Feeling Stuck

[Punkerpants]

I have never heard of an insurance restricting you to only one dental office but maybe you could start by researching with the insurance if there are any other offices, even if they are a little farther away? Or possibly, the insurance plan has changed and added new providers in your area who are better equipped to help you?

The clinic I go to is the one that was assigned by my health insurance. I can probably go to other providers that accept the same insurance, but for some reason, most services aren't covered. Like one time I had a cat bite and had to go to urgent care. I made sure the urgent care I chose was covered by my insurance. They said I needed medication but "If you get them here they're not covered. You have to go to your doctor at your regular clinic and ask them." Another time I was referred to an allergist (again covered by my insurance) but the tests they wanted me to get were not covered.

I'm worried if I go to another dentist office they will tell me the same thing: "It's not covered here, go to your regular clinic."

Also, I don't like the doctor's office they assigned to me. I asked for another office but they denied my request.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Surely there is another dental clinic within reach that is covered by your insurance?!
You mentioned you think that even a clinic which have a contract with the insurance will not cover all but I don’t think that that is the case with dental practices. You can ask the insurance directly about that.

 

[Punkerpants]

Surely there is another dental clinic within reach that is covered by your insurance?!
You mentioned you think that even a clinic which have a contract with the insurance will not cover all but I don’t think that that is the case with dental practices. You can ask the insurance directly about that.

I will ask and look around. I hope that will be the case but I'm kind of doubtful. My insurance is not good, only covers the basics and the bare minimum. For example, it does not cover root canal treatments (even at my assigned clinic), so they'll extract the tooth instead. Also wisdom teeth removal is not covered so even if I had the nerve to do it I can't afford it.

Sorry to sound pessimistic. I'm generally a very positive person but my anxieties and fears make me only think of negative things.

 

[Punkerpants]

I will ask and look around. I hope that will be the case but I'm kind of doubtful. My insurance is not good, only covers the basics and the bare minimum. For example, it does not cover root canal treatments (even at my assigned clinic), so they'll extract the tooth instead. Also wisdom teeth removal is not covered so even if I had the nerve to do it I can't afford it.

Sorry to sound pessimistic. I'm generally a very positive person but my anxieties and fears make me only think of negative things.

Ahhh, never mind. I was wrong, sorry! I looked at the benefits section of the insurance website and as of this year they do offer root canal treatments. They still do not offer wisdom teeth removal though and they do not mention anything about going someplace other than where you were assigned.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Ahhh, never mind. I was wrong, sorry! I looked at the benefits section of the insurance website and as of this year they do offer root canal treatments. They still do not offer wisdom teeth removal though and they do not mention anything about going someplace other than where you were assigned.

That’s great news. Is there a different practice you can visit?

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Ahhh, never mind. I was wrong, sorry! I looked at the benefits section of the insurance website and as of this year they do offer root canal treatments. They still do not offer wisdom teeth removal though and they do not mention anything about going someplace other than where you were assigned.

That’s great news. Is there a different practice you can visit?

 

[Punkerpants]

That’s great news. Is there a different practice you can visit?

I called the company and yes, I can go to a different practice. Some things are not covered but that is the case no matter where I go. However, they said most dentists enrolled in the insurance program in my area are not currently accepting new patients and that I might need to fill out some forms in order to switch.
But at least now I know I can go somewhere else if there's an opening.

 

[Enarete]

I called the company and yes, I can go to a different practice. Some things are not covered but that is the case no matter where I go. However, they said most dentists enrolled in the insurance program in my area are not currently accepting new patients and that I might need to fill out some forms in order to switch.
But at least now I know I can go somewhere else if there's an opening.

This is amazing news! If I were you, I wouldn't rely on the statement about most dentists not accepting patients, but would keep on looking and getting in touch, sometimes it's about luck.
Really glad you have options, I would never recommend anyone to go to a place that wasn't good in the past, as every negative dental experience makes your fear worse and makes it more difficult to attend in the future.
Again, glad you have some options and do keep us posted.

 

[Enarete]

I called the company and yes, I can go to a different practice. Some things are not covered but that is the case no matter where I go. However, they said most dentists enrolled in the insurance program in my area are not currently accepting new patients and that I might need to fill out some forms in order to switch.
But at least now I know I can go somewhere else if there's an opening.

This is amazing news! If I were you, I wouldn't rely on the statement about most dentists not accepting patients, but would keep on looking and getting in touch, sometimes it's about luck.
Really glad you have options, I would never recommend anyone to go to a place that wasn't good in the past, as every negative dental experience makes your fear worse and makes it more difficult to attend in the future.
Again, glad you have some options and do keep us posted.

 

[Punkerpants]

After an hour or so of digging I think I found someone nearby who sounds good based on his About Me section on their website. To summarize, he stated good medicine is compassion + skill + good judgment and I liked that he mentioned compassion first. He only has three reviews (two very good, one bad) but the other 5 dentists I could choose from had lower ratings and one sounded downright terrible. Overall the one I picked sounds like a decent match. I can't find an email address to contact him directly.

