I hate bills

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2005
I hate bills
7
Wed, 04-19-2006 - 9:24pm
Hi I got home tonight and picked up the mail. My DH dentist bill was there. He had one filling last week and one yesterday. The bill for the first filling was 248.00. After the insurance pays their part I still owe 164.00. Now my plan says 80% they will pay for fillings but my DH's dentist will not use the type that the insurance will cover. I had 95.00 saved towards the bill. I thought that would cover what the insurance didn't. I am working on EF but not to good yet. I have 750.00 saved for our summer camping so guess I will have to take the balance out of that. Atleast it will not go on my CC. Next is the bill for yesterday I am afraid to see that come. Am wodering if it is time to change dentist. He will not let you pay over time it is cash or CC. (you should see his car) I swear he is the most expensive one in town.

over 40 and tired

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Wed, 04-19-2006 - 9:36pm
I would switch dentists if he won't use the filling material that your insurance pays for. I think he must you the type that matches the color of the tooth and your insurance pays for the old fashioned dark fillings, am I right? I certainly don't care if my fillings showed or not and if the difference was insurance paying or not I would find a dentist that would make the fillings that the insurance pays for.
Pam

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Wed, 04-19-2006 - 10:15pm
Hi, OVer 40---I agree- I think it's time to shop around for dentists. My dentist gave me an estimate of what it would cost to make my smile look great. Mind you, this was for veneers of porcelain or some kind of overlay. He "drilled" into me how great they would look, etc. The amount? Over $22,000! I do have a lot more work to get done, (replace fillings, etc.), but I just did the basics--whitening, cleaning, scaling, etc. At some point, I realized I was paying for all that up-to-date equipment (nice), but it's certainly not work $22K to get the veneers! Am looking around, also. Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Thu, 04-20-2006 - 2:32pm
I hear you on the dental bills. I just wonder where they really think the $$$ is going to come from. I agree you should check and see exactly what kind of fillings the insurance pays for -- maybe they will pay partially on the more wonderful kind of filling material your dentist want to use??
Just an idea.
Megan
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Thu, 04-20-2006 - 2:57pm

And when you switch, tell him WHY--that he costs too much.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2002
Thu, 04-20-2006 - 5:21pm

Whiz - $22k??????? That dentist is CRAZY. You've got to be kidding me!

And for Over40, I can't imagine what filling he is using that the dental plan doesn't cover - gold perhaps????!! Like the door handles on his car!

I think the silver fillings are usually for the back teeth, for larger cavaties and they are to last 15-20 years. The white filling is a composite I believe and for smaller cavaties in more noticeable areas and last only 5 years. I had a composite done wrong on a large cavity in my back tooth and 2 years later they had to redo it (different dentist - wonderful guy, payment plans, no issues) and they used the silver - cheaper, sturdier and lasts longer. But to have the same tooth done in that short time - I paid on both fillings and it irked me! I firmly believe a good dentist should go over these things with the patient and let the patient be part of the decision. But insurance should cover both types of fillings I thought so it makes me wonder about this guy...

I've also had a dentist insist I needed a root canal in my 20s when it was a cavity that could be drilled out - I think she wanted more money. Its a greedy world out there! Good luck dumping this guy fast.

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 04-20-2006 - 5:29pm

I know that feeling!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 04-20-2006 - 6:25pm
Hi IDP--Yep, you read correctly--$22,000!!! It would be veneers for each tooth--about $1200/tooth---I personally want to get another opinion about fillings, etc.,. DH just about went in orbit when he saw the estimate for this. I am saving to get the fillings done, and some work on a crown, but am definitely going to check out someone else. Whiz.