topic PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE in Community Chat

PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Pink123 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 23:44:08 GMT

I sort of knew this but did you know that "dental doctor's" do so much better financially wise than your good old Primay Care Doc that is retiring or becoming nonexistent?

Yes they do. Very sad.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

spent2much — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 23:43:51 GMT

I believe it. Dentists charge a FORTUNE!!!

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

AZfem — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:01:43 GMT

Yeah one crown at my dentist, without insurance,is $1,500+. With my insurance, 2 crowns were almost $800 on my part plus what insurance paid.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

fthunt — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:12:21 GMT

I can top yours - broke a front tooth in Sept- for bridge $4500

plus root removal plus two fillings $800.

But I can smile again without that jack-o-lantern look.

No insurance................

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

ECBG — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:22:30 GMT

Good training plus top notch materials have a cost. Everything is expensive.

People that have studied, hired the top notch staff to take you, aren't the ones to have an issue with. The nice office wasn't free either.

You will have a time to share your opinion that will drive your life in a few months.

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SilleeMee — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:49:06 GMT

What made my implant surgery (eight of them) possible is that I went to a dental institute to have the work done and saved thousands of dollars. It was all done by licensed, practicing dentists and dental surgeons who do this as a way to gain hours of experience for their practice from coast to coast. They gave me the smile of my dreams.

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Kachina624 — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 01:06:41 GMT

@SilleeMee. I went to the University of Texas Dental School almost weekly for 3 or 4 years. They're very slow and I was usually in the chair 3-4 hours but all I had to pay for was materials and, like you, I saved thousands. I had tons of sick leave on my job.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Ronettes — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 01:24:01 GMT

Just like my Dad, I have a mouthful of crowns -

And a front bridge (ten teeth) which was free of charge (my DH's union dental coverage), but which cost a total of $12,000.

The union had an agreement with this dental clinic that they paid 50% of the total costs of all procedures, with no co-pay by the patient.

The clinic billing department was furious that they only got paid $6,000 and called me at work, demanding that I pay the balance. I told them that I had the paperwork showing my balance co-pay was zero.

They flipped and told me to call the union to pay the balance, I told them to call themselves and hung up.

By the way, it's a beautiful bridge!

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

SilleeMee — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 01:49:24 GMT

I'm also fortunate to have a local community dental center in my city. Anyone can go there and they take insurance if you have it, I don't. But the best thing about it is they have a senior discount program where cleanings are free and fillings cost $10 each (!). Can't complain about that!

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

SaveTheTurtles — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 02:38:33 GMT

I'm guessing this is due in part to the fact that PCP's are aligned with a hospital system many times as they cannot compete otherwise. Whereas, dentists are usually in private practice but aligned with the major dental insurance players. Endodontists and Periodontists earn even more due to the specialized nature of their practices.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Spacrazy — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 02:57:28 GMT

I agree with the majority ~ dental costs are excessive.

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granddi — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:32:32 GMT

@SaveTheTurtles Agree.

Dentist and Dental Schools and Dental Associations have done a masterful job at controlling dental care. This includes the number of dental schools and thus dentists. State boards control the licensing.

There are very few corportate Dental Offices. Unlike Optometrists who are almost all corportate. Dentist want no part of government insurance such as Medicare but make a fortune off State Medicaid. My dentists friends tell it all.

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Desertdi — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:36:35 GMT

My DENTIST saved my life. I had a major infection in my jaw. During a three-year period, it had traveled into my sinus cavities, and then into my left ear, which left me deaf.

During this three-year time, I had been to my MD, an oral surgeon, and two ENDOs. None of them "found anything".

By this time, my face and neck were swollen beyond recognition and I was in excruciating pain.

Went back to my original dentist. He "took a chance" and traced the route of transmission of the infection to a front tooth (that did not show any damage), and did a root canal HIMSELF. Within a week of antibiotics, I was back to normal.

Yeah, a regular dentist with none of those "extra letters" after his name.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:47:15 GMT

@Pink123 wrote:
I sort of knew this but did you know that "dental doctor's" do so much better financially wise than your good old Primay Care Doc that is retiring or becoming nonexistent?

Yes they do. Very sad.

@Pink123

I think that's fair ... the work they do borders on surgery -- in your mouth --- and the work can be very intricate. People are often exhibit fear, even when the dentist is very careful.

The last time I went to my very good PCP, she checked my throat, listened to my heart and lungs, reviewed meds and sent me for a bone density test. End of visit.

IMO, no contest.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 03:49:39 GMT

@Pink123 wrote:
I sort of knew this but did you know that "dental doctor's" do so much better financially wise than your good old Primay Care Doc that is retiring or becoming nonexistent?

Yes they do. Very sad.

@Pink123

What is so "very sad"?

I was under the impression that dentists go to medical school and then go to dental school. More education than your run of the mill PCP.

Re: PRIMARY PHISICAN VS. DENTAL CARE

Natureluvr — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 14:30:23 GMT

Interesting! I would have never guessed.

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Shelbelle — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 15:06:41 GMT

Especially true for the dental specialists. My perio doc charged me 7000 for one dental implant, not including the final crown that my regular dentist did. Not to mention what a root canal specialist charges these days

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Estellee — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 16:02:30 GMT

So true. Medical insurance coverage is so much better than Dental insurance coverage, they make out like a bandit.

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Carmie — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 16:32:44 GMT

I am happy I have dental insurance. It helps. I go every six months for a cleaning.

I am fortunate that I have great teeth and gums. Usually a cleaning is all I need.

I have one crown that cost me $500 over 20 years ago that still stings because of the cost. After the dentist put the crown on, I had to have it drilled through to get a root canal about two months later.

So, now I have a filling on top of the expensive crown. The tooth was ruined because a dentist left a small hole between my teeth when he replaced a filling that decayed.

I have a great dentist now, but I am scared he will retire soon. My dentist is worth every penny and then some.

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JYWilliams — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 16:35:49 GMT

I believe it. I had my old silver fillings removed and replaced with a new material. I almost passed out from the price. And I had braces put on in 2021 and I didn't have Dental Insurance at the time that was $5,600 out of pocket.