root canal?

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by lucky81698

It seems from what I have heard from people is that if you need a crown then you will be in pain afterwards. No idea why that would be. My DH did not need a crown so he wasn't in pain. Hope the Vicodan is working...just seeing the bill would make me need it!!! Hope you are feeling better.

unfortunately... yep, from my experience... that is true...i had a crown put on a few years ago...32 freeking DAYS of pain... i called into the dentist a few times but they either never answered or never called me back...32 days of no call back..so after a week, i started taking aleve and altho your only supposed to take it every 12 hours, i was taking it every 4-6 and yes, it did work!!

but do yourself a favor and get the pain prescription before you leave the dentist, so you don't get yourself into a predicament i did. that's the last time i've been to a dentist and now, i know i need to go back simply because i cannot deal with the bad breathe anymore! hahaha

so, i'm looking for a new dentist as well, one that won't BS me about getting my gums cleaned because after that, everything started receeding (oh, i am SO pissed bout that).

I think the reason a crown causes pain is because it's cemented to your orignal tooth and your gums have to get used to the change in weight at that area...but that's the only reason i can think of. I think i had to pay at least about $500 for the crown alone (never had the root canal, not needed *yet*)

sorry bout your teef problems!! they are definately NOT fun....

[TheWife]

I have
excellent insurance so I thought most of it would be covered- WRONG!

My regular dentist ate up all my benfits with x-rays, etc.

Are your benefits annual? Like my policy has a $1000 annual max. so if yours is like that, just wait till Jan to do the crown.

[Amanda]

I just check with my benefits and because I chose "basic" dental covereage, the crown is not covered. Because my @#$!(*&^ dentist used all of my coverage with lots of x-rays, I didn't have any benefits left to go towards the root canal.

I am soooooooo pissed right now. I am sitting at work in pain, knowing I'll have to spend $2200 on this. And to top it off my interview was moved to next week because of all this but I know I'll still be on my meds next week. I hope I don't make an ass of myself during the interview; I really need to make a great impression. GRRRRRRRR

[TheWife]

So is it like a life time maximum? That doesn't make any sense, I mean, why would you want to continue paying for the policy if you don't even have more coverage next year? If it's all used up for good then why have it at all?

[Amanda]

I have the "basic" dental plan which covers cleanings, cavities, x-rays, but not the more advanced stuff, including crowns. I think I have $1000/yr but my dentist maxed it out so for the root canal I only had about $90 deducted, and that was it. The endodontist was also out of my network (I didn't think to check).
The timing was horrible. If this happened in January I would have had less to pay (I think benefits said I would have paid 50%).

Have I mentioned I hate all of this? And my tooth still hurts!

[skibum515]

dude that totally blows! I have bad enamal on my teeth so I've got a ton of little cavities around my mouth. I got 3 done on Monday and 4 today. I always have them give me the nitrous first before the novacain because i'm such a baby with shots. Right now though there's like a little ridge on one of my teeth, like the filling compacted or soemthing so i'm going to have to go back on Friday and get it fixed. I'm somewhat peeved cause I wanted to leave early Friday morning to start driving to Utah.

Michelle - I'll be in PC (hopefully) Saturday night! We should get together for lunch sometime next week!!

[TheWife]

Woohoo! Bout time you get here!

[roz]

When's your open enrollment Amanda? You should be able to switch to the high option plan then and have the crown covered (up to $1000). Also, is the $1100 the retail price of the service or is it the insurance negotiated rate? I ask because the negotiated rate here in Philly is about $700 for a crown.

A normal plan pays 100% for preventative, 80% for basic services (fillings, etc) and 50% for major services. Those percentages are based on the negotiated rates.

[Amanda]

Quick update- our open enrollment was closed, but I called Benefits at the mothership (PA headquarters). They were able to change me from basic to enhanced for dental in 2007. I get $2000 covered! Of course I have to pay more each pay period.
I was told I need to get the crown "in 1-2 weeks" and I need to wait until January now. I'm a litle worried about that, but I am being careful about what I eat.

The $1100 is what I will be charged, that's all I know.
I need to find a new dentist!

[roz]

Is this the out of network doctor? What is the company that has your dental plan? Yes, as long as you make the change before the start of your plan year, you can make changes even though open enrollment has "closed".