POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: Jeffreyj on March 18, 2008, 02:10:55 am
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I turned 50 last June. I had my first tooth pulled at the Oral Surgeon. didn't seem like too big of a deal at the time. Boy, was I wrong.
This seemingly innocent upper back tooth was suddenly gone. No big deal, I thought. Until I tried to eat a steak, some crackers, and anything hard. Man, what a change! Suddenly I had to actually THINK about how I was eating. Something I had never experienced before. After I was finished, the area where my tooth used to be was soar as hell.It's been nearly a year, and I've gotten used to it.
Well last week, I had another gold crown fall off. I figured the Dentist would just cement it and I'd be on my Merry way. NOT SO FAST. they took an x-ray, and I was off to the Endodontics.He took a few more x-rays. With in 5 minutes., i was given a three tooth estimate of $3400, and this does not include $1,000 a tooth that has to have a crown put on. My total bill, for 3 sick teeth, was a stunning $6400.
My insurance, mid you, only covers $1500 per year. OK, down to $5,000.
I do not have $5,000. So all 3 of the teeth must be pulled.
I guess this is all part of aging with HIV. IT is going to be a challenge, to say the least, just to eat a meal. I suppose I'm going to change my diet to a soft foods diet. I don't know.
I'm in shock. Luckily, at least FOR NOW, all of these teeth are in the back, I can smile still.
I'm talking to my dentist tomorrow to see if something can be done. I hope I can hold back the tears. When I was younger, dental work was no problem. NOW it is a huge problem.
Another day in the life of silver meeting HIV.
The greying of HIV/AIDS....
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Sorry to hear about the dental ordeal. Do you have access to a good dental school near you? That's the best option for attempting to rein in costs.
Best,
David
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Jeff I agree with David..apply to one of the "Dental Colleges" for assistance..they give excellent if very slow care and usually have little or no cost if you approach them with your situation....
Nick
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Try getting a full set of dentures at 24. Not fun at all. I feel ya.
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Jeff,
I feel for you. I am fortunate enough to still have all my teeth; however, my gums have receded at an alarming rate, and I have a TON of dental work in my mouth (as my dentist said "you have a Mercedes in there").
Right now my major concern is the fact that my front four crowns are 28 years old. Crowns aren't made to LAST that long! One of these days, something is going to happen, probably at the most inopportune moment. I asked the dentist a couple of weeks ago if he thought we should take impressions, "just in case"...but he assures me that even if one comes off/breaks, they can come up with a temporary in 2 to 3 days...
The dental issues are a big deal. I am fortunate to have a dentist in my HIV clinic (1917 at UAB in Birmingham). They get things done, but they are not in a hurry to do anything. Slow as molasses in wintertime.....
Did the dentist discuss the possibility of a bridge to replace the tooth/teeth that are missing? That might be a cheaper route to go, I'm not sure....
Best of luck, let us know what's going on.
hugs, Alan
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I got a message from my dentist. She is great...She is working on a plan be that involves a retainer....I'll find out more tomorrow.
Damn. This all has happend so fast. Losing 3 teeth like this.
I'll keep you all posted.
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this has been one of the biggest issues of my aids career. i got ryan white funding thru my local dental college. have to travel an hour to boston to get it but it beats not having any dental care. so far, 9 crowns, one wisdom tooth out, two cleaning per year for 5 years, all my old fillings replaced. mind you it takes the students several visits to get a couple hours work done but at least the work gets done and my cost has been zero. last year i also had to have a tooth pulled which really bothered me from the vanity view point. the space is exactly the size of a peanut sideways which is one of my favorite snack foods. i do know some dentists are now accepting the ryan white funding so you might want to check to see if any funds are available in your area. other than that i really do understand what your feeling and it's important you know you are not alone.
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Jeff, I'm glad to hear about there maybe being some light at the end of this awful tunnel. About three months ago, I had a tooth come out of my top denture. I went to a place called 'Affordable Dentures' to have them put it back in. They tried, of course, to talk me into a whole new set at $6000.00! I told them there was no way I could afford that being on disability. They asked if I could afford $60/month payments. I wanted to tell them to kiss my sweet ass. It ended up costing me $35 to get the tooth put back in. When I was a teen-ager I never worried about my teeth. Maybe I should have.
