Can’t remember anyone on this board saying there was any good dental insurance, so I’m not optimistic. My grad-student daughter just got a consult with an endodontist who recommends 2 root canals and possibly crowns (which the dentist would do). With her current insurance, it would cost her $5313 for root canals and crowns. Endodontist’s office recommended changing to Delta Dental insurance and that would bring her cost down to $2550.
What insurance company would allow a patient to sign up and right away need $6000 worth of work? They claim there is no waiting period. Should she switch, or just keep what she’s got? Any other suggestions?
And I can’t understand why teeth in an otherwise healthy young person would need root canals, without any trauma or illnesses or even cavities.
I had my dentist suggest a root canal under my crown. He aw a dark spot underneath. Personally I don’t think that is justification enough.
You can get a second opinion. Also (for what it is worth) a friend told me that his friend went to Mexico to get dental work and was quite happy and saved lots of money.
(AI: People are traveling to Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Costa Rica, Hungary, and India to save 40%–80% on costs. These destinations are popular for high-quality, affordable care—including implants and, crowns).
Funny you should mention this. I just saw this video on YT this morning:
Root canals are only ‘needed’ in teeth that are dead or abscessed. Is she experiencing pain? Did the endodontist test the nerves of the teeth in question? Did he show her the x-rays that showed dead teeth and/or inflamed tooth pulps? She should definitely get a second opinion, regardless.
She is cold-sensitive, and the xrays do show something unusual but exactly what I don’t know. I think she’s already paid the dentist $300, the endodontist $350 for the consult, and is near the annual limit on her current insurance. She’s currently looking at an endodontics school, there are two about 3 hours from her. They’re maybe half price.
Being cold sensitive could just mean that her gums are receding and exposing more of the root. However, if something is showing up on the x-rays, then it should clearly not be ignored. Going to a dental school is a great idea, just be aware that there are usually long waiting periods to get an appointment and the appointments themselves will take longer since the students do the work under the supervision of a teacher. Also, there may be more visits needed to get work done vs. going to a regular dental office.
As for dental insurance, when I was looking at getting coverage last year, Delta and Mutual of Omaha had the best coverage – monthly premiums, wait times, procedures covered, annual limit, etc.
We have been with Delta Dental. The Dentist clinics we use is a corporation and has an agenda. We have not checked all the other dentists. The Clinic always wants patients to have periodontal treatment and almost all cavities lead to crowns. So I would look at the list of dentists first on each insurer, and see if they might be candidates.
I go to Prisma Dental in San Jose Costa Rica and stay in an AirBnB 2 blocks away. They provide transportation. The cost is about 1/4 of US. But the care is Outstanding. Even at the same cost, I will not get dental care in US ever again. Costa Rica is a fabulous tourist destination, so plan on staying a week the first time. All my root canals and US crowns failed, so I now go directly to Implants. I am 77 and had 32 teeth at 60. I am down to 24 and haven’t figured out what I am doing wrong, but Prisma is helping me more than any expensive US dentist.
i had all of my root canals leak bacteria very slowly, and i am sure many of my aging afflicting were from that. i have several implants, and root canals are not a solution for me. can
i do not get accesses but just a dull ache, and the dentist can tell after he pulls tooth that there is infection. Crowns only make the infection go deeper.
I have good luck with dental source, a discount plan.
