Why is dental work so fucking expensive?

Because dentists want to live in million dollar houses.

well bc insurance will only pay like half of that in negotiation, so dentists or any medical places upped the charge to offset that

just go to mexico to do it, dear

Repigs and mormons go down to Tijuana. All the dentists there speak english and some are Americans. They also go down there to get gastric bypass surgery.

Crapitalism

R2, that isn't quite true. Insurance companies can barely get dentists to reduce their charges for anything because they don't have as much leverage as they do with hospitals and medical providers.

They need to federally regulate dentists and doctors and their fucking pricing.

It doesn't cost that much for a crown to be made in a dental lab. It's obscene what dentists charge.

If you’re an illegal in California, your medical is paid for… this country is so fucked up

R6 Vets are even worse.

R6, it's called Medicare for all. It's the only way to control costs.

Full on highway robbery

I think some dentists are richer than most doctors (except plastic surgeons)

which tooth is it? it's a molar right? those in the back cost more.

"Why is everything health and dental so outrageously expensive in America?"

Is that a rhetorical question ;-)

This is an interesting question.

I'd like to know how much someone in an EU country would pay out of pocket - no private or government coverage - in Euros for a root canal and for a crown.

[quote] Repigs and mormons go down to Tijuana.

R3 How is that relevant to the OP.

I had crown put in. It was insanely expensive. I doubt illegal immigrants get crowns. Probably flippers or dentures.

Between Dentists and Vets you have to take out a Second Mortgage.

the price depends on the tooth. if it's the front, there are less nerves, it's cheaper...but if it's in the back, more expensive.

Dental work is reasonable to dirt cheap in Europe except certain countries such as Switzerland where it is outrageously expensive.

A dental degree costs what, $300k? Malpractice insurance, staff salaries, office/clinic rental costs, fancy equipment costs.

Crowns/root canals are not significantly cheaper in Western Europe, but nobody pays “out of pocket” there because dental care is part of public insurance (provided you go for preventive screenings/prophylaxis every year).

The problem is that the US dental insurance industry is poorly regulated.

Insurance companies. That's why it's so expensive.

R17 Flippers look interesting

OK~ ~ ~

I recently had an implant go bad,and another one is going. Both have bone loss around the implant. They were 13 years old. I flat out told my dentist Im not getting any more fucking implants. Ive hated them from day one. I had partials for 12 years with nary a problem,then I get implants and Im back in the dentist office every 6 months . Id rather deal with fixodent or whatever than to spend $6000 MORE on something that will cost me more in the long run. Its all a racket.

[quote]which tooth is it? it's a molar right? those in the back cost more.

Yep, it’s a molar. I am furious because I’m already broke.

And seems like over the past few years you need to see multiple dental specialists for what one dentist used to do.

R25 OMG! How much would you say you’ve spent in total on your teeth?

How much are crowns?

20% of us wear dentures.

There's no shame in wearing dentures.

(^ providing we don't do French-kissing)

Root canals are a scam. Don't do it.

Also, if you brushed and flossed your teeth, you wouldn't have dental problems like tooth decay.

Mexico has more affordable dental. It will cost you a third as much. I was impressed with the quality.

R28 over the last 20 years at least $20,000.Probably much more. R31 I brushed,I flossed,I did everything you were supposed to do yet genetics fucked me good. My perfect teeth started falling out in my 40s,due to bone loss. Both my parents had dentures by 40.As did both sets of my grandparents.

I just got 4 root canals and 2 crowns and an implant done (plus cleaning) in the UK for £282.20 (max fee) which is €330 or $342.

If I need to go back in the next two months there is nothing more to pay.

It was done at a very good private dentist under the NHS fee scheme.

If I'd been poor it would have been free.

As R33 said, you can brush and floss after every meal and still end up issues due to genetics and/or bad luck, R31.

R33 How terrible. So on average you’ve spent $1,000 a year just on dental.😟 Can I ask how old you are?

[quote]Root canals are a scam. Don't do it.

No, this time it’s not a scam - well, the price is a scam, but the procedure is necessary because that same tooth has gotten a bad infection.

R31, How are root canals a scam? What a crazy thing to say. I had a dead rotting tooth root seeping pus and disgusting grossness not my mouth through an abscess. My face was swollen, and it had to be addressed. Root canal & crown. Expensive, but fixed.

