BF just paid 724.00 for a "deep" cleaning. Teeth don't look or feel any better than they did before.

I can definately understand the Xrays. Your teeth may not be strong enough to endure a cleaning.

So darn expensive. Geez!

Gayle

My teeth are exrayed yearly and cost no where near that.

I'd be calling around and inquiring at other places. Maybe explain that all you really want/need/ can afford at the moment is a cleaning. Someone, somewhere should be able to do that with no questions asked, if they know you are not able to lay out a lot of $$$ to have everything done. I'm sure they are trained to suggest proper care, which would include exrays for at least a 'new patient. That is BS for you to have to meet him to the tune of $80. When my teeth are cleaned the dentist or periodontist always checks them and it is included in the cleaning price visit.

BF just paid 724.00 for a "deep" cleaning. Teeth don't look or feel any better than they did before.
I too had the costly deep cleaning years ago, and could see little difference. The real difference is out of site, below the gum line. I was told it was caused by not having regular cleanings, as well as having not always flossed properly my whole life. I was also told that flossing was way more important than brushing. If one does not brush, they will get cavities, along with some plaque build-up. If one does not floss properly, they will get plaque build up. resulting in gum disease, and it results in bone loss, teeth loosening, shifting, and eventually just having to come out. I am loosing mine one at a time now.

Sue

I have a dental plan you can get for yourself. I got it on my own and you don't have to be working anywhere to get it.
its called Assurant Employee Benefits. It costs about $150. a year maybe less. It gives you discounts on all dental procedures. I think a cleaning is $5 or free. Check it out and see if they have dentists in your area.

Here is a link that might be useful: dental

If there is a dental hygenist school near you, you can go there and have it done cheaply.

I found that purchasing a high quality electric or sonic care toothbrush really saves me alot of trips to the dentist for cleaning. Even the hygenist recommends them.

Dental care isn't optional, even cleaning. Check out some of the ideas here to get care and/or coverage for yourself. It will be well worth it in the long run.

I agree that whatever the cost, you need to maintain good dental health--not only will that help you avoid having both top and bottom dentures, but poor dental hygiene can contribute to heart disease.

I, too, was going to suggest that you go to the local college that trains hygenists--might be your county community college. I know in our county, if you just walk across the campus, you're usually approached by someone in a white coat, offering to clean your teeth for free. Even if you have to pay a small fee, it may be less than at a dentist's office

I am curious, though--about seeing the dentist and having X-rays BEFORE the cleaning? Every dentist I've ever been to does (or has the hygenist do) the cleaning BEFORE they examine your teeth. Most these days won't even look in your mouth until you've been spiffed and shined up.

Also--there is a huge difference in price among different dental offices. Why don't you try getting a few recommendations from your friends and calling a few others, to see how the price stacks up?

Good luck, but please, don't let your go--or they'll let you down.

Check around because a regular cleaning price should include: exam, cleaning, and 2-4 bitewing x-rays which are not that expensive. In Houston the average "routine" cleaning is $100-$150.

Routine means that it doesn't involve deep cleaning nor if you have perio (gum disease).

As for x-rays, if you don't have any painful teeth nor any problem with your jaws or teeth, bitewings are all you may need. If you do have a problem, sometimes, a full mouth or panoramic x-rays may be needed. Full mouth x-rays may include 14 or more x-rays plus 2-4 bitewings. Both Full Mouth and Panoramic x-rays are very expensive.

Since, you haven't been gone to a dentist for awhile, the receptionist can't really give you a definite quote. However, that doesn't mean that you'd need a deep cleaning if you've taking care of your teeth. Usual recommendation is to brush twice daily and floss once a day.

If you shop around, make sure to ask if you end up doing a cleaning, are the exam and x-rays included in the cleaning price. Most dentists do a package deal.

Good luck and do get a cleaning! Plaque build-up will become gum disease. In the end, it'll cost you so much more and you may lose your teeth in the long run.

Natalie

Well, I don't think that's an unusually high price. I just had a dental exam and full x-rays (bite wing) and it was well over $200 and that did not include any cleaning.

There are so many posts here at the KT that I know nothing about (so I don't respond), but the DENTIST is something I know about!! Unfortunately!

The best investment you can make is an Oral-B electric toothbrush. I have one of those and I also floss 2 or 3 times a week and I haven't had a professional dental cleaning in five years. Last month I was at the dentist and he told me, "You don't need a cleaning. Your teeth look good."

I also drink lots of water and that might help, too. Not sure.

It's unfortunate but dental care is fast becoming as unaffordable as other medical care. And I don't know what the answer is because there's nothing worse than dental pain. My ex-H has had five teeth pulled rather than do root canals/crowns. He's not even 50 years old and he's already having trouble chewing certain foods because he's missing so many teeth.

My last two root canals/crowns set me back $3,200 - and that's for two teeth. A friend of mine is still paying off a $5,000 bill for dental work.

I don't know what the answer is.

Rose

My husband spent $19,000 on his teeth last year. And now he doesn't even brush every night! I could kick him! I floss every single night, have been since I was in my teens.

Dental care is out of sight I know. DD had braces 20 yrs. ago when she was in 8th grade & has to get them again because her teeth don't meet in the back. Can't imagine what the price for braces is these days as it was high back then. Try a dental college or school, as everyone suggested. It would be cheaper than a dentist.

Hmmm thanks for the opinions and the information on the sonic brushes, hadn't thought about that but I think I'll invest my money in one of those.
Thanks again,
Suzan J

I lost a bunch of my teeth ... mainly because I hadn't cared for them well enough.

Take care of yours, please.

If you have a dental school anywhere near, go there. The local one, 20 miles away in our university did a lot of work for me, including full top plate and partial bottom (three of mine left) and it wasn't too expensive. Their evaluation changed after they'd done some major work on some that they later pulled and they gave me a credit. Then I made a contribution to the school - deductible.

When they were extracting a bunch of my top ones and my student (east Indian, gentle lady) quoted these prices: extraction $32.00 first tooth in a quadrant, $16.00 each of 4 subsequent, as she was making up the account, when I said, $96.00, no one paid much attention (receptionist there, as well). When she added it all up and came to that figure, they looked at me and asked how I'd figured that so quickly.

I said that base figure was $32.00,and 4 at $16.00 each was the same as two more at $32.00, that 3 x 30 is 90 and 3 x 2 is 6 - total, 96.

If no dental school available, shop around - I think it possible that you can find a better deal than the quote that knocked the plaque off of your teeth (almost).

Good wishes for satisfactory dental care - at a decent price.

ole joyful

Last week my teeth were cleaned- regular kind of cleaning-, x-rayed and checked by our dentist for $147. He also gives a gift package containing a toothbrush, floss, and something else- don't remember now what that third thing was. The person cleaning told me to get a device called a Humming Bird to get between some back teeth that I can't floss now because of arthritis in my hands. Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?

Exams, x-rays, etc., are needed because of our "sue-happy" population. Hygenists cannot,(not supposed to) diagnose. If Dr's don't do an exam with xrays, and a problem occurs, because the patient refused them, who's the patient going to blame?! Themselves?
People lose teeth because of neglect, pure and simple. It's a lot less expensive to go get a check-up at least once a year, than to complain about the expense of neglect. People spend lots of money on getting their nails done, hair colored, decorative articles, etc. But balk at paying for their dental care. It's all about priorities.
Sorry for any offense to anyone.