I need a dental crown, and i can't pay 800 bucks..

[toddzilla]

i have no dental insurance.. any ideas?

i have about 400 or so bucks right now, but i'm sick of not eating crunchy stuff, and re-gluing my tooth every few weeks. It was chipped a long time ago and it's finally given up and i need a real crown.

[calico1]

1. You should find out if your dentist can work out a

payment plan. A lot of them do for people who have no insurance.

[Frances]

2. Good idea

Ask the dentist if you can put $400 down and pay $X per month until the crown is paid for.

[Scairp]

3. I'm looking for dental insurance

I have found that it isn't that expensive. I have seen very good coverage for only $15-20 per month for an individual. You should really check into it.

[mckara]

4. Why Not Join the Military?

I've heard the Army and Marines are hiring.

[silverlib]

5. Dental college in your area?

That would be optimal - free - use you $400 to stimulate the economy or keep it in the bank. The dentist's children probably will still have shoes.

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. Call the county dental society.

Lots of dentists (and doctors) give away a certain amount of care at no or reduced costs. They will make an appropriate referral for you.

:)

[toddzilla]

8. thank you..

that's what i was looking for.. i don't even have a dentist actually.

[Cuban_Liberal]

9. YW

Glad to help.

:)

[girl gone mad]

7. See if there is a dental school..

in your area. If you don't mind having a supervised student doing the work, that is.

Otherwise, work out a payment plan or find a free clinic.

[PSU84]

10. Go to a college of dentistry.

By allowing a dental student to work on you, you will be treated for free.

Use google to find a university near you with a dental school.

[curse10]

15. Not all dental schools are free

the one in my neighborhood (BU school of dentistry) charges 800 bucks for emergency treatment. Nothing is free there and you are still worked on by students.

I'm having my wisdom teeth pulled by a real Oral Surgeon on Monday after trying to go the dental school route. We are going to try to get it covered by medical insurance, and if it doesn't work he will work out a payment plan for me. Most dentists and doctors will work with you and even discount their work (especially if you are a student!)

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. At the dental school in Houston

it isn't free, but it does cost much less. You are only worked on by seniors and all the dental work is inspected every step of the way by their instructor who is a licensed dentist. My mother got a much better crown at the dental school than she got from her former dentist, at a lower cost.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. Boy do I ever feel your pain

I've had about seven crowns--one had to be replaced. We are still paying on a dental bill from SIX years ago that totaled around $5000 (I needed a LOT of stuff done). We've got it down to $2K now.

CAn you just save up the other $400 and tough it out until then? It sucks, I know.

[TrueAmerican]

12. Can you make it down to El Paso

Across the border in Juarez, they have cheap denist.

http://www.washingtondentalclinic.com/

[beanball]

19. Across the border

I live in southeastern arizona,my dentist in arizona wanted $800.00 for a crown,went to Naco,Mexico got my crown for &200.00,my dentist got his degree from the University of Arizona.

[Ladyhawk]

13. I've needed one for about three years.

I had an abscess and underwent a root canal that required four visits. The dentist recommended a crown and showed me what could happen if the tooth split. I can't afford the crown, either. I just don't chew with that side of my mouth anymore. :shrug:

Thanks for the information. I might check into these ideas.

[soothsayer]

17. I chewed on one side of my mouth for a couple of months, waiting for

Jan 1 so my FSA would kick in to pay for my crown. While doing that, I managed to crack a tooth on THAT side, so then I got to get TWO crowns...!

Oy.

[Ladyhawk]

23. Hmmm...maybe it's time to switch sides. :)

That's some bad luck. Yikes!

(Hehe...I misread your name as "toothsayer.")

[soothsayer]

28. toothsayer! that's funny. It was more like "toothsore" back then. n/t

[nini]

14. there are stainless steel temporarys that will last forever with cement

see if a dentist is willing to fit one of those babies on with the dental cement until you can afford a custom fit one.


it'll last forever as it's not thin like the regular temporary ones.


But the best bet is go to a local dental college if there is one in your area. Can't beat that

[toddzilla]

21. it's one of my two front teeth..

i don't think a stainless front tooth would look all that good.. :freak:

[nini]

22. oops... sorry..

definitely try the colleges.

Hope if it works out!

[brainshrub]

18. Aren't you glad we have a corporate-base insurance plan?

I mean, you get to CHOOSE your dentist! Never mind that you can't afford one.

Sorry about your tooth. Perhaps there is a dental college in your area?

[LeighAnn]

20. Try Dental Plans.com

Consider Dental Plans.com 'cause for, like, $100 a year you can save about half on what you pay for procedures, which could save you a lot of money if you need to have more work done than just the crown.

If you walk in with some kind of insurance, a lot of places will be better about "payment plans" and what-not.

[amazona]

24. if you live near Tijuana

There are lots of dentists just over the border in Mexico that do crowns. Way less than $800.

[Steven_S]

25. Why not put it on your credit card?

Or get one of those cards that offer 0% for the first year. 400 bucks spread over a year is easier. That's assuming you have some sort of imcome.

[skygazer]

26. I thoroughly sympathize

I spent years having teeth pulled because I couldn't afford to have the work I needed done on them. Some of these ideas in this thread are good - I wish I'd thought of them then.

Five years ago, I got a job with full dental insurance and I've had a lot of work done. Good luck - it sucks when you're afraid to smile...

[uncle ray]

27. if you can swing half

most dentists should finance the rest at 100 a month or so. might have to leave post dated checks for them.

i feel your pain! i just turned 30, and am getting a full upper set of dentures later this month.

[Speck Tater]

29. Make your own crown. YES it is possible...

As crazy as it sounds, the materials are readily available and the technique is not too hard to learn.

Here's a site that explains it step by step (although this site is about making "vampire fangs" it does use all the same dental materials and techniques needed.)

http://www.shades-of-night.com/larp/fangfile.html


on edit: you should probably get your dentist to install it for you after you've made it, just to be sure it's properly glued.

[serryjw]

30. I sell the dental plan....May I help?

It just saved me over $1000 on two bridges. You will also received vision,presciption drugs and chiropractor for $11.95/monthly!
If I can answer any questions email me directly
Hope you feel better.
Serry
http://www.deliveringonthepromise.com/swinkler

[radwriter0555]

31. You can get a long term metal temp for $20.00. yes, TWENTY DOLLARS.

I had one on a molar that lasted forever! They come ready made.. so you need to find a local dentist that slaps those puppies on, typically, not in the best part of town, since these are options generally offered to those in the lower socio-economic stratas.