FYI

Apr 08, 2008 11:19

To everyone who, over the last several years, has wondered aloud (well-intentioned or otherwise) why I never got my teeth fixed:

WITH INSURANCE, this is costing me $10,000.

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zevhonith April 8 2008, 18:37:46 UTC
Yeah, that's pretty much more money than I've ever spent on anything. It's more than all the cars I've ever bought, put together. It's more than I paid to get my spine fixed. :P

Today, though, it's just making me irritated at the large number of people over the years who have strongly urged me to get my teeth fixed, as though it was the easiest thing in the world to do and they just couldn't understand why I wouldn't do it.

It's okay, though. :) It's not that it's not worth it. It's just a lot.

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punzel April 8 2008, 18:46:47 UTC
I was out of the dental care loop for some years, and when I returned, a dentist recommended that I have 19 things done, to the tune of about $14,000. I got a second opinion. Three things. Under $2,000 total.

With that kind of money, unless you're really sure. . .it might be worth $50-$100 just to get a second opinion for a comparative consultation. I'm glad I did.

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zevhonith April 8 2008, 18:49:49 UTC
I'm really sure. This is not the cost for what was recommended, it's the cost for what I asked for. I had major known problems that had to be addressed, and there's no way to get them done without major work.

And I'm scared enough that even if I'm paying the high end of the scale for the work that's being done (which I suspect I am), it's worth it for the level of care, attention, and compassion I'm receiving.

I *really* appreciate the thought, though. :)

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djsparkydog April 8 2008, 20:18:37 UTC
Yup, I feel you. You know what sort of shape my teeth are in, and I'm looking at middle stage peredontitis (6k!) to fix.

What really ticks me off is that growing up, my family was relatively well off, and we had extremely comprehensive dental care. My mom had always taken us to the dentist, because my dad didn't like to, and after the divorce, we basically just stopped going to the dentist.

Being a kid at the time, I was thrilled to not have to go to the dentist. Now, if I could travel back in time, I'd punch me and my Dad right in the nuts for letting me go 6 years without so much as a checkup.

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zevhonith April 8 2008, 20:27:06 UTC
Yeah, I know the feeling. In retrospect, I was covered under my mom's insurance (even though I wasn't living with her) until well after the time that my teeth started seriously degrading. It's one of the reasons why I think of my teeth as being one of my adolescent mistakes that I want to resolve before I turn 30. :(

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_wirehead_ April 9 2008, 18:22:10 UTC
being as i'm spending $900 (AFTER insurance) tomorrow to get the wisdom teeth out, i totally believe it.

i had braces as a teen, too, and i know my parents paid some ridiculous amount of money for that.

someday i'd like to get my missing tooth replaced with an implant, but the last time i got an estimate on that, it was considered "cosmetic" and thus not covered AT ALL. >:(

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_wirehead_ April 9 2008, 18:23:30 UTC
oops, i think i just replied in a thread as opposed to replying to the entry, which is what i meant to do. your style is lovely but the threading is difficult to decipher. :)

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zevhonith April 9 2008, 18:24:53 UTC
Sorry. :)

But yes, it seems that hardly anything is actually covered by insurance, aside from the most standard procedures.

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