Hi Everyone,
 I'm hoping someone may be able to give me some advice concerning some
reconstructive work I need to have done.  My problems stem from a fall
I had several years ago in which I hit my chin on a counter full force.
My top front two teeth were both shattered, #9 (I think) sustained the
most damage and was pushed and twisted inwards.  I was twenty-one at
the time and did not have a lot of money to spend, so the dentist I was
seeing thought he should perform a root canal on the most heavily
damaged, and then shape them both into posts' for two crowns.  He
charged me about two thousand for this.  Since then, I have had to have
a root canal on one of the other teeth (#11 if my guess about #9 is
correct) and currently have a temporary crown.  I started having
problems with #9 around 10wks ago.  My symptoms consisted of pain
around the tooth, pressure and a kind of itchy feeling.  I went to my
dentist where he took an xray.  The tooth had started disolving just
above the gum line and was in danger of breaking.  He referred me to a
prosthodontist in our area and gave me pain and antibotic medications.

When I called to make my appointment, I was told that my first visit
would need to be paid in full, but from then on, they would bill my
insurance directly.  Upon meeting with the doctor, he said the xray the
previous doctor had taken (it was given to me as photo) was not good
enough and he would need to take another xray.  After looking at the
xray, he said that the tooth was broken and would need to be extracted.
He had his assistant work up the list of prices, and gave me two
options.  The first option (after extraction) was an implant.  This
would cost around $4500.  This included the post, the build up (I say
build up, but it is actually the piece the crown sits on and screws
into the post), and the crown.  She also stated that this would include
a new crown for #10 which would help them match.  The second option was
for a bridge with two crowns.  This would cost approx $2700.  The
doctor then came around, and said that I should see one of his
colleagues about the extraction.  Upon paying my bill($105), they gave
me some literature to help with the financing of procedure (the plans
all had a 13% interest rate).  When I asked the assistant for a copy of
the estimate, she declined and said that should couldn't give me a
copy, but could write down the prices for me.

When I went for my second consulatation, the new prosthodontist
explained to me the differences between the two procedures (the implant
and bridge) and also told me about the extraction (It had something to
do with using some type of bone(cow or corpse) material to help rebuild
and strengthen the bone for the implant, and something about this
helping the jaw over the long haul).  Anyway, he also said he needed to
take some more xrays and pointed out several other teeth (I have had
another one (#14) removed) and also wanted xrays of those teeth.  He
then said that I would need to have either an implant with the two
crowns, or possibly a bridge with four crowns.  He also said #14 (which
I hadn't asked about) was a perfect candidate for an implant and crown.
He had his assistant work up a new price sheet (I don't remeber the
figures, but they were higher and included the replacement of #14 added
to the workload).  She also stated that I was required to pay for this
visit as they did not bill insurance directly.  I asked her if this
would be the case when the procedure was performed, and she said yes.
I told her I did not have the resources for this type of expense and
she directed me again to their financing options.  When I went to check
out I was charged $180 and told that when they received the payments
from the insurance company, they would send me the reimbursement.  They
also had me go ahead and schedule the extraction date, and said this
would cost around $700.  This included the extraction, bone impant?,
and flipper (which sounded suspiciously like something designed to
aggravate the wearer to death).

It has been about 3wks since my last visit, and I have received both
insurance statements, but still have not received either of the checks.
I called my dentist back, and asked for the name of another
prosthodontist in our area, as I was hoping to get a second opinion,
but that dentist office stated that they were not accepting any new
patients and tried to refer me to the prostho I had already seen.  I
explained this to them, and they said I should look in Cincinatti,
which is about an hour away.

So I guess my questions boil down to:

1.) Does this sound fishy?  I can understand a specialist charging a
lot, but to not work with a patients insurance seems a little odd, as
well as the numerous xrays.

2.) Does this expense (>$6000 when all said and done) seem reasonable
for the work involved?  I live in south western ohio if it matters.

3.) Is it typical for a dentist office to have you work with others in
that office(other than cleanings)?  I've been to large dentist offices
before, but have always seen my "regular" dentist.

4.) Should I look in Cincinatti prior to having the extraction done?

5.) Is it normal for an office to withhold procedure estimates?

6.) Is 13% interest a good rate?  Seems I can get a personal loan from
the bank for around 9% (at least that was what it was 6mos ago).

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Frustrated,
Jess