I need three teeth pulled.
My teeth right now are just a little crowded, so there should be minimal surgical work required.
I reside in Illinois.
No dental insurance.
I am 19.

How much, with all these factors taken into account, how much should braces (and other procedures) cost in total? (Ballpark estimates are good–I know this type of thing varies from individual to individual)
No other work is required (i.e, no crowns, bridges, or cavities filled)

My teeth are falling apart. Its mostly genetics and from being pregnant. The last dentist I went to said that it would cost anywhere between ,000-,000 to fix my teeth as they were then. They are hurting now and two of them need crowns. I have exposed roots. I need to go somewhere I can get help!! I just got dental insurance through work but they won’t cover anything other than cleanings for the first year. I think I still have about 9-11 more months to go. Please Help!!!

I asked this question earlier this month and the answers went into voting before I got a chance to thank the people who helped me with their replies. I wanted to let you know the outcome to my situation. To summarize my original question: My dentist stated I needed a porcelain crown that would cost 00. I asked if there were any alternatives, and he said no because the silver amalgam was leaking. My insurance would cover 0. The office manager said I should not delay too long to get the crown done or else I could end up needing a root canal.

I decided to look for more affordable dental treatments, and considered the dental school where the crown would cost 0. I asked for a copy of the x-rays, and the office manager at the dentist’s office seemed upset and asked me if I was going for a second opinion, and also didn’t want to give me the copy, but to directly send the x-rays to the second dentist. I told her I didn’t have a second dentist set up yet.
In the end, this is what happened: After I read all your responses, I felt better about the possibility of leaving my original dentist. I especially appreciated the yahoo answerer who said something was troubling about the way the front desk at my dentist’s office was upset when I asked for the x-rays. The friends and colleagues I spoke with in Boston believed that the 00 fee was too high. I called the dental insurance office and explained my situation to the insurance lady who took pity on my situation and told me she had two crowns done at the dental school. She provided the name of her crown specialist and also the name of the head manager of the dental school’s appointment office. She told me to call the head manager and ask her for an opinion on a great crown specialist, and to mention that I had talked to her.
The school’s mgr booked an appt for me w/ a specialist she liked.

The office that wanted to charge 00 called me to see what my status was. I said the dentist is a great person and doctor, and under different financial circumstances, I would do the crown there, but right now, I couldn’t afford his fee. The dentist’s office said I would be given a personal courtesy of 10%. I expressed my thanks + appreciation for the generous + kind offer, + stated that I already had an appt booked for a 2nd opinion.

Two days ago, I had the consultation at the school. She said she would not recommend a crown because the original amalgam + leakage was in a small area. A crown would require that a large portion of good tooth would be drilled whereas a white composite filling would preserve most of the tooth. An hour later, the tooth was done + the work was exquisite, looking much like crown work. Insurance covered 100%. So I thank the yahoo answerers for all your wisdom!
There are several lessons to my story for patients + doctors. For patients: if something doesn’t seem right, even if you have had the same doctor for years, don’t be afraid to change. I was worried sick for days about how I was going to pay for the crown. For dentists: at times, it doesn’t pay to charge very high fees or to push an expensive treatment when a more conservative plan would be ideal. If the dentist had charged a more reasonable price, I would have done the work there because life is simpler when one doesn’t have to look for a new dentist. In the end, I found out that the crown was not the ideal treatment for my tooth. I’m glad that I found out that my dentist was probably pushing the crown for higher profits. For people who are considering going to a dental school to get the work done, you must be willing to be patient. My crown specialist is a professor at the dental school and works only one day a week, so it can be hard to get an appt.

I am twenty years old and unfortunately, have never been to a dentist. My parents could not afford dental insurance and sadly, my teeth have suffered. I was never taught proper dental care (I didn’t know you were supposed to floss daily) and only brushed once in the morning.

My two front teeth have a cavity between them, so large that it has created a very ugly, uneven gap. The two lateral incisors have basically almost completely rotted away and there are cavities forming in the incisors next to those as well. Two molars in the back have completely rotted, leaving only large brown holes in my gums.

The saddest part about this is that I was voted "Best Smile" in elementary school. : [

What’s even worse is that my wisdom teeth are about to come in. I can feel it.

I have done much research on the procedures that I will need done. For example, I know I will need extractions on my four front teeth, a root canal on two of my molars, fillings in probably 8 teeth, crowns on a few others, and I would like to get implants in the four teeth that are extracted. All of this, based on my research, would cost ,000 or more. I did the calculations to be safe.

I have CareSource but they do not cover more than two dentist appointments a year unless you have a certain condition and they stop covering cosmetic procedures after you turn 21 (I’m not sure as to why, it’s all pretty messed up).

Are there any places in Ohio that are offering smile makeover contests, free dental procedures at dental schools, or any other things of the sort? I really need this fixed before June 2010 as I am supposed to get married.

