I got my first crown today - at least the temporary one and will get the permanent one in two weeks once they make it from my tooth impressions. I feel like crap after two hours with my mouth open and two needles and what seemed like hours of the drill. Supposedly, dental costs less in BC than Alberta. If I had gotten this crown in Alberta it would have cost around $1500 versus the $1000 that it will cost when done. I guess it is a good thing I lived with a cracked tooth for the last three years putting it off as long as possible. It still sucks to have to shell out that much money for dental work. We self-insure as have figured out with all of our excluded preexisting medical conditions that paying for insurance might be more expensive than paying as we go. This year I estimate our medical/dental/visioncare costs will end up at around $4000. Isn't that craptastic? I just convinced hubby to hand over his chocolate bar to make me feel better (good husband!). Mmm mint Aero bar! Don't worry, no cavities for me!
Umm. Weren't you in Mexico not that long ago...?
ReplyDeletewww.travelwithkevinandruth.com
Yes - but I am a big old chicken and have heard both good and bad about getting it done there. Hopefully this is a one off as my Mom who is 73 has never ever had one. It cracked down the centre just a hairline on an old cavity but really wasn't acting up too badly.
DeleteThe "bad" of paying a Canadian crook of a dentist $1,000 far outweighs the "bad" of possibly having possible problems with the work done by a Mexican dentist. In my opinion... :-)
DeleteBloody hell, they cost £222 here (which includes everything including X-rays). God bless the NHS! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's about $450 Canadian - great deal! Our health system provides no coverage at all for dental - but we do have good health coverage so I cannot complain too much.
DeleteI just got an estimate on a crown with my new school dental insurance and it came to $345. I'm not complaining now. I have it scheduled for December. They told me that it can all be done in the same day as they make the crown on premises. I go in the morning for the first part and go back at the end of the day for the crown.
ReplyDeleteSame day service - that's great. At least your insurance is helping. Here in a small town it is my understanding they send out the impression and someone in a nearby town actually makes the crown so she is quite busy. The temporary crown is holding up nicely so far.
DeleteI had one crown done in Mazatlan by a high end dentist that dealt primarily with gringos and have had nothing but trouble since. Of course I have paid close to $800.00 here in Canada trying to resolve the issue. I have been told to live with the twinges of pain or I would have to get an implant. Most of the RVers I know on the Isla have had problems with their Mexican dental work. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteYikes! I believe your story is one of the ones I read and why I was not so keen on getting it done there. That plus trying to do it on a seven day holiday during a tropical storm didn't seem wise.
Delete...which reminds me, I'm overdue for the dentist! I have no crowns, all my original teeth (too many really) except my wisdom teeth. So, I guess that crown makes you officially the princess, huh?!?
ReplyDeleteThe only time anyone has ever called me a Princess :)
DeleteI hope that the candy made you feel better. Because that bill may make you crack a bottle of alcohol. We pay for our health and dental and then pay again for copays and anything else that they won't cover. OUr health insurance is a joke! We pay for it because it is the law but then go t the CVS clinic and pay full price since it is easier than dealing with the insurance company. They have a wonderful scam going.
ReplyDeleteThe liquor would only compound the money problem ($25 per litre of hard liquor :)). I do have to say our health insurance is dead cheap $144/mos for 3 of us (stepdaughter on until she is 18) and covers almost everything except the prescriptions. We have no fear of going to the Doctor here. That does sound like a scam!
DeleteGoing to the dentist on our next trip to the States. Wayne has dental insurance from his military service. It's not as good as what we had while working, but better than nothing. My teeth have had lots of problems over the years. I don't even know how many crowns I have. And they all hurt like ****. - Margy
ReplyDeleteI am hoping this will be my one and only after speaking with my Mom who now tells me she has never had one. Why me!
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