Feeling defeated ?

[ashley89]

I've posted before that I need my wisdom teeth plus 5 other molars removed. The place where I'm going charges $320 per tooth, but $500 for my one impacted wisdom tooth. I have had numerous people tell me that's very high. They also want me to be sedated, and that's $322 for every 15 minutes. They estimate it will take 45 minutes. I was thinking about trying to stay awake because I've never been sedated. I'm worried I will feel pain but won't be able to say it, or that I will vomit because of the medicine. The thought of throwing up after having 9 teeth removed is awful to me. My insurance will only cover around $1,000. They estimate my portion will be $2,800. That's the other problem, I don't have that just laying around. I have no clue how I will pay for it. This entire thing just stresses me out. I've cried myself to sleep for about a month, I don't know why because it doesn't help. I just feel so defeated and overwhelmed. If you have any input at all, please.. please share it with me!

 

[rocketman32]

I've posted before that I need my wisdom teeth plus 5 other molars removed. The place where I'm going charges $320 per tooth, but $500 for my one impacted wisdom tooth. I have had numerous people tell me that's very high. They also want me to be sedated, and that's $322 for every 15 minutes. They estimate it will take 45 minutes. I was thinking about trying to stay awake because I've never been sedated. I'm worried I will feel pain but won't be able to say it, or that I will vomit because of the medicine. The thought of throwing up after having 9 teeth removed is awful to me. My insurance will only cover around $1,000. They estimate my portion will be $2,800. That's the other problem, I don't have that just laying around. I have no clue how I will pay for it. This entire thing just stresses me out. I've cried myself to sleep for about a month, I don't know why because it doesn't help. I just feel so defeated and overwhelmed. If you have any input at all, please.. please share it with me!

Sorry to hear about this... I hope my advice and other's will be able to make this much comfortable for you

My wisdom teeth extraction was quite pricey as well, very similar to the amount you stated. In terms of the sedation, you won't feel any pain. You won't hear anything, feel pain, or any pressure. You are completely "out of it". To avoid vomit do not eat/drink the night before the procedure. Since cost is an issue, I would recommend local anesthetic with nitrous oxide. Nitrous will relax you very well - it won't be AS effective as sedation but you will not feel any pain, only pressure. I would recommend talking to your doctor about anesthesia options and how to reduce cost - and of course use advice from the helpful people in this forum

best of luck

 

[Enarete]

Hi ashley89,

sorry to hear about your situation, dental work is stressfull and having to worry about the costs makes it all just worse, I can imagine how overwhelming this is.

They also want me to be sedated, and that's $322 for every 15 minutes. They estimate it will take 45 minutes. I was thinking about trying to stay awake because I've never been sedated.

This sounds to me like they are trying to push you into something that is not your preference. I am also wondering what would happen if they need more than 45 minutes and if you have any control about it. And is it normal to charge iv sedation based on time needed? I don't have any experience but sounds weird to me. There are a lot of other sedation options, you can get nitrous, as rocketman32 suggested or some meds to calm you down or, just go with a local - based on what your fears are and how comfortable you feel with your dentist... there is no need to put you under.. so if you don't like the thought of iv sedation and want to keep the costs low, then why do it...

I am also wondering if you feel being in good hands in this practice and trust them and also how urgently your work needs to be done. A good dentist should respect your budget and be able to offer you solutions and options.

Without knowing your exact situation and the possibilities you have, my suggestion would be to stay picky and not let anyone push you into any treatment you find too expensive or not necessary or just don't feel convinced. You are a customer and you are paying for a service so it might be a good idea to visit an another practice to look for further options.

All the best wishes and keep us posted.

 

[Anxious76]

I've posted before that I need my wisdom teeth plus 5 other molars removed. The place where I'm going charges $320 per tooth, but $500 for my one impacted wisdom tooth. I have had numerous people tell me that's very high. They also want me to be sedated, and that's $322 for every 15 minutes. They estimate it will take 45 minutes. I was thinking about trying to stay awake because I've never been sedated. I'm worried I will feel pain but won't be able to say it, or that I will vomit because of the medicine. The thought of throwing up after having 9 teeth removed is awful to me. My insurance will only cover around $1,000. They estimate my portion will be $2,800. That's the other problem, I don't have that just laying around. I have no clue how I will pay for it. This entire thing just stresses me out. I've cried myself to sleep for about a month, I don't know why because it doesn't help. I just feel so defeated and overwhelmed. If you have any input at all, please.. please share it with me!

The price for the Wisdom tooth extraction sounds about right to me since it can be a more involved procedure. The pricing for the other extractions does seem steep. I see a specialist and when he did my extractions the charge was $150 per tooth. I had 14 teeth extracted under IV Sedation and I would not recommend doing it any other way for anyone, but especially someone who is frightened. There was no nausea or vomiting and there was zero pain involved. If there is pain you will feel it and be able to communicate it, as you are not asleep just very relaxed, but to you it will feel as though you slept right through it and like no time has passed. The IV Sedation was charged in 15 minute intervals for me as well, although at $225 per dose, so your particular estimate is on the high side.

I would recommend pricing the procedure with other oral surgeons or dentists and also to consider applying for care credit which is personal loan of credit used specifically for dental or medical procedures. Without it I could not have finances the extensive work I had done. There’s no interest for a year and as long as you have average to good credit getting approved for about $3,000 should not be a problem at all and there’s no interest on payments for a year. I know it’s overwhelming but there’s always hope and a way and I hope you can find it.

