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Everyday Cheapskate: Dental Work, Only for the Rich?
Mary Hunt
Letters of complaint regarding the high cost of dentistry are not
foreign to my mailbox. I get a lot of them. Here is one I received
recently:
"My daughter-in-law had two teeth worked on. She paid $900 before her insurance kicked in. This dentist requires immediate payment. She had no choice but to pay with a credit card. A $900 hit is outrageous as far as I'm concerned.
"Are only rich people supposed to have good teeth?
"I am facing some routine dental work, also, which will cost more than $1,000. In the past, I turned down a root canal because of the cost: $1,400 for 1 1/2 hours of work. This charge was after I would have paid $140 for a consultation. I said no to that, too. I then would need a crown for $900. Is this affordable for anyone?"
I understand the outrage of readers who are facing big dental bills. But dental care is not a luxury. It is an essential life expense that should be anticipated the way you anticipate paying taxes, mortgage payments and food.
A dentist is a professional, with a great deal of schooling and preparation behind those injections and drills. That "1 1/2 hours of work" involved lab costs, materials and related costs. A $900 or $1,400 charge for extensive work is not out of line and should be seen as far more important than a new big-screen TV or cell phones for every member of the family. Dentistry is neither optional nor an entitlement, and a dentist should require immediate payment. The dental profession is not a charitable, nonprofit industry, nor should it be.
That being said, there are ways to keep those costs of good dental care to a minimum.
--Avoid big dental bills by practicing preventive care, thus avoiding emergency care. Most dental problems are preventable by restricting sugar for children, using a fluoride rinse, having fluoride in the water supply, having sealants applied when necessary, brushing and flossing daily, and having regular checkups.
--Find a dental hygiene school or dental college that operates a clinic in your area. All treatments performed by students are under the careful supervision of instructors. Fees are typically 50 to 75 percent less than treatment by private practitioners.
--Many dentists are willing to work with families in setting up financial arrangements that can work with the family budget. This does, however, represent a new debt and should be considered carefully.
--Try to find a dentist who is just starting out. Explain your situation. Because the dentist is trying to build the practice, you could be offered a reduced fee as the dentist's way of building a loyal following.
There is no doubt that when it comes to dental care, prevention is the cheapest way to go. When dental work cannot be prevented, the cost needs to be seen as a mandatory life expense.
========
Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living." You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2008 Creators Syndicate Inc.
This news arrived on: 09/30/2008
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Posted Comments:
10-03-2008 02:44
wrote:
Dental
Some people don't understand that some of us only make enough money for a house, food, and a few clothes. I don't go to a doctor either. A friend of mine is on medicaid, and says that she can go to the doctor for what ever, but when it comes to a dentist, forget about it for adults. Not even this insurance plan thinks teeth are important to our health. Rediculous! Doctors or dentists aren't in the business to help people like in the old days. Sure they are educated and need their money, but rather than own two or three homes, and the most expensive cars, and clothing, maybe they could really care about people and do some low income work. Sounds to me like that is all they go to school for, is the money and not to help people. It is all about greed, not care.
10-02-2008 18:14
Nancy wrote:
Important to whom???
Apparently it doesn't matter how important dental care is to me...my employer could care less. As a way of saving the company money, we recently had our dental insurance coverage eliminated. If Dental care is as important as Medical care, why isn't it mandatory for employers to provide Dental Insurance? This really hurts my family - we have budgeted for the dental insurance, not for the full dental bills. Also, if Dentists can discount their rates to insurance companies, why can't they discount their rates to those who aren't fortunate enough to work for a company that provides dental coverage? It seems that if there is a discount available, those are the people that need it the most.
Vicki - take the cap-locks off. That little key on your keyboard labeled "Shift" is used to make your typing look professional. You know, like Business Managers are supposed to be.
Vicki - take the cap-locks off. That little key on your keyboard labeled "Shift" is used to make your typing look professional. You know, like Business Managers are supposed to be.
10-02-2008 14:03
Sandy wrote:
Dental work
My husband and I have had thousands of dollars on dental work done between the 2 of us. We do not have pay tv, new flat panel tvs or vacation trips among other things. We do not have dental insurance to pick up some of the tab. We have the work done over time and try to pay off the work with in a year with an interest free credit plan. It is just how it is. I hate it but I am learning better habits to care for my teeth.
10-02-2008 01:48
wrote:
I sure wish I was as well off as Vicki!!
Sure, the dentists have bills to pay, just like everyone else, but i'm sure they have no problem paying them with all the money they make from us who don't make what they do!
Most people cannot afford the high cost of dental work and most health insurance does'nt cover it!
For most people their prority is to pay their mortgage so they don't lose their homes, or pay their electric bill so they don't have their power shut off, etc. It would be nice to be able to make dental work a priority, but most people can't do that, and not because they are buying cell phones or ipods or whatever!
Vicki needs to live in the real world for a while!
Sure, the dentists have bills to pay, just like everyone else, but i'm sure they have no problem paying them with all the money they make from us who don't make what they do!
Most people cannot afford the high cost of dental work and most health insurance does'nt cover it!
For most people their prority is to pay their mortgage so they don't lose their homes, or pay their electric bill so they don't have their power shut off, etc. It would be nice to be able to make dental work a priority, but most people can't do that, and not because they are buying cell phones or ipods or whatever!
Vicki needs to live in the real world for a while!
10-01-2008 17:17
Laura2 wrote:
Dental work, only for the rich? Yes!
For me, and many others, dental work is NOT elective care. Especially if (you) have to take medications that are especially hard on teeth. I have right now two teeth that now have to pulled, (because I can't afford a root canals) and before the infection goes to my heart. This will leave me no molars... and before you say that I didn't take care of my teeth--my uncle was a great dentist. I do know how to take care of my teeth.
I'm on a fixed income. My husband HAS dental insurance, but by the time we pay the premiums, there's not too much left for the over-the-top co-pays.
I don't have a cell phone, I haven't bought new clothes in the first Bush's presidency, my computer is homemade... yadda, yadda. My kids don't get extras... Vicki, you must be terribly ignorant of real life, or very comfortable financially. Either way, I know I'm among the many who cannot afford dental care, even if it were to save (their) life, or quality of life.
I'm on a fixed income. My husband HAS dental insurance, but by the time we pay the premiums, there's not too much left for the over-the-top co-pays.
I don't have a cell phone, I haven't bought new clothes in the first Bush's presidency, my computer is homemade... yadda, yadda. My kids don't get extras... Vicki, you must be terribly ignorant of real life, or very comfortable financially. Either way, I know I'm among the many who cannot afford dental care, even if it were to save (their) life, or quality of life.
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