[BrokenNBeautiful]

I have been having to pay thousands of dollars on root canals and other treatment.

I have heard of donated dental, checked it out, and found out that they only help seniors?

My roommate and I will end up homeless if I need any more.

I also tried to go to the dental school and they are not accepting new patients. That's why I am paying for it.

But I can't pay any more.

I may have to have at least 2 more root canals. Had already 10!

From dentist phobia all my life, and then 2 dishonest dentists who messed up my teeth with bad fillings.

Billi

[nicoleb2]

I wish I could help you, I am having similar issues, but have not managed to get myself to the dentist yet

[ECHOES]

There are some private dental insurance plans available that are affordable and offer good discounts on dental services. I found one via a post here on PC. This one is through MetLife and is available to residents of California: www.safeguard.net. I'm sure there are others, but this is one I know about. The site includes the plan benefits so you can see what the cost to you would be.

I hope this helps.

[ADDithers]

Yikes I know about root canals - I've lost count - I have one now that is failing & it's a main chomper - dentist has been trying to talk me into an implant - so I just limp along with it

As for private insurance I've looked but never found any plan that takes care of things like root canals, crowns & implants - if you find anything let us know

[ECHOES]

Originally Posted by ADDithers

Yikes I know about root canals - I've lost count - I have one now that is failing & it's a main chomper - dentist has been trying to talk me into an implant - so I just limp along with it

As for private insurance I've looked but never found any plan that takes care of things like root canals, crowns & implants - if you find anything let us know

The plan I mentioned above covers root canals and crowns. The website shows the benefits.

[ADDithers]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

The plan I mentioned above covers root canals and crowns. The website shows the benefits.

You're right - I first glanced at that website with my mobile device which didn't show the dental link.

http://www.metlife.com/assets/ib/ins...V-CA-KIT-1.pdf

looking at co-payment, it still looks like a bargain, especially when a root canal & crown can cost up to $2,000

[BrokenNBeautiful]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

There are some private dental insurance plans available that are affordable and offer good discounts on dental services. I found one via a post here on PC. This one is through MetLife and is available to residents of California: www.safeguard.net. I'm sure there are others, but this is one I know about. The site includes the plan benefits so you can see what the cost to you would be.

I hope this helps.

I am with safeguard and it's the huge huge copayments that are thousands of dollars.

I am looking into insurance and also low income dental places to see what they charge for treatment.

Billi

[Perna]

I would try to get a charge card, just for your dental work, and have it done and then pay back the charge card slower than the all-at-once dental work might require.

[ADDithers]

Originally Posted by Perna

I would try to get a charge card, just for your dental work, and have it done and then pay back the charge card slower than the all-at-once dental work might require.

I don't understand at all how this makes any sense - debt is debt. Why would you want to pay interest on a credit card? If ever there's a road to nowhere, it's paying interest!

[Perna]

Paying over time one might be able to do and the interest is the cost of taking the time. All loans (what a credit card can be) have interest. If you want/need something "big" (house, furniture, appliances, car) you buy it over time; if you haven't gotten medical or dental insurance (and dental insurance might be a "wash" as what one has to pay each month for the insurance plus what one has to pay as one's portion of the dental work, plus large-scale dental work like crowns are not very covered and have caps/limits), it can be to one's advantage to just work out a payment plan with the dentist but if that isn't possible, charging it as a large expense and paying what one can afford is a legitimate road.

Interest only becomes a problem if you do not understand it, have too high an interest rate and/or pay too little in one's monthly payment to pay off the debt. But that's how most people pay for school (loans) and other big items and it sounds like billi's work she's having done is a big item. If one cannot get other, less expensive means of getting work done, paying over time can fit into one's budget easier sometimes than not paying rent/buying food at all, and getting behind in those and other areas/bills and then having to play catch-up. Money over time is a good leverage if you use it wisely. Interest works both ways, one invests money to make interest and one can buy time by paying interest.

[ADDithers]

I'm sorry I misunderstand your reply about 'paying slower' - I thought you meant 'slower' than other credit cards. If a person needs dental work, most of the time it cannot wait (pain + it can only get worse ) so if there's no money, yes, a cc will get it done - but cc bills / purchases need to be paid off pronto to avoid paying interest.

[Woundedheart1]

I feel ur pain I've had 16 and the same amount of crowns I joke I have a Lexus in my mouth. I've been able to manage the cost by working out payment plans with my drs. Still paying monthly. As long as I pay something they are good I've been fortunate. Hood team of doctors I work with. I wish I could hive you my dr name he's great and works with you on pmt. I wish I could say more but good luck sorry ur having such a hard time.

[Fresia]

There is also a credit plan called Care Credit that finances dental/some medical care. It works like a credit card in that it pays the bill upfront for dental and some medical bills (dental, eye, hearing, veterinary, ...) and then you pay it back in installments, during a set time period/schedule that you set in conjunction with their plans, then there are no interest fees. If over the time schedule, there will be interest fees.

http://www.carecredit.com/

Not all providers accept Care Credit, so find out first to see if this could be of benefit. This could be helpful for dental and some medical bills for y'all if so, instead of going straight interest bearing credit, or if the offices don't work out payment plans and then can't get treatment because of it.
Hope this helps.

[BrokenNBeautiful]

thanks everyone.

I am not sure what I am going to do.

Billi

[meltedskydiver7]

i am poor and have really bad teeth who knows what will take to fix em. been researching free dental for awhile. just curious have you heard of a program called dentistry from the heart. its nation wide. the catch is it may not be around you, and its only certain dates of the year. but it is every year. im lucky i have three in driving distance. they do extractions for example to the first 100 people. they do other stuff too. just google it. youll find a callendar of where each location is times and dates. might help. also local cathloc churches or charoties often do dental tax right offs for the above dentists and churches. hope it helps