R34 How nice! And to think I was just reading an article the other day in the Daily Fail about the NHS and Brits in the comments section were bitching about how “awful” the NHS is. I would like for those same people to deal with the American healthcare and dental system and see if they still want to complain.

A gap in your mouth is preferable to disease.

Our grandparents had gaps in their mouths.

True story. Many years ago, my dentist took a call right before working on me and was told his boat needed a new engine. He told me what the call was and stated, “Well, I guess the price of dentistry just went up.” He was actually quite the jokester and was quite reasonable, as I recall.

[quote] Brits in the comments section were bitching about how “awful” the NHS is.

Then Brits love to bitch about the NHS is.

They bitch the same way that Dataloungers like to bitch. (I consider it as a moral failing)

R40 I personally wouldn’t have found that funny, but whatever.

R37 Root canals can be a scam depending on how much of your tooth is removed and if they fix a post in with the crown. If it breaks up later (usually within a year), you can end up worse than you started, been there, done that.

R10, Medicare doesn't cover dental.

Op I will be 61 in November. If I could go back in time Id tell the first dentist to yank all of them out and give me full plates. I ended up losing 98% of my teeth anyway. And went thru a lot of pain and money to end up right where I am today anyway. Toothless (well,I have 5 left)

R41 R38 The big problem with most Brits and NHS dentistry is that they don't really want to travel more than a mile or two, they're lazy.

We can go to any dentist in the Country that is accepting NHS patients, but they want one in walking distance of home.

I tend to look for the best in about a 20 mile radius.

R22, not true. Go ahead and get dental work done without any insurance and see what you pay.

r7 claimed it doesn't cost much for crowns to be made in a lab. Not true. Cost is about $500-600 each. Then you have to pay the dentist to put it in. The dentist usually needs an assistant. They have to pay for their offices and a receptionist. And equipment. And pay off the $250,000 in loans they ran up to become a dentist. Plus undergrad loans.

Dental prices vary by state some dtates are cheaper than others. Get the root canal its worth it, just price an implant and a canal will look like a bargin.

R46 Wow, they don’t realize how good they have it! I would drive 100 miles just to pay half.

Do dental schools do root canals and crowns for free or cheap?

OP just have the tooth removed!

[quote]Root canals can be a scam depending on how much of your tooth is removed and if they fix a post in with the crown. If it breaks up later (usually within a year), you can end up worse than you started, been there, done that.

If my tooth has gotten an infection, I don’t see what other choice I have other than to get it (unless just totally having it extracted which I don’t want).

R47, most dental insurance has a maximum annual pay out of around $1200. That's what they'll pay after you pay your monthly deductibles and your deductibles. Will barely cover a root canal alone.

What I don't understand is that all the old people used to have missing teeth but now, suddenly, you can't have a missing tooth because, according to all the dentists, your jaw will just disintegrate into nothing without a $10,000 implant. Fucking criminals.

R52 I’m not old enough to have missing teeth yet!

I don’t understand why the industry isn’t regulated better in America.

OP please get a second opinion if you haven’t already and compare prices. I went to a dentist who gave me a crazy price for a root canal and then went to another one where it was half that amount. And the cheaper dentist was fine.

But agree fully. It’s terrible how expensive it is. Especially given how important dental work is and how much it’s tied to your health.

Mexico uses some metals that are banned here. (This is what I heard)

R57 The only problem is that if I get a second opinion, I’m going to have to pay for X-rays again. And that’s a couple hundred bucks right there.

Some folks have dry mouth and that can cause more cavities or dental problems.

Try rinsing mouth with salt water before bed.

Yes, go to dental schools, they are more reasonable.

I had a root canal and a crown two years ago at the onset of the COVID pandemic in the US. It was during the period when EVERYTHING was shut down; but they remained open on an emergency basis. I saw an endodontic specialist for the root canal work, then my own dentist for the crown. These are complicated and intricate procedures, involving elaborate technology, intricate dental surgery, artistic work in the creation of the crown itself, years of training. I didn't begrudge then their fees - I was in a position to pay without excessive financial pain. I feel that there should be a universal healthcare system in the US which includes dental care... and yet I sympathize with the dentists who treated me who very much want to remain outside of such a regime.

dental schools are not free. You're often just paying for the materials though. A cavity is like $100-150, root canal for under $500, crowns are 600-700 each. Implants run $3000-4000 each (some parts of implant process are done by experienced doctor the students just watch, and sometimes the "students" are already dentists, they just are getting more expertise.

