Great! I am happy for Dave Ramsey. Was he paid something for the endorsement? How would you know if he was or wasn’t?
Has he dealt with dental insurance on a day to day basis in a dental practice for 35 years, as I have? Has he reviewed insurance contracts as I have?
1 Dental ads advertise their lists are the “Best Dentists.” There is no basis in fact for these claims. In fact, the most competent dentists never sign up for plans like this.
Tell me, wise one. You seem to think discounts of 30% or more on dental treatments is routinely possible. What percentage do you think is overhead in a typical dental practice?
Do you actually think dentists would be willing to lose money on treating patients?
Dave Ramsey gets money for all of his “Best (fill in the blank) Lists.” When I was in the real estate business I called and applied. I was told that I had to periodically cough up several hundreds of dollars to “qualify” for, and remain on, his “best real estate broker list.”
A few months later he signed up a broker as his “best in the area real estate broker” a person who was arguably an individual with one of the worst reputations and track records in that market area. THAT’s when I stopped listening to Dave Ramsey.
Call 3 or 4 local dentists and get estimates. Then ask around in your social sphere for recommendations. A lot of people know dentists and/or have family ties to one or two dentists.
I just got a crown replaced last week for $1,750 or so. Our dentist is also a friend and I’m pretty sure I got what was, or close to his best price. I’ve been lucky enough to have dentists as pretty close friends for most of my adult life.
Dental costs are probably slightly less where I live in ID when compared to Atlanta, GA., maybe by 5% to 10% or so.
Molar root canal- $950-1200 by a general dentist. Specialists considerably more, like $1500 in Atlanta. It pays to go to a well-rounded GP.
Crowns, gold (the BEST restoration for back teeth)- $1300-1600.
Crowns, milled zirconia- $900-1400.
Crowns, Pressed lithium disilicate- $1000-1400.
Crown for implant- $1200-1400. These require a lot of precision and special parts.
By the way, good ex-military dentists can save teeth from crowns by large cusp-replacement amalgams for $350-400 or so. I have photos of these 25 years. in the mouth. They are very resistant to decay.
To get accurate quotes you MUST be able to quote the right ADA code to any dentist, not just ask, “How much does a crown cost?”