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I hadn't had dental insurance since college and after 4 years, those cavities really need to be dealt with. And now it looks like my wisdom tooth has decided to (very painfully) make its appearance! My paycheck's just enough to pay the rent, but not enough to leave me with any savings... and the work health insurance has absolutely no dental coverage. How do people in my position get their teeth fixed in this city?? Is there an affordable dental plan out there for the starving low-middle class or do we have to shell out $500 per cavity?
- Running out of Tylenol
We're glad you asked, because the longer you let these problems go without attention, the more likely they are to get worse (and therefore, even more expensive to fix). We were in the same position as you, with lousy dental insurance, and had barely seen a dentist for several years... let's just say we spent most of last year at the dentist making up for lost time... so we can relate to your affordable dentistry woes.
If you already have a dentist, or a recommendation for a particular one, ask him or her about payment plans - some dentists are flexible and will allow you to make a partial payment up front and then pay the rest in installments. We also found this list of affordable dental providers in New York City, many of whom provide services on a sliding scale basis.
You might also want to consider getting the work done at a dental school - New York City has several, including the NYU College of Dentistry (whose website says "Because of our focus on education and research in a university environment, we are able to offer our services at lower fees than comparable procedures at private practices") and the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery (whose website states "Although it does take extra time for procedures to be completed, getting your treatment at the CU Teaching Clinic can save money particularly when extensive dental work is needed").
Related: a previous Ask Gothamist posting about sources for affordable health insurance.
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I've just started going to the NYU School of Dentistry. The first visit is $90. They do a comprehensive exam and take lots of x-rays. A cavity filling will set you back $60 each, and I think a cleaning is $40. Not exactly cheap for those of us who are broke, but probably a lot cheaper than most dentists in town.
i went to the univ. of michican dental school once for a cleaning/check-up and it seemed to take about 2 hours. after almost every step, an instructor had to take a peek.
I had a root canal and crown done at NYU. It cost about half of what it would have going to a regular endodontist and dentist.
The student endodontist did a terrific job and he handled me really well—I’m a bit nervous at the dentist. It took a little longer than usual but the savings was worth my time.
The crown was a different story. It ended up cracking within a year because it was too high, which I knew but the dentist working on it didn’t believe me.
The most important part of the process was the root canal because it’s invasive. A broken crown can be fixed but a bad root canal can cause all sorts of problems.
All in all I’d recommend NYU. Just be prepared to be assertive and ask lots of questions.
what are some important questions to ask? seriously, I wouldnt know what to ask really. I need some dental work, I'm waiting for the Freelancers' Union to approve my application, havent seen a dentist in four years.
I too have been to the NYU clinic. They treated me better there than at my (way more expensive) normal dentist. Although, as the other people mentioned, it does take longer, but they do have morning and evening hours, and I found it to be well worth it.
Definitely check with your dentist about a payment plan. Mine offers a plan through Citibank, I think. They pay the dentist up front and you pay Citibank a bit each month until it's paid off.
most dentists also take credit cards.
My dad, an out of town dentist, has a coupla pals who teach at both NYU and at Columbia. His (and their) greatest piece of advice was: For regular cleanings & checkups either of them are perfectly adequate(if time consuming). But ALL concurred that for ANYTHING more than a simple, single surface filling, INSIST that your work be done by a dental GRADUATE STUDENT [also- BEWARE of any student who want to "use you" as a test-patient for their "practical exams"]. Like, if a filling is over-drilled it can definitely turn into a (completely avoidable) root canal. If you have multiple cavities or any kind of periodontal situation, then a dental graduate student (who already has their DDS degree, and is working on a specialty, like Oral Surgery) is far quicker and far more facile in treating you. The extra time invested (as their procedures must still be checked by a licensed dentist) can save you up to 75% on the cost of any necessary lab work (crowns, bridges, etc.). Their next best advice... go see a regular dentist anywhere OUTSIDE of the 5 boroughs (use public transpo'). NY Real Estate makes their overhead so much higher that it's reflected in their fee schedules. They also say that any dentist worth his degree is more than willing to work out a some kind of a payment schedule, too, since good preventative dentistry saves them work, and YOU from the pain & suffering that WILL occur if you ignore your teeth (& gums) for too long. Don't forget to floss!!
New York State is adding fluoride chemicals into about 70% of its water supplies to prevent tooth decay in the poor; but it's a dismal failure and a waste of millions of dollars. See:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/11749/113458
In 1984, NYC spent $2.4 million for fluoridation chemicals, equipment and manpower, according to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. In 2003, fluoride chemicals, alone, cost NYC $6 million, according to the New York Sun.
