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eneka t1_j5lra23 wrote

Sounds about right. I signed up for Delta Dental @$40/m for additional coverage. Crown for $750ish out of pocket with that.

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SSSS_car_go t1_j5lshde wrote

I’ve had three, I don’t have dental insurance, and they are always expensive. I assume that includes a root canal? There are different levels or severities of work that is needed, in my experience, and one size doesn’t fit all. You could

  • ask your dentist if there is any way to reduce their price,
  • call around to other dentists with clinical details from the written estimate your dentist gave you,
  • call dental schools to see if they offer root canals and/or crowns,
  • or consider traveling to another country for dental work. I’ve known people who were very happy with work they got in Mexico, with top notch equipment and US-trained dentists. Worth it for less than $1,000? Maybe not, but it’s something to consider.
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keyjan t1_j5lusgv wrote

Crowns are running $1200-1500, depending on whether it's a ceramic or porcelain with fine metal margin. As the snail notes, call around and check prices. Just make sure a new dentist isn’t going to want to do a full exam on you and charge you for that, too.

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GetReadyToRumbleBar t1_j5lx420 wrote

Doesn't Howard offer free and discounted dental services at their school of dentistry? Maybe something to look into.

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messmaker523 t1_j5lzrpc wrote

Crown is considered cosmetic. It would be almost free to pull it.

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webbmoncure t1_j5lzzk7 wrote

Replying to SSSS_car_go (#1,458,155)

Good point. Last month I went to Guatemala City to a super modern dentist’s office with better equipment and facilities than I’ve seen here. He spoke perfect English and was educated at a well known US dental school. I had extensive work done under sedation (a licensed anesthesiologist works from the office) for hundreds vs the thousands I would pay here in DC. My wife has had a root canal and crowns done by him. I will go back for my regular appointments there and will have typical / regular dental work and check ups there.

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MarinaPinotLover t1_j5m5ukd wrote

My dental insurance covered 50% and that's about what I paid in my DC dentist office. For years, I went to a family friend's office in PG County...I ended up paying the same and waiting a lot longer for everything since they're a smaller office, so it doesn't seem like you're being overcharged.

I've had a few expensive issues in the past few years and would seriously consider medical tourism for anything more than a root canal.

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Excellent_Insect_270 t1_j5mb5mh wrote

I went to a downtown DC dentist for about 8 years… that price sounds about right. I have pretty decent dental insurance too :/

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MarinaPinotLover t1_j5mdnx7 wrote

Replying to webbmoncure (#1,458,855)

Totally agree that this is an option worth considering. I would've considered it, but (and I don't know if this is the case for everyone) every time I've needed a root canal it's been sudden intense pain that I had to to schedule an emergency appointment for

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grey-canary t1_j5mew28 wrote

Had a similar situation recently - after hours on the phone I learned that insurances have a 'contracted rate' with in-newtork offices. These are pre-determined and they can't charge you more.

I would ask the dentristy for the 'code' assigned to that procedure (They have to have one in order to bill the insurance company). Then call your insurance and ask for the "contracted rate".

In my case, the office over charged me and ended up refunding me the difference.

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Zwillium t1_j5mgbbl wrote

Traveling to Mexico (cheap flight + 2 or 3 night hotel + dental work) might be cheaper.

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noideawhatisup t1_j5mh0em wrote

That sadly sounds pretty accurate. Dental and vision insurance need to be treated as regular health insurance (which needs to be fixed and run way better). Gum disease can lead to heart disease! It’s all connected. Freaking lobbyists.

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tunamelts2 t1_j5mk4v2 wrote

$900 is a “steal”…welcome to the American healthcare system

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FennelSuperb7633 t1_j5mkxun wrote

Not a joke. My wife went to consult on a bridge today. They recommended 3 crowns, $4K also with 50% coinsurance.

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FennelSuperb7633 t1_j5mln9i wrote

Replying to tunamelts2 (#1,460,695)

To be fair, dental is worse in other countries that I’ve lived in. I paid the same in Italy as I would have paid here, and it took me a year to get into dentist on the NHS in the UK, so I paid out of pocket there too. Oh In Italy, I had to pay cash to get that price and the dentist were definitely not as advanced as we have here. No one in Italy is making crowns in the back with 3d printers, like my dentist here does.

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Usernameistaken00 t1_j5mpxuj wrote

sounds slightly high, but maybe inflation is catching up at the dentist too. my last one was $1500 2 years ago ($750 after 50% insurance coverage). don't grind your teeth or bite anything hard with that tooth, if you crack the root an impant will run you close to $4-5k

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earth-to-matilda t1_j5mq0kj wrote

my practice is somewhere in montgomery county. my crown fee is $1600.

i discount that pretty heavily for cash patients

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throwaway6308 t1_j5mvfxu wrote

Sadly yes, that’s what I paid even with 50% insurance.

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ehtooh t1_j5mw79t wrote

Dental in the U.S. is terrible. I try to get mine done abroad when I can, it’s sometimes 1/10th of the cost OOP there and depending on your insurance you can actually bill them for what you paid abroad. But yes sadly, that seems about right.

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Lost-Cheesecake-90 t1_j5nau9d wrote

This is about average for 50% coverage. Cost fluctuates if you need a build-up, porcelain/ceramic or metal based are less expensive than high noble metals.

In office crowns may differ slightly.

But a few offices will try to eat some of that cost.

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rosewoodpilot t1_j5ognoa wrote

As someone once described it, in America, teeth are considered "luxury bones".

You didn't go to Tend did you?

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keyjan t1_j5op0nu wrote

Replying to EastoftheCap (#1,458,624)

When I finally had to get a root canal, I thought, “Well, hey, I didn’t have any plans for my next paycheck anyway...” and I was flabbergasted when the insurance covered the whole thing.

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DCGreatDane t1_j5pt2c7 wrote

Dude I ended up paying $3200 for a crown and dental work all because of a gummy bear. Yes it broke my tooth and had to have special surgery and a crown.

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realNoahMC t1_j5qnvry wrote

Go to Mexico for dental and vision if you can

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Yithar t1_j5rhxwu wrote

Replying to born_to_kvetch (#1,476,996)

> I wonder if insurance would cover dental exams if you have a heart condition? 🤔

It's possible. Dental exam is usually provided free for transplant as an insurance benefit, as in checking that your oral hygiene is good enough for transplant.

I do know that wisdom teeth extraction can be covered by medical insurance.

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