 26 for medical, under the new healthcare rules. I'm not sure if it applies to dental. Ask!
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uberblonde
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:52 PM
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23. There's some kind of grant money for that. |
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They told me at the University of Penn dental school clinic. Maybe they have it near you, too.
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JVS
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Sat Apr-09-11 04:58 PM
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24. You might want to PM PCIntern about this. He works in that field. |
REP
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Sat Apr-09-11 05:59 PM
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27. For a while, I had no dental insurance but a discount dental plan through my credit union |
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When I needed a tooth extracted, I used that plan, and while I did pay all the cost up front out of pocket, it was $86.00 and the oral surgeon was excellent. The cost of the discount plan was very low - under $100 per year - and it worked well for me until I finally got dental insurance again.
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jberryhill
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:11 PM
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29. I'll also chime in on dental schools |
Trekologer
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:12 PM
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30. I had all of mine removed last year and the medical insurance covered it |
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The dental insurance covered the visit to the surgeon for the consultation but the medical insurance covered the actual extractions. My medical and dental is with separate companies.
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Greybnk48
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:22 PM
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32. Yes. I made an appointment for a consultation with a |
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Dentist a friend recommended and told him I had no insurance. I asked what the total cost would be and if he would agree to my paying for it in monthly installments. He agreed and we went ahead. You could try that. There are a lot of nice professionals out there who will work with you when you're stuck. Especially if you're up front about your plight.
I stayed with him for 27 years until he retired, and I still miss him. Best Dentist in the world.
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csziggy
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:47 PM
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34. Check with the local health department - they may be able to refer you |
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My dentist does pro bono work for people who really need it and can't afford it. The patients find him through the local health department. Apparently there are a number of local dentists who donate their work so no one dentist is overloaded.
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ThoughtCriminal
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:51 PM
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35. My former neighbor went to Mexico for dental work |
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Not wisdom teeth, but major dental work. Living not too far from Nogales made it practical.
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JI7
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Sat Apr-09-11 07:59 PM
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36. how much does it cost ? can you maybe work out a payment plan ? |
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i know we had some payment plan when i got braces. paid a bit every month directly to the orthodontist.
they might be able to come up with something that works for you.
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bluestate10
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Sat Apr-09-11 08:36 PM
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38. Dental offices offer payment plans that are sized to a patient's ability to pay. |
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I frequently see my dentist, who seems to be a wonderful person, route patients that can't afford to pay to the plan that her office offers. I once saw a patient show up in pain, could not pay, but was put into treatment to fix the dental problem as I was leaving the office. Call around to dental offices. As long as you make a good faith effort to pay, there are likely many that will get you onto payment plans.
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lunatica
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Sat Apr-09-11 09:29 PM
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41. Try going to a dental school |
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Only people with experience and close to graduating do serious stuff. You may have to pay but it won't be much. I paid $35 a while back.
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southernyankeebelle
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Sat Apr-09-11 09:36 PM
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43. Some dental offices have a plan where you can make payments. |
Jack Sprat
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Sat Apr-09-11 09:46 PM
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44. What about a severe 'root canal'? |
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I never thought about it, but that deep nerve pain could make someone think about suicide if there wasn't any relief. Never felt a sudden pain so bad in my life. I wish you hadn't made me think about this, but I guess there are cases like this all the time. I pray some emergency room would have the sympathy to take the tooth out or give someone enough pain meds until a dentist could do it.
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