My son’s two front teeth were knocked out in a fight. Is there anywhere I can go in the triangle area that will help him and also be afforable? He is very self concious about it and I would be too. My husband and I want to help but it is so expensive for crowns. HELP!!

I had an accident as a 14 year old and my two front teeth were knocked out. I had implants put in where these teeth used to be. Ten years down the line, my face has grown and now the implants look funny as they are too small for the surrounding teeth.

What are my options? I was thinking a dentist could either remove the crowns and put new ones in, or get dental veneers attached to the crowns to make them look bigger.

So I’ve been researching dental insurance in my area. (S. Florida Metro - Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Palm Beach)

I’ve received a quote from a dental HMO that provides the following;
Individual Premium per month - 11.95$
No Wating Period
No Plan Maximum
No Deductable.
As examples of coverage;
Cleanings are no charge.
Fillings for one surface are 25$ for composite fillings. Standard silver fillings are no charge.
Crowns run between 245$-300$
Endodontics/Root Canals run between 110$ and 345$
Periodontic services run between 110$ and 300$ for surgical services.
Non surgiacal periodontic services run between 38$ and 65$
Dentures and bridges are fairly priced between 300$ and 425$
Extractions run between 30$ and 100$
The only place they really get you is with orthodontics.

Now let’s look at a PPO.

Individual Coverage is between 30$ and 42$ a month for basically the same services between plans, with large waiting periods, tiny plan maximums, and really not that great of coverage.

(Cont.)
My boyfriend needs a 3 fillings and a root canal and possibly a crown in the future. They cover 50% of the root canal, which would stick us with a 500$ bill. They cover 50% of a crown, which would stick us with another 500$ bill and we’ve reached our plan maximum of 1,000$, which is the largest plan maximum I’ve found.

Am I basically paying an obscene amount and tiny maximums with a PPO to go to a larger network of dentists? What’s the difference? Why should I pick a PPO over a HMO?
When it comes to orthodontics, which may also be something we consider in the future, the PPO isn’t able to provide a significant advantage over a HMO. The HMO’s charge around 1,000$ flat for orthodontic treatment. PPO’s either don’t cover orthodontics at all or only pay 25%.

Can anyone shed any light on the differences and why they exist?
So basically, I’m correct in that all I’m paying for is a larger network of dentists? There’s plenty of HMO providers in the area which are accepting patients. There’s nearly a dozen within 5 miles of my home.
And by the way, idiots need not reply. Christ you people are stupid.
Could a dentist possibly imput their .02 on this issue? Why do you choose to go with a HMO network? Why do you choose to go with a PPO network?
Up until recently, I’ve shared the same feeling, that in general, PPO insurance is better than HMO insurance.

It seems to me like this applies only with health insurance. I still feel the same way, go with PPO for health. But with Dental insurance, there is an amazing discrepancy. I was SO blown away at the differences.

This is simply an individual dental coverage plan with no bearing on my medical insurance. I have Tricare/Humana through my father and United Healthcare through my office. United Healthcare’s dental is the PPO I outlined, and I actually have only a 750$ per calender year with my office’s dental plan, and they cover NO major dental work, not even extractions. That’s NOTHING.

I am 25 and a Veteran of the Iraq War. Before I left for Iraq, I had dental insurance with my mom’s work and I was getting a lot of work done. Half way through it I got called over seas to Iraq. I have been back for about a year now and need to finish up a lot of that work and get a little more done. Army wont cover it and I’m not rich.
I would like to get it all done soon. And I don’t mind paying for it. However I have tried detal loan companies like carecredit.com and due to my low/bad credit, I do not qualify. I refuse to go to a college or school to get this work done. And I do not have Dental Insurance at this time.
Most Insurance Plans have a minimum waiting period of 6 months for any major dental work or will not cover any of the previous work that has been started. I have talked to most major individual dental plans and they all sey the same thing or will only cover ,000. I need a few crowns, a bunch of fillings, a dental implant and a little more. HELP!

I had bad dental work done in Algondones, Mexico in February 2008 at Gator Dental Group. The dentist was Dr. Miguel Fuentes. He make seven (7) crowns for me and all seven (7) will need to be replaced. My bite was off, I could not floss between some crowns. The crowns were not seated correct so I had open margins plus extra cement around the gums and between the crowns. You can find good and bad dentist in Mexico and in the United States . I just found a bad one.

I need to have 3 crowns made for 2 molars and 1 bi molar. My insurance is covering 60% of each crown.

I had 3 root canals totally around 0 after 80% insurance coverage, done by a endodontist.

I gave my dentist 0 when I had the perm filling put in and will be giving him 0 when i am fitted for the crown. He had to insert a post into the molar. Is this about the correct costs after the 60% insurance coverage? This is only for 1 crown and Ill have 2 more to cover. I have yet to see any insurance claims on the insurance company website for the dentist but saw them for the endodotist.