Am I the only one who thinks Dental prosedures are too expensive?

Question

I just got back from my dentist, I need two root canals and two crowns. I have dental insurance but its still going to cost me $1850.00. 2 teeth that much? I know I am lucky to have insurance but still with insurance its too high. This is a good reason American Middle Class never get ahead, we can't afford the heath and dental care.

Oops, sorry Bryan. I'm usually a good SPeller but I guess I was too annoyed to use spell check. ;)

One of you said "Dentist have to eat too" I agree but my dentist lives in the best neighborhood in our town in a HUGE house, so not like he is starving. lol

The woman that said you have to take care of your teeth, your are implying that I didn't. I have been going to the dentist every 6 months my whole life. My dentist told me one of the problems with baby boomers are the filings they used on us are very hard on the teeth. I do brush, floss and take care of my dental hygiene.

Answer 1

I had a service call to "clean my pipes" when our sewer line was sluggish. The gentleman was here for FIFTEEN MINUTES. I mean, from the time he rang the doorbell until the time he slammed his van door on his way out of the drive was FIFTEEN MINUTES. He took one cap off a pipe and did the plumber's equivalent of opening up a tooth for root canal with a 3 foot snake. That was all it took. He charged $169.00 for this, which was his minimum charge for a service call. Let's say that was all he could make in an hour, because he has to drive from one location to the next. This money is HIS money, as he answers his own phone and handles all of his own business. He has no salaries to pay. As far as I can see it, he had to pay for gas to get to my house and that was his only variable expense involved in the call. His fixed expenses are for his equipment. In my case, he used a snake that is exactly like one I saw at Home Depot for thirty bucks. Depreciate that over a 7 year period....... Nevermind. You understand what I'm saying.

Personally, after 8 years of higher education, I'd like to have a net income close to what the man who opened up my sewer pipe makes per hour.

Answer 2

To upstart a dental office can run easily into the 50,000-100,000$ range. Someone has to pay for the equipment. Then take into consideration the education dentists and their assistants must receive. They have to pay off their student loans. On the one hand, yes the prices are fair. On the other hand, it is difficult for the majority of the population to afford dental care. Most people should never need root canals if they go in for cleanings and brush AND floss every day. My two front teeth were broken in a skating accident. I can't control acts of god, but I can control my dental hygiene. I've had no cavities in almost 10 years since practicing brushing and flossing daily.

Answer 3

Sorry that it's so expensive but those are not easy procedures to do and they take a lot of of the dentists time and products. It's very expensive to pay for all the materials that they'll use during the root canal and crowns, let alone paying the the staff that will help him/her with the procedures.

Answer 4

If you think your dentist is over charging you, you could select another dentist from your insurance plan and have him examine you and give you to get a second opinion and a financial "estimate" of what he/she would like to do. I did this and the second dentist did not even want to do the procedure the first dentist wanted to and I'm still with him!

Answer 5

I think the bigger problem is that our dental plans are crap with caps so low its ridiculous. Sure they pay everything for preventative but no matter how much you go as you get older you run into problems. The fact is with medical we don't pay attention to how much this test or that test costs because the insurance covers it good but with dental insurance it is a whole different matter.

Answer 6

Here is what you do.
Use part of the money to buy a roundtrtip ticket
to either Harlingen, Texas or San Diego California.
Cross into Mexico and get the work done there.
Most dentist along the border are great doctors and there
prices are much cheaper than the US.

Answer 7

I think it's ridiculous and urs is actually cheap coz I paid (and as a matter of fact still paying) the same amt but for only one root canal.
Anywayz, I guess that's y we go to college so we can get a career and transfer the costs of such things on to our customers...hehe

Answer 8

your dentist is the smartest, most skilled, most patient professional you will ever deal with. add to that the extraordinary cost of doing business and stress on both mind and body. a dentist deserves at least 10 times the average american salary because of this.

Answer 9

Dentists got to eat too.

Answer 10

You are so right and then add medical expenses on top of that.