Dental Implants $$$ (1 Viewer)

[shadyridr]

So I have a baby tooth with no adult tooth underneath it. The dentist told me one day it would fall out and I think that day is coming. Last week it started hurting and I can wiggle it slightly. Went to the dentist today and he took an X-Ray and confirmed its not holding on by much. He gave me a # to an oral surgeon and he said the bone structure underneath is really good so recommended an implant. He said ballpark figure is around $3000-$3500. Holy crap! Who the hell has that kind of money? So anyway, I have some questions.

1. Do these places typically offer payment plans or financing?

2. Should I open a flexible spending account at work and schedule this for next year?

3. Any other ways to save $$?

4. Should I shop around? All I have now is the surgeon he recommended.

 

[pizzatyme]

Go to Mexico for the surgery. You get a nice vacation and your toof for about $1800.

 

[Slapdash]

Make the appointment and then never show up.

 

[NutterButter]

I paid about $4k for an upper front tooth. Definitely do the fsa thing. Essentially free money and even more so if you can schedule it at the beginning of the year and then leave your job before the year is up. Never considered shopping around since the oral surgeon was recommended by my dentist and when it comes to teeth and potential pain, I usually stick with what my dentist suggests.

 

[Dentist]

So I have a baby tooth with no adult tooth underneath it. The dentist told me one day it would fall out and I think that day is coming. Last week it started hurting and I can wiggle it slightly. Went to the dentist today and he took an X-Ray and confirmed its not holding on by much. He gave me a # to an oral surgeon and he said the bone structure underneath is really good so recommended an implant. He said ballpark figure is around $3000-$3500. Holy crap! Who the hell has that kind of money? So anyway, I have some questions.

1. Do these places typically offer payment plans or financing?

2. Should I open a flexible spending account at work and schedule this for next year?

3. Any other ways to save $$?

4. Should I shop around? All I have now is the surgeon he recommended.

1) yes, you can probably ask if they have care credit or citihealth and can generally get a year to pay it off

2) yes, you should definitely do that

3) that fee is pretty average, i'd probably tell you 2800 to 3000 and i'm in one of the cheapest areas of the country.

Is that fee just for the implant itself.. or does it include the post and tooth? If it's just the implant, that's high.. if it's the whole works.. that's pretty standard.. i doubt you would save much by shopping.

Who has that money? Are you serious? Are you a FBG or not? 3k isn't chump change, but it really shoudn't be an amount you flinch at. Just take it out of your 8-12 month emergency fund.

 

[shadyridr]

So I have a baby tooth with no adult tooth underneath it. The dentist told me one day it would fall out and I think that day is coming. Last week it started hurting and I can wiggle it slightly. Went to the dentist today and he took an X-Ray and confirmed its not holding on by much. He gave me a # to an oral surgeon and he said the bone structure underneath is really good so recommended an implant. He said ballpark figure is around $3000-$3500. Holy crap! Who the hell has that kind of money? So anyway, I have some questions.

1. Do these places typically offer payment plans or financing?

2. Should I open a flexible spending account at work and schedule this for next year?

3. Any other ways to save $$?

4. Should I shop around? All I have now is the surgeon he recommended.

1) yes, you can probably ask if they have care credit or citihealth and can generally get a year to pay it off

2) yes, you should definitely do that

3) that fee is pretty average, i'd probably tell you 2800 to 3000 and i'm in one of the cheapest areas of the country.

Is that fee just for the implant itself.. or does it include the post and tooth? If it's just the implant, that's high.. if it's the whole works.. that's pretty standard.. i doubt you would save much by shopping.

Who has that money? Are you serious? Are you a FBG or not? 3k isn't chump change, but it really shoudn't be an amount you flinch at. Just take it out of your 8-12 month emergency fund.

 

[shadyridr]

I dont have an FSA right now. I would start one next year. Can I get the consultation now and schedule the work for next year and still be eligible to pay it off with the FSA? I dont know how those things work

 

[culdeus]

I dont have an FSA right now. I would start one next year. Can I get the consultation now and schedule the work for next year and still be eligible to pay it off with the FSA? I dont know how those things work

you would have to have the surgery in the year you have the FSA

You can't front date stuff if that's what you are thinking

 

[[icon]]

I happen to work in this industry now for a framework / individual crown manufacturer. Just getting to understand the implant market. This stuff is definitely not cheap. If you think a single implant is expensive you should look at a full arch all on four restoration with Zirconium or eMax individual crowns...