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6000.00 for dentures??? Shit I only gave 880.00 for my uppers and lowers. I paid more for my partial years ago than I did for both plates.
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I had a slight tooth ache and went to see a dentist I needed two crowns and root canals. He also told me I had TMJ and he wanted to break my jaw and reset them. He said that it would only cost 8500 $ I just laughed and left. I went to the Chicago Dental school and got it for free, except I declined the broken jaw.
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I had a slight tooth ache and went to see a dentist I needed two crowns and root canals. He also told me I had TMJ and he wanted to break my jaw and reset them. He said that it would only cost 8500 $ I just laughed and left. I went to the Chicago Dental school and got it for free, except I declined the broken jaw.
jg and I have similar approaches. When one has NO dental insurance, one tends to find the simple solutions. Or the cheapest.
Seriously though......I think dentists, like anyone else in business for themselves, are not always thinking in terms of your best interest. Or they may not have experience with certain new proceedures that can cost less.
In any case, getting a SECOND OPINION is not a bad idea. Of course if you are in severe pain that may not be an option. Still, when I broke part of a tooth off, and went to my (then) dentist who told me I needed a root canal and a crown for 2500, I decided to go to another dentist for a second opinion. Boy, was I glad I did. The other ( now my primary) dentist told me there was a porcelain repair he could do for 250 dollars. If it worked I would not need a root canal or a crown. It worked and I am still going strong with that tooth 5 years later.
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He also told me I had TMJ and he wanted to break my jaw and reset them. He said that it would only cost 8500 $ I just laughed and left. I went to the Chicago Dental school and got it for free, except I declined the broken jaw.
I don't think I would have my jaw broken either. I had problems with TMJ for about ten years. Fortunately ( and don't ask me why) I haven't had any problems for about the last 4 years !!. Very Painful !!
Take care-----Ray
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Besides running my mouth too much I have never had a problem with my jaw. That's why I thought it was so funny when that dentist wanted to do a procedure that cost more than my car.
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jg
Maybe your dentist needed a new Mercedes.... ??? ;D
Have a nice day
Joel
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In any case, getting a SECOND OPINION is not a bad idea. Of course if you are in severe pain that may not be an option. Still, when I broke part of a tooth off, and went to my (then) dentist who told me I needed a root canal and a crown for 2500, I decided to go to another dentist for a second opinion. Boy, was I glad I did. The other ( now my primary) dentist told me there was a porcelain repair he could do for 250 dollars. If it worked I would not need a root canal or a crown. It worked and I am still going strong with that tooth 5 years later.
I had a crown put on one tooth. I had to pay half the cost, which came to about $300. But I managed to escape having a root canal.
HUGS,
Mark
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I'll third the dental college route. Ryan White "pays" for my dental stuff at Univ. of PA's School of Dentistry and the facilities are top notch (*hello* Ivy League!). I'm not sure if it's just on certain days that they do this, but whenever I go the other patients in this one section all have HIV too. Takes me about 6 weeks to obtain an appointment, however, though if it's an emergency they will scoot you in somewhere.
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6000.00 for dentures??? Shit I only gave 880.00 for my uppers and lowers. I paid more for my partial years ago than I did for both plates.
Yes Roddles, $6000.00 for new dentures. It seems I have a hard-to-fit mouth (hee). I guess my gums are extremely small (whatever that means). And I have a very bad overbite.
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Hey Jeff,
I don't know where you are, but in LA, APLA offered free dental svcs. Check your ASO for any possible help. Now, I am in RI, and the dental world isn't LA or NJ...they seem a little backwater here in the dental community. If it's ANY consolation, I have friends with dental insurance, that are facing very similar dilemmas. I went my whole life without a cavity until last year...and suddenly, I had 6??? I have insurance, and it was still a pain in the rear. Dentists seem to have become money-hungry these days. I agree with one of the others...GET A 2nd opinion. I've found that different dentists have differing views on things that seem like they should be simple and obvious.
Best of luck with the teeth!
J