But omg! I went into full blown panic mode when I started doing my research (the heart racing, can't breathe, crying, hands shaking on keyboard kind). I haven't even asked my friend to make an appointment yet!

 

[Sol]

Kudos to you for starting on this again. Guessing you have an HMO which restricts you to seeing the dentist that accept the plan (I work as an insurance agent, btw). Each plan is different but the one my company sells will let you change your assigned primary/general dentist once a month. I'm glad you called your insurance company and got more information about the policy and were able to locate more providers in your area. Good luck with the future appointment.

 

[kitkat]

Just take things one day at a time! It is good that you have a supportive friend who can help you with making the first appointment.

 

[Punkerpants]

Kudos to you for starting on this again. Guessing you have an HMO which restricts you to seeing the dentist that accept the plan (I work as an insurance agent, btw). Each plan is different but the one my company sells will let you change your assigned primary/general dentist once a month. I'm glad you called your insurance company and got more information about the policy and were able to locate more providers in your area. Good luck with the future appointment.

Thank you for the information and good luck wishes.

Yes, I have HMO. I was assigned this specific plan through a government insurance program (similar to Medicaid). So basically I've been assigned an insurance plan by the government, who assigned me a primary clinic, doctor, and dentist (I think my clinic is the only one that accepts my plan, or maybe it's a branch and this clinic is the only one near me. The doctor and dentist offices are actually in the same building). So if I want to go to a different dentist who is in the government insurance network but is not with my specific plan, I think that's when nothing is covered.

So in order for me to have coverage I have to switch plans entirely before I can change dentists. The government program (they're the ones that I called) said they allow these changes for "special cases" and not feeling comfortable with your assigned plan/dentist is one of those cases. They didn't mention anything about how often I can change though so I'll keep it in mind to ask that if I do start the process of switching.

 

[Enarete]

But omg! I went into full blown panic mode when I started doing my research (the heart racing, can't breathe, crying, hands shaking on keyboard kind). I haven't even asked my friend to make an appointment yet!

The purpose of fear is to prevent us from doing things that harmed us in the past and therefore might be dangerous. Our subconscious mind goes something like this: dentist hurt me in the past so I have to do everything to avoid going again. The best way to do that is to bring up a heavy reaction such as panic attacks and heart racing and shaking because that will for sure prevent me from going.
The closer you will get to the goal of seeing the dentist, the heavier the fear will get but that's ok, we all went through that. I remember crying, shaking and not being able to breathe basically every day for a period of few months until I saw my dentist. Still wondering how I managed not to get fired at work in that period.
Anyway, remember that thinking about seeing a dentist is not the same as actually seeing one and a good compassionate dentist will know how to put you at ease and make things easier for you.
Glad you found someone who looks suitable, hope you find a way to get in touch.

 

[Punkerpants]

The purpose of fear is to prevent us from doing things that harmed us in the past and therefore might be dangerous. Our subconscious mind goes something like this: dentist hurt me in the past so I have to do everything to avoid going again. The best way to do that is to bring up a heavy reaction such as panic attacks and heart racing and shaking because that will for sure prevent me from going.
The closer you will get to the goal of seeing the dentist, the heavier the fear will get but that's ok, we all went through that. I remember crying, shaking and not being able to breathe basically every day for a period of few months until I saw my dentist. Still wondering how I managed not to get fired at work in that period.
Anyway, remember that thinking about seeing a dentist is not the same as actually seeing one and a good compassionate dentist will know how to put you at ease and make things easier for you.
Glad you found someone who looks suitable, hope you find a way to get in touch.

It's good to know I'm not alone in these feelings. I've gone so long being told this reaction is abnormal and unacceptable and realizing that based on what I've been through it actually is quite normal is encouraging.

Did you have good and bad days? Like some days you almost feel okay about it and think "I CAN do this!" and then the next day you're like "Nope, never mind I can't. What the heck was I thinking?!" I've gone through days and even months like these (when I was gone from the forum I was in my bad months where I pretty much gave up ever going and now I'm in my good moment thinking I might be able to).

 

[Enarete]

Oh, absolutely. If you check my journal, it was rollercoaster all the way, moving from terror to optimism, sometimes even looking forward to the visit and then terror again. I think I even made a note about feeling like having multiple personalities.
This is normal, nobody stays in the same mood all day long so why should anxiety be any different. My dentist once explained to me that this also happens during a visit, you basically work yourself through every second and your anxiety is going up and down based on what is happening right now. The time before an appointment is the same. I remember some past visits where I was truly enthusiastic days and hours before the appointment, thinking I had no anxiety anymore and then guess what - one hour before the apt and I find myself sitting on my bed, staring at the wall completely frozen by terror thinking "I just can't do this!".

 

[Punkerpants]

I'll definitely take a look at your journal, thank you!

I can definitely relate to feeling like having multiple personalities. One thing that is always consistent with me is I freak out the most when I'm about to do something. About to make a call, about to leave the house to go to the appointment, about to get out of my car at the doctor/dentist (I usually sit there and panic for 30 minutes until I almost miss my appointment), my name about to be called in the waiting room, etc. I would say for me the absolute worst part is the waiting room. Hate hate hate it. Also the wait while in the room for someone to come in.