 

[ashley89]

I'm sorry, I just saw your reply! I have the money thought a loan, and I sold a few things I've been wanting to sell anyway. I just have to work up the nerve to make the appointment!

 

[ashley89]

The price for the Wisdom tooth extraction sounds about right to me since it can be a more involved procedure. The pricing for the other extractions does seem steep. I see a specialist and when he did my extractions the charge was $150 per tooth. I had 14 teeth extracted under IV Sedation and I would not recommend doing it any other way for anyone, but especially someone who is frightened. There was no nausea or vomiting and there was zero pain involved. If there is pain you will feel it and be able to communicate it, as you are not asleep just very relaxed, but to you it will feel as though you slept right through it and like no time has passed. The IV Sedation was charged in 15 minute intervals for me as well, although at $225 per dose, so your particular estimate is on the high side.

I would recommend pricing the procedure with other oral surgeons or dentists and also to consider applying for care credit which is personal loan of credit used specifically for dental or medical procedures. Without it I could not have finances the extensive work I had done. There’s no interest for a year and as long as you have average to good credit getting approved for about $3,000 should not be a problem at all and there’s no interest on payments for a year. I know it’s overwhelming but there’s always hope and a way and I hope you can find it.

May I ask what you did for the 14 teeth that were extracted? Partial, bridge etc? This is all so overwhelming to me and I'm trying to weigh my options. I'm worried it will be really hard for me to eat and I'll look different

 

[Aurora10]

Hi ashley89,

sorry to hear about your situation, dental work is stressfull and having to worry about the costs makes it all just worse, I can imagine how overwhelming this is.



This sounds to me like they are trying to push you into something that is not your preference. I am also wondering what would happen if they need more than 45 minutes and if you have any control about it. And is it normal to charge iv sedation based on time needed? I don't have any experience but sounds weird to me. There are a lot of other sedation options, you can get nitrous, as rocketman32 suggested or some meds to calm you down or, just go with a local - based on what your fears are and how comfortable you feel with your dentist... there is no need to put you under.. so if you don't like the thought of iv sedation and want to keep the costs low, then why do it...

I am also wondering if you feel being in good hands in this practice and trust them and also how urgently your work needs to be done. A good dentist should respect your budget and be able to offer you solutions and options.

Without knowing your exact situation and the possibilities you have, my suggestion would be to stay picky and not let anyone push you into any treatment you find too expensive or not necessary or just don't feel convinced. You are a customer and you are paying for a service so it might be a good idea to visit an another practice to look for further options.

All the best wishes and keep us posted.

I just noticed this thread and the issue about sedation. At the dentist businesses in my city, they all charge by the time needed to complete treatment because they are charging for the anaesthetist and the monitoring nurse as well as the drugs required for the whole procedure. So at my practice it's $200 for the first hour and then $100 for each hour after. Hope this makes sense?

 

[Enarete]

So at my practice it's $200 for the first hour and then $100 for each hour after. Hope this makes sense?

Thank you for clarifying this, Aurora. I have no idea about how dental treatment in US or Canada works so normal things might sound weird to me. However the model you described - $200 for the first hour and then $100 for every next hour still sounds more ok to me then $322 for every 15 minutes. 15 minutes is not much and it can get crossed easier than one hour so that I would be afraid to wake up from the iv sedation and getting the message that the prodedure took 30 minutes more or so.. but again, this might be the standard, I do not know..

Ashley, in your other post you mentioned fear of having pain but not being able to say it or dying. You are actually conscious the whole time during the procedure and you can also communicate with your dentist, you are just very relaxed. The reason why it feels like you were asleep afterwards is, that the medication causes memory loss. But you won't be asleep or knocked out at any point during the procedure. Also the dentist can dose the medication so that you are more or less aware and communicative.

Here is a link about this in the "what can help" section of this site: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/help/sedation-dentistry/iv-sedation/

I also highly recommend Auroras journal for you to get an idea about how it feels.

All the best wishes and keep us posted

 

[chaoticharmony]

I've posted before that I need my wisdom teeth plus 5 other molars removed. The place where I'm going charges $320 per tooth, but $500 for my one impacted wisdom tooth. I have had numerous people tell me that's very high. They also want me to be sedated, and that's $322 for every 15 minutes. They estimate it will take 45 minutes. I was thinking about trying to stay awake because I've never been sedated. I'm worried I will feel pain but won't be able to say it, or that I will vomit because of the medicine. The thought of throwing up after having 9 teeth removed is awful to me. My insurance will only cover around $1,000. They estimate my portion will be $2,800. That's the other problem, I don't have that just laying around. I have no clue how I will pay for it. This entire thing just stresses me out. I've cried myself to sleep for about a month, I don't know why because it doesn't help. I just feel so defeated and overwhelmed. If you have any input at all, please.. please share it with me!

Hi Ashley. I’m having 20 (yes, 20!) teeth removed next Wednesday under IV sedation. This is being done at a very reputable oral surgery center and the cost is nowhere near what they are trying to charge you! They do charge the general anesthesia per 15 minutes (this is normal), but mine is $195. I’m estimated to be out for 1 hour 15 minutes. Also, each “simple” tooth extraction is only $150 and my impacted root tip extractions are $250. I’m shocked that you were quoted such high prices. Have you gotten estimates from other places?
I completely understand how you are feeling and I sympathize. My best advice now though is to get quotes from other centers. If the price goes down, that will help with overwhelming feelings a lot!