*sighs*

[lithera]

So. It looks like I am the victim of a bad root canal.

I have three options:
-I can wait until September and get my insurance to cover re-drilling and re-filling the root canal. (I have to wait until September because there the inusrance won't cover until two years after the original.)
-I can pay for the root canal out of pocket.
-I can have the tooth taken out.

I think option number 1 is where I'm going but this pain... I never want to go through that again.

I think I want a nap.

Comments

[grayarcadian.livejournal.com]

Have you discussed this with the insurance company yet? I know you probably have, but I'm just covering bases.

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

Option 2 might be good if you go back to the place that originally did it. If they f'ed up, they might fix it for free / less.

[jameel.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, the same thing happened to me!

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Yep. Talked to them already.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I'm going to ask but I'm not expecting anything from them. They're... I don't know. There was a reason I didn't feel comfortable going back.

[prairieflower.livejournal.com]

How old is the original? They might be willing to cut you a deal if you see the same people about it. I have to have a crown put on the one I just had done. They're deducting the price of the filling they put on it from the cost of the crown.

Another option is Care Credit. Its low-interest financing that you can pay back, like a line of credit for your teeth. Ask your dentist about it. They likely have information on it. We did that before Scott and I got married, before I had any insurance. We pay less than a hundred dollars a month, on nearly 2k we financed.

Feel better. And good luck.

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

*nods* fair nuff.

Of course, on the other hand, they could avoid some bad press / potential legal action by paying for the replacement work wherever you want to go.....

[jameel.livejournal.com]

You have a dental school nearby, yes? I've had work done at a dental school, and was able to arrange payments that were quite reasonable.

No more pain for you....

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I can't believe your insurance won't cover a dentist screw-up. I mean. I can believe it, because it's an insurance company. But it's just so inherently wrong that I can't believe it. Gah. *hugs*

Actually, I also can't believe your *dentist* won't eat the cost. Stupid bastards. :P

[crowbarbob.livejournal.com]

Definitely go back to the dentist that did it.

Insurance companies are hard asses on this stuff. Most of its semantics.

Example:
You go to see the dentist. He tells you that he needs to fix a filling but eventually you'll need a crown. He changes it out. You go on your way. Now, if he'd billed for a filling, which is usually cheaper, and a year later you need to get the crown the insurance company won't pay pookie because fillings are considered to be permanent restoratives. I.e. You get to pay for the crown. For those joining the program at home, a crown usually costs about $800 to $900.

Most dentists are wise to this though so they charge you for whats called a core buildup. Which is essentially just another name for a filling. They cost more but the insurance company sees this as a placeholder for the upcoming crown and thus not a permanent restorative. So in the long run, the idiots end up paying more

Serious though, it is dangerous to leave the tooth as it is if you are in pain now. You are likely dealing with gas buildup or the potential of infection. It could damage the surrounding tissue and bone of the area which would cost you more money in the long run. Call your dentist and get back in there.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I have an infection and am taking antibiotics for it.

The thing is, I don't have any trust at all for the people who did it in the first place and I'm not at all sure that I want them to do it again. They kind of scare me.... It's a rough call.

[crowbarbob.livejournal.com]

If you are cool with going to the east side I can probably touch bases with ye olde dentist and ask him who he'd recommend. Any recommendation he gives may involve a trip to Issaquah though.

Let me know.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Issaquah is a bit rough though if it comes down to it, I may well ask.

I found a dentist that I like and that I'm comfortable going to but I run into that lovely insurance issue trying to get it done there. I can't afford it out of pocket, no matter what ends up happening.

[crowbarbob.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where you went to originally but as someone else mentioned there is always the Dental school at the UW.

As for the insurance thing, I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know but just the root canal portion of the procedure is probably going to put you out about $800 bucks out of pocket. Its also pretty much a requirement to get a crown put on the tooth after that. You don't have to do it immediately but the sooner the better as the tooth becomes more brittle and apt to crack or break after you kill the nerve and remove the 'innards.'

I'm betting though that a lot of these places would be willing to work with you for a payment plan.