Dental Payment

[Annie]

Hi,

I have just found this website and I think its brilliant!

I am hoping it well help with my problems, and have found some numbers for dentists that specialise in phobic patients (wish me luck) so I plan to call them tomorrow.

I was wondering how those of you who have been to the dentist actually pay for it? I think I will need tons and tons of work done, and its going to be run into thousands, do you know if you can pay a dentist up? I work full time, however do receive working child tax credit - can I claim something on this?

Im finally gradually plucking up the courage to call a dentist and before I have even walked in the door, Im worried about payment already!

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
Annmaria

 

[letsconnect]

Hi Annie ,

I hope someone from the US will spot your question and answer !
Some dentists will work out a payment plan with you, but because it all varies from dentist to dentist in the US, the best way to find out about your options might be to discuss this with your dental office.

Best of luck ! (did you make those calls yet?)

 

[Robert101]

Annie writes:

I was wondering how those of you who have been to the dentist actually pay for it?  I think I will need tons and tons of work done, and its going to be run into thousands, do you know if you can pay a dentist up?

Well, first of all, there's not much to add to what letsconnect posted. Yes, there are payment plans that can be worked out or offered by your dentist. Personally, I'm opposed to *most* of those plans, because those interest rates will eat you up alive over a period of time, especially when you're dealing with $1000's of dollars in dental work.  

Best thing to do is if at all possible is to find a dentist that has a discounted plan available. You pay an annual fee, and there is usually a discount on actual out of pocket expense.

Like your situation, I am in great need of major dental work. But it looks like I'll be paying for most of that work out of my own pocket from now on i.e., $1840 on possible crown lengthening on 5 teeth, or an estimated $3000 on two sets of bridges. Of course, a discounted plan was offered and will be taken advantage of.

The very best of luck to you  

Robert101

 

[Annie]

Hi

Thank you for your replies and for the warm welcome. You'll probably be seeing alot more of me over the next few months with tons and tons of questions no doubt lol.

I am from sunny Glasgow, Scotland, you obv. think I from the states (if only!!!). However I have been looking into it and think its probably the same payment types over here aswell. The only problem I have is finding a dentist that treats phobia patients esp. so I think they can pretty much charge what they like - therefore its not like I have much choice!!

I haven't made the call yet - plan to do it tomorrrow. However I have gone to the doctors and got diazapan (sp!) so I'll hopefully be quite relaxed on my first visit. Hopefully I'll make the call before the end of the week.

Thanks again,
Annie

 

[letsconnect]

I am from sunny Glasgow, Scotland, you obv. think I from the states (if only!!!). However I have been looking into it and think its probably the same payment types over here aswell. The only problem I have is finding a dentist that treats phobia patients esp. so I think they can pretty much charge what they like - therefore its not like I have much choice!!

Uhm, we happen to have a few recommendations for dentists in Glasgow ! You should have no problem whatsoever finding a dentist. Let us know what you're looking for in a dentist...

 

[artsygirl]

Hi! i know the few dentists that I asw before deciding on one, offered a 5-10% discount for cash paying customers. (ya hafta ask though!) Also, here, we have a great program called Care Credit, where you can choose your plan and get so many months/years before you hafta pay interest at all. I've used them before and it was a lifesaver! Luckily I have cahs for the most important parts of what I need done, and will get 10% off. I'll wait and finance the least important stuff a little later. Hope this helps some! lots of luck to you.

 

[imtheprincess]

Hi there, I was reading over your post and I wanted to suggest what Im doing. I have 2 dental insurances to help me but like any insurance will only cover portions of it. If I wanted to have everything done this year my out of pocket cost is running between $14,000 and $15,000. But is I spaced it out over 3 years I wont have to pay anything. I do want to get some of it done this year and did ask the dentist and maybe this might work for you too is to see if you can start paying little by little before you actually get the major work done. I start making 50 to 100.00 payments to them next week even before the stuff is getting done. Hopefully that helps for you. wish you the best of luck i know we all need it.
Cindy

 

[James]

These are all great suggestions. How a dentist will accept payment seems to vary by dentist. My dentist, for example, will only accept insurance or full payment out of pocket before services are performed. Naturally, this may be a deal breaker when it comes to choosing a dentist.

LOL at Annie being from Glasgow. Whether you are aware of it or not, you just lucked out big-time. As letsconnect said, there are quite a few recommendations for Glasgow dentists here.

Best of luck to you!

-James

 

[SASHA]

Can i add that if you are claiming working child tax credit you more than likely dont have to pay i am the same as you i claim working tax cradit and i get a nhs card and i dont have to pay for treatment ect! And i am from wales uk btw look into it and you may find that you wont have to pay!

 

[Andria]

hi Anna, I live just over the border in Cumbria. All our NHS dentist lists in the area I live are closed so we have to go private.

My Dentist does however allow me to pay for my treatment in installments. He is also very good with phobic patients so i don't mind paying that little bit extra to see him.

