I'm going to follow my dear Julie's example and make this post a full on rant. I had a dentist appointment this morning. It's the first time I've been in about 2 years. I've had insurance issues and have been otherwise distracted with my health. Since I was laid off, my insurance is about to expire, so I went to get x-rays. My dentist's office is very high-tech, and they did digital x-rays and photographs to check out my awful teeth. I am so mad at them! :) I need 7 crowns, 1 possible root canal, 4 fillings, and deep cleaning of my teeth & gums! How dare they betray me like this? After the dentist was done determining the damage, the billing assistant came in to break the news (and the bank). My co-pay is $770 per crown, $175 per filling, and $380 for the deep clean & gum scaling...that's a grand total of $6,470!!!!! And that doesn't include the root canal, for which I will have to see a specialist. By the way, she doesn't know if I need one...the specialist will have to determine that. I have no pain or anything. Well, needless to say, since I was juts laid off and no income to rely on, I wasn't able to have any work done. In fact, I rushed out of there and burst into tears on the way to my car. My hysterics came in handy, because my next stop was where I get my massages, where I had to cancel my membership, and they felt very sorry for me and cancelled it no question. Back when my doctor was telling me my health problems were becasue of stress, I was getting massages to relax. Now that I know it's not stress, but Hashimoto's, the massages are purely a perk...and therefore first to go these days. Anyways, I am feeling rather stressed and bummed, so I went to In 'n' Out for some comfort food and am now at home watching Pride & Prejudice. In 'n' Out is always comforting...Cody worked at the one in Palmdale and would always bring me dinner when he worked (every Friday). This is the 1980 British mini-series of P&P, but I'm still enjoying it. I think I'm finally calming down about that astronomical sum...over SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS! What the heck? There I go again. Sorry about the gross picture...I just have to keep in mind that it could be worse.
Well, even though I'm watching the heroine Elizabeth Bennet, I'm going to follow the method of another heroine, Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler; "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."
I'm sad...
About this entry
- November 25, 2008 at 11:56 AM
- November 25, 2008 at 11:57 AM
- November 25, 2008 at 12:18 PM
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November 25, 2008 at 12:26 PM
AND did they mention that you probably have a maximum around $1200 ($3000 if you're lucky) that your insurance will pay per year. After that, you have to pay for the entire crown! Dave totaled his car and had to get a crown when we were engaged, but not seven! I am so sorry! But at least if you keep following in our footsteps, you'll have a couple of kids and a great marriage in the next few years.
- November 25, 2008 at 1:40 PM
- November 25, 2008 at 1:49 PM
- November 25, 2008 at 2:31 PM
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November 25, 2008 at 6:27 PM
That's terrible. One of my good friends got diagnosed with Hashimotos, I think I might have it too. I'm going to an endocrinologist on the 1st of Dec. Have you ever heard of PCOS? We both have it and it causes thyroid problems. Keep yo head up girl. After all, things are about to get real better real soon...
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November 25, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Easier said than done, but have faith that things will work out, because they will. Keep living right. Heavenly Father won't leave you, especially not after you have dedicated how much time and energy into preserving marriage and all the other good you're doing!!! If anyone can get through this you can, youre as tough as nails!! Hey maybe you have some rich friends that will anonymously pay for your teeth?!? (I wish I was the rich friend).
I had no idea you were laid off, when did this happen? -
November 25, 2008 at 11:32 PM
You really should see my dentist, she is not only amazing but she has payment plans, etc etc she really works with her patients and she is a good friend of mine too, she is not in the biz to screw people out of lots of money, email me and I will send you her info, she is amazing, she has a website too!
Good luck!! -
November 26, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Oh my! I'm so sorry to here about your dental troubles. I can totally relate. I'm not in the same boat, but possibly the one next to yours.
I hate going to the dentist because it seems like every time I go, my teeth are worse. How does that happen? I brush my teeth, I floss, I take care of them... and still. I like to blame it on soft enamel and my parents ha.
Before I moved, I went to the dentist because I had two teeth with holes in them. Apparently one was a filling that had fallen out and the other... well, part of my stupid tooth had decided to fall out all on its own. Traitor. Luckily, my parents footed half the bill for a filling and a temp (2-3 years) crown.
If you get work done after insurance runs out, isn't there a dental card you can get and make payments on without interest for a year or something? I thought your brother did something to that effect a couple of years ago. Something to think about maybe.
Anyway, sorry for the dramatically long post. good luck! - November 26, 2008 at 8:19 AM
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November 26, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Oh Heather, I completely feel your pain! Literaly! This past 12 months, I've had 6 crowns and 2 onlays, the root planing and scaling, costing over $3000 out of pocket (only so "cheap" because I'm double covered). And if you want to hear the whole story of my horrible CA dentist, follow the "teeth" tags on my blog. Yesterday, one of my teeth broke in half! I had to go in for an emergency root canal and will have all the crown prep next week. Another $400 I DON'T have... to be paid directly to my local dentist. I'll be paying for some of his Christmas presents, I'm sure.
Do not...I repeat...do NOT get any Cerec crowns or onlays without consulting ME first. I have such a story to tell... -
November 26, 2008 at 6:13 PM
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November 26, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Ya know, if you're teeth aren't as bad as the above picture, I would think my lucky stars. However, the truth is that is sucks butt pretty bad! I'm sorry. Sometimes brushing, flossing, and eating good foods isn't enough. Be like the Canadians and stick it to the man. Just let your teeth fall out and then go mow your lawn, while holding a cig and sporting a see-through, netted t-shirt. If you can hold a hockey stick in there, somewhere, that would be good, too.
- December 1, 2008 at 12:21 PM
- December 1, 2008 at 12:25 PM
- December 1, 2008 at 1:49 PM
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