 

[Dentist]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

 

[Dentist]

I happen to work in this industry now for a framework / individual crown manufacturer. Just getting to understand the implant market. This stuff is definitely not cheap. If you think a single implant is expensive you should look at a full arch all on four restoration with Zirconium or eMax individual crowns...

Industry insider...

 

[shadyridr]

I dont have an FSA right now. I would start one next year. Can I get the consultation now and schedule the work for next year and still be eligible to pay it off with the FSA? I dont know how those things work

you would have to have the surgery in the year you have the FSA

You can't front date stuff if that's what you are thinking

No Im saying if I have the consultation in 2013 would that preclude me from using the FSA $$ in 2014. Sort of like a pre-ex?

 

[shadyridr]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

thanks

 

[shadyridr]

Now I gotta figure out if my tooth can hold on until 2014

 

[3C's]

How about a bridge instead?

 

[Dentist]

How about a bridge instead?

i'm guessing he's fairly young and may not have any major work on the teeth on either side of this baby tooth.

in which case that is an alternative, but not a huge cost savings and significantly more invasive.

 

[shadyridr]

How about a bridge instead?

I thought about it but my other teeth are perfect, it would still cost $$ (not nearly as much probably) and I would have to shave off the two surrounding teeth. Just doesnt seem reasonable to me. Plus the dentist said the underlying bone is perfect.

 

[3C's]

Just threw it out there because a coworker has a similar situation where a tooth needs to be replaced and he's choosing bridge over implant.

 

[Dentist]

Just threw it out there because a coworker has a similar situation where a tooth needs to be replaced and he's choosing bridge over implant.

still do more bridges than implants, but I wish more people would choose the implant option. But due to the inconvenience (healing time - more visits) and the higher cost, it's not an easy sell. Convenience and price often beat out quality and durability unfortunately.

 

[Pipes]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

 

[shadyridr]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

thanks

 

[Ned Ryerson]

For what it is worth, and I know this is going to sound weird, but I am missing one tooth on each side of my bottom jaw in identical spots (third from the back on each side). I lost them 20 years ago, haven't done anything about it (the gaps are only visible if you look inside my mouth), and I am no worse for the wear. Around the same time, I had a space holder on the bottom portion of my mouth across the middle of my front bottom teeth keeping them in place. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[shadyridr]

For what it is worth, and I know this is going to sound weird, but I am missing one tooth on each side of my bottom jaw in identical spots (third from the back on each side). I lost them 20 years ago, haven't done anything about it (the gaps are only visible if you look inside my mouth), and I am no worse for the wear. Around the same time, I had a space holder on the bottom portion of my mouth across the middle of my front bottom teeth keeping them in place. Just something to keep in mind.

not an option. I live in ny

 

[=Smackdown=]

Enroll for FSA Medical in January - $3500 - 5K is the max in NYS

Have the procedure done in January - the FSA plan will pay the whole portion.

Leave your company Februray 1st and the company will be on the hook for the the remaining portion (Feb - Dec of your FSA payment plan) of your unfunded FSA medical account.

I see this happen all the time - mostly with Lasic eye surgeries.

FSA has a use it or lose it rule. If you don't use it the company keeps the balance.

 

[jon_mx]

Go to Mexico for the surgery. You get a nice vacation and your toof for about $1800.

Don't implants take many weeks? I just lost a crown And have a cheap temporary solution. There is no tooth left, so an implant or a bridge is a must. My dentist thinks an implant is best.

 

[Slapdash]

So I have a baby tooth with no adult tooth underneath it. The dentist told me one day it would fall out and I think that day is coming. Last week it started hurting and I can wiggle it slightly. Went to the dentist today and he took an X-Ray and confirmed its not holding on by much. He gave me a # to an oral surgeon and he said the bone structure underneath is really good so recommended an implant. He said ballpark figure is around $3000-$3500. Holy crap! Who the hell has that kind of money? So anyway, I have some questions.

1. Do these places typically offer payment plans or financing?

2. Should I open a flexible spending account at work and schedule this for next year?

3. Any other ways to save $$?

4. Should I shop around? All I have now is the surgeon he recommended.

1) yes, you can probably ask if they have care credit or citihealth and can generally get a year to pay it off

2) yes, you should definitely do that

3) that fee is pretty average, i'd probably tell you 2800 to 3000 and i'm in one of the cheapest areas of the country.

Is that fee just for the implant itself.. or does it include the post and tooth? If it's just the implant, that's high.. if it's the whole works.. that's pretty standard.. i doubt you would save much by shopping.

