Nurse needing Dental Care

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 25, 2008

Actually, I just came back from the dentist!

I noticed that the dentist I go to have various payment plans for dental work. I would try to find a dentist who has options like that. Making the payments on a monthly basis may help.

nebrgirl · Sep 25, 2008

In our state the school of denistry will low cost (sliding scale) work...it takes forever to get an appt, and you have to have patients as you have students doing the work with profs, supervising.

Or pick up the yellow pages and call and call until you find someone who will take payments.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2008

I don;t know what suggestions you're looking for. You need to get to the dentist and find a way to pay for the root canal.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Sep 25, 2008

Find a dentist that takes payments.

Nidawi · Sep 25, 2008

have you ever heard of care credit? i had to have some work done at the dentist (crowns) and i ended up getting a care credit card to use. with their card, you can use it for any dental or medical procedure, or even at a vets office on a pet. then, they give you a specific period of time you can make payments in with no interest added on. after that time period, they do begin to add interest. anyway, i was so glad my dentist office recommended that to me!

[color=#483d8b]you can check it out here: www.carecredit.com

[color=#483d8b]i do hope you can figure out something to do. you certainly don't want to put it off and have it get worse or get infected and make you sick!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 25, 2008

Are there any city/county hospitals in your area? Most of them will treat patients for all sorts of issues for low cost. Are there any managed care options around, like MetroPlus, Family HealthPlus, etc (these are the names in New York). As everyone else suggested, see if you can arrange payment plans. Usually, the ones I know will require that at least 1/2 is down before the start the work.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 25, 2008

I looked at the CareCredit terms, and it's a credit card promoted specifically for health care, with initial low interest. No need to apply for another card if you already have a credit card.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2008

most dentists want their patients to keep as many of their natural teeth as they can. i would schedule a consult with a prosthodontist. they will do an exam, tell you what specialists (oral surgeon, endodontist for root canal work) you need to see, what kind of restorative work needs to be done and give you an estimate of the cost. they will manage the dental care you need to have done. you are going to find that a tooth extraction and root canal are not as expensive as crowns and partials. most prosthodontists and dentists will work with patients who do not have insurance and there are credit programs specifically for dental care.

basketcase · Sep 25, 2008

Please take care of the infected tooth asap. The infection (decay) can spread to the adjacent teeth and into the sinus area. Something else to consider....when a tooth is removed, the other teeth will shift into the space. This is very important because this will cause many problems later with the bite and jaw pain (TMJ). Please save the teeth you have left.

Care Credit has been around for many years and is a reliable way to pay for dental care.

Dental schools will do work for low cost however it can be difficult to get an appointment quickly. You might want to consider that for future care. Best of luck!

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 26, 2008

Hi. I am an LPN with no medical insurance. I am needing some dental work. I have one tooth with a really bad cavity that needs to be either extracted or a root canal. The problem is that I cannot afford to pay for a root canal no matter what the price and I can't really afford to have it extracted due to that i have had 4 extractions already and I am only 30 and do NOT want to venture to dentures this early in life, that would be so embarassing for me. Any suggestions or comments would greatly help with making my decision.

Regular check ups go a long way towards saving money in the long run.Find a dentist with payment plans and make sure you go twice a year.You need to build a relationship with the practice. In my experience unless the tooth is in the front I would not go with a root canal-the tooth is weakened and has to be crowned afterwards and it's a very expensive and un-comfortable procedure. Even a huge cavity can be filled although this may also weaken the tooth making a crown necessary now or you may risk loosing the tooth and why take that chance after spending the money? My husband (and a few of his siblings) have terrible teeth-I'm more fortunate.But we all go twice a year-I do have insurance for us all now but even when I didn't we still made sure to make those appointments.

morte, LPN, LVN · Sep 26, 2008

I looked at the CareCredit terms, and it's a credit card promoted specifically for health care, with initial low interest. No need to apply for another card if you already have a credit card.

the diff is that you have a year to pay without accruing interest...THEN all interest is added on.....just used them myself and paid off without interest...be careful though, because if you use it twice the monthly payments are spread over both bills and you will NOT be paying off the first one in the time frame you think you are....