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 have crooked molars and overbite. My teeth feel really uncomfortable. Especially when I speak and eat. I don’t have lot of money. I found out university’s dental school run clinics for dental cares. Would it be good idea to go there for braces?
Do they perform dental cares correctly? are they worth it?
what do you mean it hurts more?

I recenctly went to the dentist due to a couple of infected teeth. After a thourough look into my mouth he said that I needed a few procedures done to "save my mouth", including a couple of root canals and other extensive work.
Once he left the room, his assistant stated that between her and I their is a dental school in the area that does procedures at sometimes more than half the cost of at least the dentist that I went to. She said the name, but I don’t remember, and I don’t want to call the office and ask her and possibly get her into any trouble.

I unfortunately don’t have insurance, and am awaiting the next sign up date through my work, I am also looking and considering other insurance.

Does anyone know of a school in the Chicagoland / NW Indiana area where I could look into getting the work done?

Thank you

i am currently in high school .please tell me the steps i should take! i was thinking of attending BMCC .then move onto a dental school! will that be ok??unfortunately i have financial problems. my family cannot afford to pay for my college or dental school so that means i’ll have to work or take loan. what should i do? any dental school in nyc? should i got to BMCC?

I have an impacted wisdom tooth with cavity it and would like to know if anyone had the procedure done at any of the dental school clinic in Miami/FLL area ? What are the typical costs ? Are there any other alternatives/places to get the procedure done for cheaper ?

I am on a really tight budget. I lost my job 3 months back and don’t have insurance.

Any help or information is really appreciated.

I am a college student and I need to have a lot of work done on my tooth, My teeth are in atrocious condition and lately I have not been able to get through a meal without extreme pain, I have already had two root canals done which I paid for out of pocket, (0 each) that did not include caps so those teeth are still uncapped. I still need to have about 3 root canals done which will also need to be capped and my wisdom teeth remove. What should I do? Is there individual dental insurance, I have no dental school near me. I have tried to figure out any way I would be able to pay for it and it just doesn’t seem possible. Does anyone have an ideas? I am in serious pain

How safe and common is this procedures? From what l’ve read,it’s scary …stitches,pain killers, swollen.What are the side effects?What’s the best options for me? I had the assumptions that dentists that participate in insurance plans/dental groups are not going to be very decent. They charge at a discounted prices, why would a good doctor charge less. What about groups like Western Dental? Are they dependable? How are the dentists going to treat me if they find out l don’t have insurance?

Dental school is out of the question, the closest one is 6 hour drive.

I have recently graduated from Dental School. I am looking for a job as an Associate with a dental office/group. I want to start my own private practice within one year. HOW should I proceed? WHAT do i need to know? WHERE should i consider locating?
Does anyone know of any ASSOCIATE positions leading to a buy-in in the Houston’s NW or W or SW area?

My husband hasn’t been to a dentist since he was 12 or 13 and he is now 22. I would like to take him to the dentist to have his teeth checked and cleaned with the possibility of fillings and of course he’ll need X-rays. I was wondering what the average cost of dental care is if you would go to a dental school program? We live in West Virginia and are looking to go to the WVU School of Dentistry. We also do not have any health insurance. Thanks for your help.

I have no dental insurance, need to have some teeth pulled, including wisdom teeth. Hoping there is a Dental school nearby that offers free/low cost care.