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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / December 2004Temporary Bridges
First thing, first. I'm a complete baby when it comes to facing a dentist, dentist chair, dentist office...even an ad in the Dentist section of the yellow pages. Huge wimp. That's me. But I've learned to embrace my flaws and fight the fear in the name of good dental health. Xanax is my friend. And my enemy, evidently. Unfortunately my deep seated, white hot fear of all things dental make me a less effective *consumer* when it comes to dealing with the business end of things. Here's my question: I have a bridge that had come loose, and according to the dentist, it could not be re-cemented. Completely intimidated and blubbering at my fate, I didn't really have the wherewithall to ask the important questions - like *why*, but merely agreed and gripped the armwrests like I was riding an out of control rollercoaster. I'm told that a temporary bridge was placed successfully, and when I received the bill, evidently crown build ups were also done on the two anchor teeth (#13 & #15). Hmmm. Ok. But here's the rub: Since I don't live near that dentist I need to have the permanent bridge done in my home state - 1500 miles from the scene of the crime. (ha!) I am being charged, however, for the entire cost of the bridge and buildups. Now, I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. It was probably more like a week ago, so I know a few things. I know there is a HUGE markup on crowns/bridges/etc. And I'm okay with that. But I guess what I'm not okay with, is paying that huge markup, on something I'm not even getting. I'm completely okay with paying a reasonable cost for the buildup and placement of a temporary bridge...but what is that? The insurance company couldn't tell me, because they didn't have a "procedure code"...arrggghhh! Help! Can someone just give me a reasonable range of cost for a temporary bridge? >I'm told that a >temporary bridge was placed successfully, and when I received the bill, >evidently crown build ups were also done on the two anchor teeth (#13 & >#15). Hmmm. Ok. Many buildups are not in fact buildups. Dental insurance companies wrestle with this all the time. Joel Joel, You know, I totally believe that. There's a lot of trust that goes into visiting a dentist. You have to put your faith in the fact that you are not going to be taken advantage of, especially with insurance. I'm very sure I've had a lot of unneccesary work done, but you're kind of at the mercy of the one who knows more than you about what's going on in there. >Joel, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >unneccesary work done, but you're kind of at the mercy of the one who >knows more than you about what's going on in there. True and the patients who have been with us for a long time and have referred us other friends and relatives stand a better shot at a FAIR relationship. I dislike entire families talking about me ... one at a time, OK. Joel > First thing, first. > > But here's the rub: Since I don't live near that dentist I need to have > the permanent bridge done in my home state - 1500 miles from the scene > of the crime. (ha!) I am being charged, however, for the entire cost > of the bridge and buildups. Have you told the 1st dentist that you can't come back for the permanant bridge? Perhaps he didn't realise. If he's already got a lab making up the permanant one ask him to send it to your local dentist with the x-rays for fitting. I'm sure if you explain to your local dentist what happened he will understand. Great advice from CW. Cost of just a temporary bridge (with no intention of making a final bridge in the next 12 months) would range from $200 to $450 depending on who did it and where. Long term temporary bridges (where we want them to sit there for 1-3 years) will cost up to $1000.  Signature~+--~+--~+--~+--~+-- Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S. Troy, Michigan, USA .................................................... This posting is intended for informational or conversational purposes only. Always seek the opinion of a licensed dental professional before acting on the advice or opinion expressed here. Only a dentist who has examined you in person can diagnose your problems and make decisions which will affect your health. ...................... > >> First thing, first. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > will > understand. > Great advice from CW. > > Cost of just a temporary bridge (with no intention of making a final bridge > in the next 12 months) would range from $200 to $450 depending on who did it > and where. Long term temporary bridges (where we want them to sit there for > 1-3 years) will cost up to $1000. About the same here in Europe then. I've just paid about 300 Euro for an extraction and temp bridge. The permanant one just installed looks great and cost 1500 Euro. I was able to visit the lab so to make the colour match. Oh, most definitely. We had a couple of discussions explaining precisely why I can't come back for the permanent bridge - and it doesn't seem to matter, evidently. I'm very sure that the lab is not working on the permanent one, because we were waiting for some work on the bottom teeth to be completed and healed (implants) before doing impressions on both top and bottom to get the bite right. My local dentist is going to try to deal with this other dentist directly, to see what can be worked out between them, but it's frustrating to think that I have to pay *twice* for this. Thanks for your input here! You should pay no more and no less than a comparable job done by that dentist on one of his own patients ...... and its easy to deduce. You need not be taken advantage of, simply because you are "caught." Joel >First thing, first. > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >Help! Can someone just give me a reasonable range of cost for a >temporary bridge? |
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