Who has that money? Are you serious? Are you a FBG or not? 3k isn't chump change, but it really shoudn't be an amount you flinch at. Just take it out of your 8-12 month emergency fund.

FFToday down?

 

[jon_mx]

BTW. The dentist I went to is going to charge $850 for the crown only. He recommended a few oral surgeons in the area for the implant? Is that a rwasonable price for the crown? I would like to use the guy because he did come in on Sunday this last holiday weekend to take care of me before I left on a business trip. So I do owe him a big time favor.

 

[NutterButter]

BTW. The dentist I went to is going to charge $850 for the crown only. He recommended a few oral surgeons in the area for the implant? Is that a rwasonable price for the crown? I would like to use the guy because he did come in on Sunday this last holiday weekend to take care of me before I left on a business trip. So I do owe him a big time favor.

About what I've paid. Insurance covers 50% and I've paid $400 total.

 

[[icon]]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

Some maniacs are doing "all in a day" procedures now where the implant goes in and then the restoration attaches the same day with no time for osseointegration. Um... hell no.

 

[jon_mx]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

Some maniacs are doing "all in a day" procedures now where the implant goes in and then the restoration attaches the same day with no time for osseointegration. Um... hell no.

That seems nuts. Not only does it need a Chance to heal, but it needs time for the bone to grow around the implant. You would be putting on crown on something that is not structurally sound yet and the implant will probably never properly get seeded.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Look into care credit

 

[stbugs]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

thanks

Also as mentioned above, FSA pays out the full amount at the claim time and you don't "pay" for all of it until you get it all taken out of your paycheck at the end of the year. It is sort of a financing plan with no interest and no mess, along with the tax savings, which is probably somewhere around 20-30% depending on your income.

 

[[icon]]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

Some maniacs are doing "all in a day" procedures now where the implant goes in and then the restoration attaches the same day with no time for osseointegration. Um... hell no.

That seems nuts. Not only does it need a Chance to heal, but it needs time for the bone to grow around the implant. You would be putting on crown on something that is not structurally sound yet and the implant will probably never properly get seeded seated.

It is nuts. The bone growth around the implant is the osseointegration I was referring to above and you're 100% right. quick fix on bolded

Yeah it doesn't seem like a good idea at all from what I understand and am hearing but some people apparently have really bad "microwave" syndrome. They want it now. The problem is if it fails you've likely trashed any chance of an implant going in that location in the bone without major grafting and whatnot. Stupid is as stupid does I guess.

 

[shadyridr]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

thanks

Also as mentioned above, FSA pays out the full amount at the claim time and you don't "pay" for all of it until you get it all taken out of your paycheck at the end of the year. It is sort of a financing plan with no interest and no mess, along with the tax savings, which is probably somewhere around 20-30% depending on your income.

Yeah I just realized that. So I can pay it up front and then every paycheck they'll take out $96 pre-tax. I can live with that.

 

[Dentist]

Go to Mexico for the surgery. You get a nice vacation and your toof for about $1800.

Don't implants take many weeks? I just lost a crown And have a cheap temporary solution. There is no tooth left, so an implant or a bridge is a must. My dentist thinks an implant is best.

months. I don't understand going to costa rica or mexico to save money on dentistry.

I've never seen high quality stuff from there, and now if you have any complications it's a massive problem you are going to have to pay for.

They can deliver at that price due to decreased regulations and not ever having to do any warranty work.

 

[Dentist]

let me also tell you something about the total fee.

there will be 2 parts to this procedure.

part one - the implant placement itself.. that will be 50-60% of the total outlay.. that happens first.

then about 6-8 mo later you'll pay for the other half or the crown/post. you could wait over a year for that.

So to maximize your budget you could do the implant in January, and the crown/post the following january

Some maniacs are doing "all in a day" procedures now where the implant goes in and then the restoration attaches the same day with no time for osseointegration. Um... hell no.

That seems nuts. Not only does it need a Chance to heal, but it needs time for the bone to grow around the implant. You would be putting on crown on something that is not structurally sound yet and the implant will probably never properly get seeded seated.

It is nuts. The bone growth around the implant is the osseointegration I was referring to above and you're 100% right. quick fix on bolded

Yeah it doesn't seem like a good idea at all from what I understand and am hearing but some people apparently have really bad "microwave" syndrome. They want it now. The problem is if it fails you've likely trashed any chance of an implant going in that location in the bone without major grafting and whatnot. Stupid is as stupid does I guess.

