So frustrated!

[aggiefamily]

We just got new dental insurance (the only dental policy offered) and NONE of the providers will see kids under age 7. That doesn't help me much since mine are 3 and 5.

So now I think I will just have to pay out of pocket. About how much does a dental exam cost?

[newfiemountiewife]

Well that just plain sucks! I have no idea how much it costs, I'm in Canada, and our little kids under 12 are seen free in my province. I hope it's not too much! What a stupid policy!

[Paula]

That stinks! When we got our dental a year ago, we were told they wouldn't cover anything for one year. Err.

[lizzyfizzy]

WHAT?!?!?!?! tell them to make an exception! that is crap!

[junebug]

i took Emma in for a visit and the total with an Xay was around $130. I'm in the process now of trying to get medicaid or that Care Credit program cause she needs work done on her top front teeth. Its my fault; bottle rot. Words of advice; get your kids off the bottle soon and don't even give them milk at night. they'll probably pull them and put spacers in they are so bad. i'm such a bad mommy. i feel horrible. i've been meaning to post about this but i'm so ashamed. I'm trying to get Aidan off the bottle so the same thing doesn't happen to him.

[BrattyMeg]

is there no Children's Dentistry on your plan at all? Not a regular dentist but one that only sees children. I know here they start seeing them here at age 3 or 4 (I know they saw mine b/c she needed an exam for pre-k)

[Jennilyn]

We had a screw up with our insurance when Kristen went to get her fillings and it would've cost us over $70 for two fillings if our provincial insurance didn't pay for it.

[Tracyfish]

We have great medical insurance, but no dental...it really sucks. I took L.J. for the first time back in June and just for 2 of the xays they wanted to take and the dr. looking at his teeth it was $110. It would have been $250 if they had been able to do the cleaning and all the xays. I guess L.J. was trying to save me money by not letting them do all that.

I feel your pain. I swear there should be a discount for people with no insurance.

[Nikki Epperson]

Most dental insurance isn't worth much anyway -- my mom has great health and then her dental just sucks! We don't have any right now as they don't offer it yet at Dusty's work. UGH! Hopefully soon, b/c I can't afford to be seen -- nevermind my boys (and oldest really needs it)

[MelindaH]

Ok .. thinking of the costs from the dental clinic I work at in Wisconsin ... new patient exam, 2 bitewing xays (usually it's 2 ... some do 4, though), child cleaning and child fluoride ... roughly $170 ... knock off about $25 if no fluoride.

It might not hurt to check to see if you can qualify for the state medical assistance ... if you qualify the dental should be picked up under that. I have lots of experience with that, as I work in the financial wing of a dental office that takes patients who have medical assistance.

HUGS ... I know it really adds up so fast!

~Melinda

[Shawna]

Amanda can you find a dentist in your area that does take patients under 7 and ask them if they can try to be added as a participating provider under your plan? Our insurance is thru DH's school district and they switched insurance companies last year and they gave us information on how to request our doctors and dentists be added under the new plan if they weren't existing providers. Hope you get it figured out!

[aggiefamily]

Thanks for the support and suggestions everyone!

I am looking into getting reimbursed for the cost.

[jessica31876]

we had awesome dental that cost us 120 a month and it covered 100% but I am convinced our dentist was double billing the insurance company. When my husband switched jobs he lost the insurance.

Look around your area alot of times dentists will discount your first visit. Sometimes when they move to a new area or open a new office they will discount the initial visit to get new patients. And finally talk to friends about where they go and they may have an idea where you can get an afforable dentist. When I took my daughter to an oral surgeon to get a tooth pulled he charged 150 for the visit, 2 xays and the extraction. Then I went to another dentist who just did the exam and xays and he charged 210 of which we were charged 53 dollars because our insurance company wouldnt pay the full amount. He is supposed to charge a set amount and thats it but I guess he charged more because we are not supposed to have any out of pocket with our insurance.

[MelindaH]

Originally Posted by jessica31876

we had awesome dental that cost us 120 a month and it covered 100% but I am convinced our dentist was double billing the insurance company. When my husband switched jobs he lost the insurance.

Look around your area alot of times dentists will discount your first visit. Sometimes when they move to a new area or open a new office they will discount the initial visit to get new patients. And finally talk to friends about where they go and they may have an idea where you can get an afforable dentist. When I took my daughter to an oral surgeon to get a tooth pulled he charged 150 for the visit, 2 xays and the extraction. Then I went to another dentist who just did the exam and xays and he charged 210 of which we were charged 53 dollars because our insurance company wouldnt pay the full amount. He is supposed to charge a set amount and thats it but I guess he charged more because we are not supposed to have any out of pocket with our insurance.

It *might* have been a "frequency" issue. Most dental insurances have a rule that exams have to be at least 6 months apart ... no matter who does the exams. If they were less than 6 months apart for example, that can happen. I think you got a really good deal with that Oral Surgeon!