Two advantages of dental schools: 1) You know they're not trying to rip you off. They do a full exam, x-rays, then figure out what needs to be done. Usually starts off with cleanings (and deep cleanings) before they will do additonal work. Then they prioritize what needs to be done.

Second is that lots of dental work is speculative. They can't see whats going on under a crown or filling and even some cavities can be seen on X rays and dont need to be dealt with for a while--up to a year. So they have no reason to push you into work you really dont need.

You do need a lot of time. An appointment at a dental school can take all morning or afternoon--for something that would be a 45 min appointment at a regular dentist office.

R51, what state are you in? If you're in Southern California, I think UCLA has a fairly decent dental school; I tried going several years ago but they had no appointments available. Sadly I'm sure it's even worse now, but it's worth looking into.

If you're in a different state, I would check out your local university to see if they offer such a program; you may get lucky.

I'm sorry you're going through this; dentistry is ridiculously expensive (as several have already pointed out). If Mexico is an option for you, I would try looking into that as well; I've never been but know of some who have and recommend it.

maybee you should have all flossed, put down the sugary snacks, and BRUSHED YOUR TEETHS!

They should all be required, by law, to charge on a sliding scale based on income. The federal government can subsidize them to an extent for each patient they treat under a certain income level.

Had a consult with my dentist here in the US, they said I needed about $25K worth of work done (crown & bridgework). I balked & said I can get this done for a 1/3 in Mexico. My dentist went on about how bad they are in Mexico & how the infection rate is much higher, blah blah blah. Said, do it at your own risk, but Im not going to fix their mistakes....... Have a friend whose had EXTENSIVE work done in Puerto Vallarta and no issues. We went down for a holiday & thought Id check in to her Dr. and yeah, got in with in 2 days, office was SUPER modern, all top of the line equipment- Almost made my US dentist look like they were in the 1960's...... Had a consult- quoted me $3K. They said, oh if you have time, do you want a cleaning today- I said sure & they did a thorough cleaning, with that ultrasonic scraping deal @ no charge. They wanted my business & could do my work in the next 2 days. Slept on it, booked the next day for the following day. Done in 2 days & did a follow up before we left & all was good. This was 4 years ago & no issues. Have been down twice since & had cleanings each time (an hour out of my day). Cancelled my dental insurance as its useless since we are going to PV more & more often, we book appointments & they take us- no BS.

Came here to recommend dental schools as several others above have mentioned. I was introduced to that concept years ago. I had a wisdom tooth coming in that ended up causing an infection. I was new at my job, and insurance hadn't kicked in yet. The local dental school was recommended to me by several people I worked with. I had it removed on a Friday, and was completely fine within 24 hours, so back at work on Monday. After insurance kicked in, I eventually went to an actual oral surgeon to have the others removed, and it was the worst medical experience I've ever had.

To the one above talking about your local dental school not taking appointments. The one close to me doesn't take appointments either. It's a first come, first serve. You literally have to get there as they open, if not a little before, and get your name on the list for the day. I've recommended them to many over the years, and they always look at me like I'm crazy and recommending some sort of fucked up world of dental care, but it really isn't. Real dentists supervise any and all procedures. Everyone I've sent down there have been converts.

R66 = Socialist.

Had a dental implant last year and the cost (with the crown) was about $7500. Had a crown put on another tooth this year and it was $1225. I live in Ohio.

OP is it possible for you to get your X-rays and bring them with you to the second opinion? That’s what I did. I called and got the receptionist from the expensive dentist to email them to me and then sent them to the second dentist in advance of my appointment.

I never even think about X-Rays costing extra, with only have 3 charging bands in the UK, the lowest at £23.80 ($29) includes them.