Again.. low price and convenience are much easier selling points than quality and longevity. What's fast is rarely what's best. What's cheapest is rarely what's best... but people don't care enough about themselves to care about their future self in 5-15-30 years. They only care about themselves now.

And what they care about now is getting it "over with" and spending the least on an annoying things they "need" so that they can get back to spending money on what they "want" and not saving for their retirement or their emergency fund, or their child's education.

Thus the cycle of poverty continues because if they don't have the time and money to do it right now... will they have it later... most of the time, no.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Have you thought about moving to Britain? Could be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Dentist]

Have you thought about moving to Britain? Could be cheaper in the long run.

not nearly as cheap as offing yourself. You gotta think bigger picture here, guy

 

[TheIronSheik]

Have you thought about moving to Britain? Could be cheaper in the long run.

not nearly as cheap as offing yourself. You gotta think bigger picture here, guy

Well, that escalated quickly.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

For what it is worth, and I know this is going to sound weird, but I am missing one tooth on each side of my bottom jaw in identical spots (third from the back on each side). I lost them 20 years ago, haven't done anything about it (the gaps are only visible if you look inside my mouth), and I am no worse for the wear. Around the same time, I had a space holder on the bottom portion of my mouth across the middle of my front bottom teeth keeping them in place. Just something to keep in mind.

not an option. I live in ny

As do I, 40 miles east of you in Long Island.

 

[Psychopav]

If you don't have insurance but have access to a plan at work, that might be another reason to wait, although you should check the plan so see if (1) it covers implants (most decent plans do nowadays) and (2) it would cover this one with no tooth opposite (look for an exclusion pertaining to not having a "natural functioning tooth" or something along those lines, depending on the carrier).

Either way, a predetermination is the way to go. Otherwise, those dentists'll screw ya, I tell you. No offense, dentist.

 

[Jayrok]

Have you thought about moving to Britain? Could be cheaper in the long run.

not nearly as cheap as offing yourself. You gotta think bigger picture here, guy

Well, that escalated quickly.

I mean that really got outa hand fast.

 

[Jayrok]

Is the OP 8 years old?

 

[Ballstein]

Realize that spending for an implant now is A wise choice. If the tooth is extracted, spacial considerations in your mouth can present A problem. The space can close, remaining upright teeth can drift, as well as opposing teeth super-erupting into the space, FIX it now!!! spend money to avoid further dental complications. The Bill could be heftier in the future.

Footballguy DDS

 

[johnnycakes]

Realize that spending for an implant now is A wise choice. If the tooth is extracted, spacial considerations in your mouth can present A problem. The space can close, remaining upright teeth can drift, as well as opposing teeth super-erupting into the space, FIX it now!!! spend money to avoid further dental complications. The Bill could be heftier in the future.

Footballguy who is a DDS

fixed.

 

[Corporation]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

When did this change? I'm pretty sure I'm still putting in 5k (married with kids so perhaps both my wife and I are putting in 2500 each)

 

[shadyridr]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

When did this change? I'm pretty sure I'm still putting in 5k (married with kids so perhaps both my wife and I are putting in 2500 each)

i think it just changed 1/1/13

 

[johnnycakes]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

When did this change? I'm pretty sure I'm still putting in 5k (married with kids so perhaps both my wife and I are putting in 2500 each)

i think it just changed 1/1/13

Thank the 0 for that one.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Realize that spending for an implant now is A wise choice. If the tooth is extracted, spacial considerations in your mouth can present A problem. The space can close, remaining upright teeth can drift, as well as opposing teeth super-erupting into the space, FIX it now!!! spend money to avoid further dental complications. The Bill could be heftier in the future.

Footballguy DDS

Wait, we have been able to get dental advice since 2008 without getting lectured on what smartphone we have and without fear of feces on the chests of the ladies we love? WHERE YOU BEEN, GUY?

 

[Corporation]

Keep in mind the max you can now put into a flex savings account is $2,500. Still worthwhile but depending on your tax bracket the tax savings may not be worth the wait for you.

When did this change? I'm pretty sure I'm still putting in 5k (married with kids so perhaps both my wife and I are putting in 2500 each)

i think it just changed 1/1/13

Thank the 0 for that one.

Thanks a lot, that was the hope and change I was looking for.

ETA: If I read this correctly (which I easily may not have), I think if you are married both spouses can put in 2500 to still get to 5000. Previously it was a 5000 cap per family, but it could all come from one spouse. I'm pretty sure we're still at the 5K level but will have to check.

http://www.accountingweb.com/article/irs-prescribes-rules-health-care-fsas/219391