This money would be better spent actually treating the rising tooth decay in New York's poor. According to a Wall Stree Journal article, many dentists make three times more money than physicians while refusing to accept any medicaid patients - who inevitably wind up in emergency rooms costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars a visit.
I am a Dental Student at Columbia University School of Dentistry. And I can assure you that before a student goes anywhere near a patient there are substantial requirements and 2 years of very hard work. The extra time taken is usually due to requiremtns of intructors. But Work in general is very good and there are flexible payment plans and insurance available. In general the longer you wait with your problems the worse they get and flouridated water is not very effective at reversing caries past a sertain destructive stage. Periodontitis is also very difficult to tackle alone, and it has a nasty property at making you loose teeth, despite multi-thousand dollar previous dental work.
Good luck.
I am a Dental Student at Columbia University School of Dentistry. And I can assure you that before a student goes anywhere near a patient there are substantial requirements and 2 years of very hard work. The extra time taken is usually due to requiremtns of intructors. But Work in general is very good and there are flexible payment plans and insurance available. In general the longer you wait with your problems the worse they get and flouridated water is not very effective at reversing caries past a sertain destructive stage. Periodontitis is also very difficult to tackle alone, and it has a nasty property at making you loose teeth, despite multi-thousand dollar previous dental work.
Good luck.
does anyone know how much a root canal would cost at NYU dental school? I need to have one done ASAP. Thanks.
I am so in your situation. I am currently still in college and my cavaties have been giving me havoc. I was blessed enough that i found a dentist that was willing to work with me. I went in last tuesday to get an extratction on one of my molars because i couldn't bear the pain any longer. [i have since the summer been taking anti-biotics and pain medication until i could get it fixed]. My share of UTI's and yeast infections i do believe. But anyways the dentist told me that he really didnt' want to extract my tooth because i'm so young (21) and that he understood that i was in college and that he would offer me his own personal payment plan, not thru a credit company or whatever. the procedure all together is around $900 and he told me that i could pay $250 upfront and $100 a month to pay off my bill. There are still some good people in the world. Though...I am in Texas (houston), and that doesn't help you much. But ask around until you find someone willing to help...and once I get my degree (summer 06') then I can start getting the medical treatment I need...praying my body last that long. :)
I am so in your situation. I am currently still in college and my cavaties have been giving me havoc. I was blessed enough that i found a dentist that was willing to work with me. I went in last tuesday to get an extratction on one of my molars because i couldn't bear the pain any longer. [i have since the summer been taking anti-biotics and pain medication until i could get it fixed]. My share of UTI's and yeast infections i do believe. But anyways the dentist told me that he really didnt' want to extract my tooth because i'm so young (21) and that he understood that i was in college and that he would offer me his own personal payment plan, not thru a credit company or whatever. the procedure all together is around $900 and he told me that i could pay $250 upfront and $100 a month to pay off my bill. There are still some good people in the world. Though...I am in Texas (houston), and that doesn't help you much. But ask around until you find someone willing to help...and once I get my degree (summer 06') then I can start getting the medical treatment I need...praying my body last that long. :)
New York Braces offers discount dental plans. You can save up to 60% on most dental procedures.
You must read all of this before commenting. I recently had a root canal re-done on a tooth. I had this root canal originally done in 2005. 2 weeks after my 2nd treatment I had my first UTI, I was 35. Didn't think anything of it. In September of 2006, my tooth started really bothering me again. I put it off. October 29, 2006, I ended up in the emergency room with a severe UTI and excruciating abdominal pain. January 2007, I started having treatment on the tooth to redo the root canal. I had 2 treatments in January 3 weeks apart. 1 Treatment in February 3 weeks from last, and final 2 treatments in March. 2 weeks after the 2nd treatment I ended up at the doctors office with a UTI and excruciating stomach pain. I went to the dentist for my 3rd treatment in Feb. 3 days later doctors again with UTI and abdominal pain. 4th treatment March 12th. 3 days later UTI and abdominal pain. final treatment March 26. 2 days later UTI and abdominal pain. These pains last anywhere from 8 hours - 36 hours. Believe me, I'd rather be in transitional labor. That's how severe they were. I haven't had any treatments on the tooth since my last UTI and abdominal pain. It's been 3 weeks now. The reason I ask, is I read on that root canals seal in any bacteria which forms into a toxin and can cause Kidney disease, Uterus problems, Heart disease and endocrine problems. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow because the tooth again is causing me pain. I've read this can happen and has nothing to do with a good dentist or bad dentist. Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?