[QUOTE] [BOLD] Band 1 dental treatment: £23.80 [/BOLD]

This charge covers any of the following:

adjusting false teeth (dentures) or orthodontic appliances, such as braces applying sealants or fluoride preparations to the surfaces of your teeth a clinical examination, assessment and report marginal correction of fillings moulds of your teeth – for example, to see how your teeth bite together an orthodontic assessment and report a scale and polish (if clinically necessary) coloured photographs taking a sample of cells or tissue from your mouth for examination treating sensitive cementum (the tissue that covers the root of a tooth) X-rays

[BOLD] Band 2 dental treatment: £65.20 [/BOLD]

This charge covers any of the following:

an addition to your dentures – such as adding a clasp or a tooth apicectomy – removing the tip of the root of a tooth a mouth guard to correct your "bite" (doesn't include a laboratory-made appliance) fillings free gingival grafts – when healthy tissue from the roof of your mouth is attached to your teeth where the root is exposed frenectomy, frenoplasty or frenotomy – surgery to the folds of tissue that connect your tongue, lips and cheeks to your jaw bone treatment for severe gum disease – such as root planing (cleaning bacteria from the roots of your teeth), deep scaling and a polish, or a gingivectomy (removal of gum tissue) oral surgery – such as removing a cyst, or soft tissue surgery to the mouth or lips pulpotomy – removing dental pulp (the soft tissue at the centre of a tooth) relining and rebasing dentures removing teeth (extraction) root canal treatment sealant to fill small holes or grooves in your teeth splinting loose teeth – for example, after an accident (this does not include laboratory-made splints) transplanting teeth

[BOLD] Band 3 dental treatment: £282.80 [/BOLD]

This charge covers any of the following:

bridges – a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth crowns – a type of cap that completely covers your real tooth dentures inlays, pinlays and onlays – used to restore damaged teeth orthodontic treatment and appliances such as braces other custom-made appliances, not including sports guards veneers and palatal veneers – new surfaces for the front or back of a tooth

You can get cosmetic dentistry included, depends on how cleverly your dentist lists the procedure.

Because the dentists' lobby is very powerful.

[quote]OP is it possible for you to get your X-rays and bring them with you to the second opinion? That’s what I did. I called and got the receptionist from the expensive dentist to email them to me and then sent them to the second dentist in advance of my appointment.

Will they allow that?

R72, is that what you pay per month or per year?

R72 forgets to mention that it's best to try to avoid NHS dental care.

R76, at least they have the option. You either go bankrupt or just die of some bacterial infection from your rotten mouth in the US unless you're rich.

With Big Pharma paying our elected idiots for their votes, don't expect any changes. How many times have politicians claimed they were going to lower drug prices, and voters fall for that line every time. Your huge health bills help to make sure the lobbyists have sufficient funds to pay off the Congressional stooges.

R76 The same dental clinics that do private care also do NHS work, there aren't any dentists that exclusively work for the NHS. It's exactly the same with private hospitals.

I'm currently an NHS patient of the My Dentist group.

You just need to choose carefully.

Porches R1, don’t forget about the Porches. The smart ones don’t drive them to work though.

Dental is obscene. Unless I want to have my family’s hillbilly teeth, I have to dutifully go.

Any “specialist” visit is highway robbery too. I just paid about$350 out of pocket for a podiatrist to spend 5 minutes with me (after I waited 45) to mix up my chart with someone else’s, look at an xray, tell me I have a fractured sesamoid and leave me vague instructions on what to do. “Lay off the ballet haha.”

I don't even bother with doctors or dentists unless I'm dying. Fuck this shit. I'll just die early. Who wants to live in this shithole world anyway.

The reason dental work is so expensive is because most dentistry is actually surgery.

Someone mentioned Mexico above. That is what I have been doing for the past 20 years.

I just recently saved $16,000 dollars on 6 implants in Mexico, but due to the fact that they were implants, it involved staying for awhile in Mexico.

[quote] Because the dentists' lobby is very powerful.

And they are very unhelpful. They refuse to hand out information about costs and dentists.

The customer is at the mercy of the sadist.

I had my “social six”, front, top 6 teeth crowned all at the same time. It cost about 14k, somehow my insurance paid 12k and I paid the balance. Also live in Ohio. Finally, bright white (not neon) , teeth.

What insurance is that, R85? Must be some company-paid cadillac plan.

R86). It was my dental insurance from work. I work for an insurance company and we do have great benefits.

Sure r79, eventually the same clinics will do NHS work, although some have limits on NHS patients and it will be basic work.

R75 That is what you pay per treatment plan, it covers multiple procedures. you end up paying the £23.80 every year though for a check-up and cleaning.

The dentist receives a separate fee directly from from the NHS for having you registered

R88 What work they will carry out is listed at the link I posted at R72 I'm not sure any other procedures exist?

A root canal is still a root canal whether done privately or on the NHS.

If you'd said that it's difficult to get on the NHS list of good dentist's I would have agreed, you have be quite determined.