A rant about dental insurance

[Smith3]

I know my problems aren't as bad as others - but still irritating

I go to the dentist for the first time in 5 years in December (I know, hiss) - I expect the worst but it isn't as bad as I figured.

The worst part is, all my fillings have to be replaced. They are all 15-20yo and the life expectance of a filling is like 10yr. Ok, such is life.

4 of the fillings need to be ceramic onlays due to how my old dentist did them. They aren't cheap. They estimate with insurance they will be $500 a piece, plus the other normal fillings. So, 4 * $500 + other fillings, around $3000. I updated my flex spending to cover this and I am good to go.

Well, today is the first appointment. Went fine - then I go to pay and my dental insurance has changed coverages, the dentist isn't sure what I'll owe so I am billed for the full onlay, $1310! arg. $500 to $1300 is quite a jump.

I just feel like dental insurance is such a scam, you pay and pay and nothing is covered.

[GSDBESTK9]

Oh that sucks! I have Delta Dental and have never had a problem with them (been with them since 1998). Then I again I have pretty good teeth and the only thing I've ever needed was one filling. I had it done for the first time as a kid in 1987, then my current Dentist replaced it in 2001. Silly me had no idea they are NOT for life. I thought he replaced it in 2001 because the original one was Silver and this one is White so you can't tell it is there. Well, 2 weeks ago I found out they aren't for life!! So I had it replaced again. I didn't pay anything back in 2001 and so far they have not billed me anything. Hopefully they won't! LOL

[msvette2u]

My dad went in to get an estimate to fix his teeth and it was 22k.
Yeah. Like...1/4 of a house in our area.

[Smith3]

Originally Posted by GSDBESTK9

Oh that sucks! I have Delta Dental and have never had a problem with them (been with them since 1998). Then I again I have pretty good teeth and the only thing I've ever needed was one filling. I had it done for the first time as a kid in 1987, then my current Dentist replaced it in 2001. Silly me had no idea they are NOT for life. I thought he replaced it in 2001 because the original one was Silver and this one is White so you can't tell it is there. Well, 2 weeks ago I found out they aren't for life!! So I had it replaced again. I didn't pay anything back in 2001 and so far they have not billed me anything. Hopefully they won't! LOL

yeah i have delta dental "premier" - so we will see what they cover. their website says 60%, but still it is sticker shock!!

[GSDBESTK9]

I just checked mine, for fillings it says 80% coverage.

[Smith3]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

my dad went in to get an estimate to fix his teeth and it was 22k.
Yeah. Like...1/4 of a house in our area.

wow!

[StellaSquash]

why do you need your fillings replaced. if you have the old mercury fillings, they are best left alone unless you crack it or it comes out itself? (replacing mercury fillings is something that has to be done VERY carefully to avoid leaking mercury into your body)

if you're getting them replaced because your dentist said so, I'd get a second opinion. I have fillings that are 30+ years old and they're completely fine and my dentist won't touch them unless absolutely necessary.

[arycrest]

Originally Posted by StellaSquash

why do you need your fillings replaced. if you have the old mercury fillings, they are best left alone unless you crack it or it comes out itself? (replacing mercury fillings is something that has to be done VERY carefully to avoid leaking mercury into your body)

if you're getting them replaced because your dentist said so, I'd get a second opinion. I have fillings that are 30+ years old and they're completely fine and my dentist won't touch them unless absolutely necessary.

This is the first thing that popped into my mind too ... I never heard of replacing old fillings until there's a problem???

I have MetLife dental insurance which is a rider on my federal BC/BS policy ... It's paid for itself! My dentist is not warm and fuzzy, is a large scale practice run like an assembly line ... Lots of rooms and employees for him and another dentist. Don't like the way they handle billing ... Found out I had been over charged by $1,600 and they never said anything until last month when went to pay for having my teeth cleaned.

I went to a dentist right after I started working who was recommended by my best friend who had had extensive work done by him. His estimate was astronomical, lots of work needed to be done including all caps because my enamel was sloughing off!!! I got a second opinion, my teeth needed cleaning and no other work was needed! Several months later I read that the Montgomery County police had arrested him for fraud! He lost his license!

[Smith3]

Originally Posted by StellaSquash

why do you need your fillings replaced. if you have the old mercury fillings, they are best left alone unless you crack it or it comes out itself? (replacing mercury fillings is something that has to be done VERY carefully to avoid leaking mercury into your body)

if you're getting them replaced because your dentist said so, I'd get a second opinion. I have fillings that are 30+ years old and they're completely fine and my dentist won't touch them unless absolutely necessary.

I'm not that old they have mercury :-p

No but serious, there is decay around the fillings and when he removed the two from my two top molars, there was bad decay underneath - so obviously nothing brushing could help.

They would have been fine (and could be) - but the fact there is decay around the fillings meant they need to be removed and replaced.

[ponyfarm]

If there is decay, then they must be replaced. But, you may be able to get better coverage with a crown vs an onlay..as some insurance views an onlay as an expensive filling and wont pay.. More tooth is removed, but crowns last a long time. I would really look into other options...replace with a large filling or do a crown..if insurance wont cover onlays.