 

[Geraint]

My dentist does NHS as well as private and insurance (Denplan). I am registered with denplan. I appreciate the extra time that is taken at appointments. Thankfully I have been fortunate in having healthy teeth and have not had to have much treatment at all. I appreciate the emphasis that is placed on prevention with regular cleanings, and education on deantal care. I can also if needed have white fillings in my back teeth rather than those horrible grey fillings. The other benefit of the sheme is that it avoids large sudden bills - how many patients put off going to a dentist because they are skint.

 

[DebbieB23]

Hi guys!
I'm new to this board but feel I might be able to help some maybe. But I am from the US. Is this just a UK board?

Thanks a lot!
DebbieB

 

[brit]

No - It's a worldwide board for English Speakers.

 

[Roses]

Hello, Im in the US but thought Id answer.

Anyways, by the end of November, I will have paid about $13,000 for dental work in just a 3 month period. The ONLY way this has been possible is that I am borrowing it from my parents! The only other option here would be for me to try and get a credit card called "care credit" or something like that, basically a credit card with the dentist. The dentists here that I know of don't do payment plans, the credit card is the payment plan. I know I never would've gotten approved for a card that would cover all of the work.

The insurance I do have is covering about $2,000 worth of the work. So total I need is $15,000 (yes the anesthesia I'm getting 3X is upping the price quite a bit, but it's anesthesia or my teeth all fall out and I'll have to pay even more for nice fake ones!)

Good luck!
-Heather

 

[Lady_Python]

I'm in the same boat just now too. No NHS dentists here are taking on new patients so I'm having to go private. The initial appointment with this new dentist is free and last approx 1 1/2 hours. I don't know yet how much he charges for doing actual work, or if he's got any payment scheme in place but I'm going there on the 9th February and will let you know as soon as I come back. He also specialises in nervous patients.

 

[harper]

hi and
i pay for my treatment i used to go to a nhs practice but my dentist moved to a private practice and as i had just got trust with him i went with him so yeah i pay. your supposed to pay after each treatment. always remember you have a choice if they dont suit try somehwere else i was terrified and its taken me 20 yrs to find the right one but i have now and hes a superstar
he also said the other day that you have to look after your patients pockets so i guess they arent all after the money. good luck

 

[Lady_Python]

In my case, this dental work coming up is going to more or less be the last, as my teeth are in such bad condition I'm opting for full dentures. The only decent teeth left in my head are my three front crowns. I have four crowns but the gum has receded to far back on that crown you can see the join quite clearly. I've come to the conclusion that it's not worth keep just three teeth. The crowns in question weren't done properly anyway and are very uneven. I phoned the NHS yesterday and have been given the name of a dentist who is still taking on NHS patients. I've also been told I may qualify for free NHS treatment too as my husband is in a low income job.

The path I am probably going to have to go down is to get NHS dentures (not the best in the world by a long chalk), then when I can save up enough get really good quality nice ones privately.

At the moment, anything would be better than my own teeth.

 

[Clem]

I suggest finding a college of dentistry in your area. In the States, such places are scrambling for patients. All work is done by students, carefully and extensively supervised by excellent practitioners. It costs about half of the price of private care. Most of them also have residents that are working on certification for specialties, and also have to get X amount of experience, so you can get perio, endo, ortho, all kinds of stuff. Some do various types of sedation, you just have to ask. It may be possible to arrange a payment plan too.

In our city we have free or low cost dental clinics, but I have no idea whether they can accommodate anxious patients/sedation, etc. But it doesn't hurt to ask. They probably could do oral sedation, and that prescription you could get from your doctor or private dentist. (Make him/her feel a little guilty that you have to go elsewhere for treatment because they won't be flexible.)

 

[shub2974]

I am in US and i have carecredit. Go to carecredit.com and apply. I got all my dental work on an 18 months no interest and they have longer plans that go up to 5 years starting at rates of 9.5%

 

[scaredstiff]

I was considering posting on the success story topic because I've actually made my first appointment, which is a miracle in itself. Will have to attend, can't back out now, because I had to pay £50 deposit up front. Am still terrified, mainly from embarrassment at state of teeth as well as the actual dentist, but for vanity's sake have to go through with it all, as a front tooth has gone missing. I too am worried stiff about costs. I work part-time, am a pensioner but have to go private. My appointment is with one of the dentists thathas been recommended on this site, Jenny Pinder, in London. I have no money saved up, and a few years ago I had financial problems so am sure will not be accepted for any dental plans. Having plucked up courage for that first appointment, and overcoing that first fear, I still face the fear of being told what treatment I need (a lot, 30 years since I last saw dentist) and even more fear at not being able to get it done. I joke at the moment about being in my gap year because of missing tooth, but what if I have to remain like that with possibility of more dropping out, for rest of life. Anyone else in similar position of worrying about dental costs?