LAST WEEK WE’RE DRIVING home from the dentist and my son says, “Gee, you’re sure crabby.”
“I know I am,” I respond. “I can’t help it.”
It’s not that I dislike the dentist or the hygienist or any of the dental office staff. I don’t dislike having my teeth cleaned. But I don’t like having my teeth cleaned either.
I do, however, dislike the cost of dental work. I’ve just written a check for $325 and two days later my husband is due back for more dental work.
The dentist has just informed me that because my son is missing two permanent molars, he will need dental implants. Not today. Not tomorrow. But when his baby teeth either fall out or are pulled out.
“How much does that cost?” I ask.
“Six thousand dollars,” she answers and then suggests that he start saving his money. And how exactly, I want to ask her, do you expect a 16-year-old, who doesn’t have a job, who will have a college education to finance and other expenses, save $6,000? By the time he needs the implants, the cost will likely be even higher.
She emphasizes that the financial responsibility for the dental implants will be his, not mine. I want to say, but don’t, that I cannot in good conscience as a mother expect my son to bear that cost.
And then the dentist turns to me, asks if I’ve ever considered getting braces. She goes on for awhile before I finally manage to squeeze in my comment. Yes, I’ve seen an orthodontist, I say, but my kids come first.
Then she pats me on the knee, tells me it’s now time to do something special for myself.
I am close to tears. She just doesn’t get it. I don’t have a tree in my backyard that grows $1,000 bills.
So, yes, on the drive home, I am crabby, very crabby.
And when my husband returns from the dentist on Friday, I am even crabbier.
© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I KNOW exactly how you feel. I’m not sure why they said he would need implants-I am without a permanent molar that the dentists pulled and $450 dollars later I was picking bone chips out for weeks afterwards.
They make a mint off of services. I just started telling them that no, I don’t want x-rays with my cleanings and no I don’t want this or this either. I get cranky trying to deal with all of them too. I remember when I got another tooth pulled they charged me for a “consultation” fee. They had never even seen me before the day they pulled my tooth!
Dentists will tell you you “need” many things just so they can make more money I think. When I had my braces I saw two different orthodontists at the place I went to and one suggested pulling all 6 of my molars! I was kinda like WHAT?! Another suggested breaking my upper and bottom jaws. Another suggested breaking my upper bone pallet.
I understand your crabbiness completely!
Sara, your dental experiences have certainly enlightened me. I will most definitely seek out a second opinion before going the route of dental implants for my son. I too have begun refusing those “routine” dental procedures every time I go to the dentist. Instead, I am spacing some care further apart in an effort to save money. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I completely agree with both of you. My question is though, what can we as “normal people” do about this? Are there no dentists out there that we can trust that will look out for our best interests, not their own pocketbook?
I have had terrible experiences also, to the point of crying through the initial consult only to end up getting nothing done with the chipped tooth that I went to get looked at. I still haven’t been back.
This is sad for a nation that supposedly ranks so high in health care.
Maybe we need to confer with someone in the dental profession for some insight that we are all missing. Maybe they know how to get one of those “money trees” for our backyard.
You raise some legitimate concerns and some very good questions, Dawn.
I would like to think that most dentists out there are genuinely committed to giving the best care possible and are in the profession, not for the money, but to keep all us healthy.
Yet, with the high cost of dental care and given the specific negative experiences you and Sara have had, I have to wonder.
Does anyone out there have answers or suggestions?
Well, if it helps any, we found a nice dentist here in Indiana. We also have some insurance, but he gives us a discount on our out of pocket expenses because Jon is in school. And he has also to suggest any other type of dental work. So there are a few good ones out there still, they are just few and far between. When I was living with mom and dad, we always went to Northfield to Heritage Dentists, and we liked them too…I think, I never had to pay the bill 😉
Have a great day!
So glad you found a great dentist in Indiana. It sounds like he is quite in tune to your financial situation. Your positive experiences are reassuring to hear.
My son also had a similar experience at the dentist office. About three years ago, my then 21 year old son went to the dentist because he had acquired dental insurance through his job. After his checkup he came home furious because they told him he had at least 7 cavities and several more areas to be treated. They set up an appointment plan for him and told him even with insurance his share of the cost would be about $1600! They also told him there was a white spot on his gum that they needed to keep an eye on and suggested another series of treatments on that at a cost of another $1200. He never went back to that dentist or any other until recently. Now, three years later, he did see a dentist and amazingly he has not 7, but 4 cavities!! My son is wondering what happened to the other three! And the white spot on his gum? GONE! GO FIGURE!
I agree with everyone that dentists are way too costly and are suggesting dental work and services that aren’t necessary. They have to realize not everyone has jobs that pay as well as theirs does and we don’t have money trees!
These experiences I am hearing about from you, Minnesota Prairie Roots readers, have certainly been eye-opening. This makes me realize that we should all be seeking second opinions on dental care or, at the very least, questioning our dentists. What I am reading in your comments truly disheartens me.
A year and a half ago, I switched dentists – not because of the costs (and this one seemed to cost more than anyone else) but because he made me cry. Regularly. He was rough with both hands and words and actually broke two… three of my teeth (when filling them) leading to root canals and crowns. I guess there is a cost factor to that.
My new dentist is gentle, considerate, more than competent and I trust her work so much more than that of the old.
All dentists are NOT created equal.
I’m glad you found a competent dentist that you like, Kristin. But that you had to experience what you did, including being brought to tears, is inexcusable. From the comments made on this site thus far, too many of us have been brought to tears. And we’re only a few voices.