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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / October 2005Medicaid does not cover root canal in NYS
I'm disabled and on a limited income, in New York state. Unfortunately the right side of my mouth is in bad shape. I had a lapse of a couple of years that I did not go to a dentist, mainly because I couldn't find one that accepted Medicaid. Anyway, I am going to a dental clinic now. What brought me there (its a long trip but I had no choice) was both the wisdom teeth on my right side of my mouth were in severe pain. There had been advanced decay in both upper and lower right wisdom teeth. The upper one was tilted toward the back a bit, but was fairly easy for them to extract. The lower one was "mesioangular", it was erupted a pressing against the molar next to it. They had to pull that one as well. That got me some temporary relief from the pain. But the warned me that the last molar on the upper right side had advanced decay from the x-rays. It would not be able to be filled, but would need a root canal. The tooth can easily be saved by a root canal and the dentist did not advise extracting that tooth, as messing with the regular teeth can cause alignment problems. The bad news is Medicaid doesn't cover root canal in New York and I cannot afford the $900 or so it will cost. I barely make expenses for the month as it is. I wasn't too worried since that tooth wasn't hurting me. But it is starting to hurt me, and I see a brown area (decay) in the pit of the tooth, and unfortunately I see a little on the other molar as well. So what am I gonna do? Beg on the street for $$ for a root canal. It's an outrage it isn't covered. So I am asking is there anything I can do to "reverse" the effects of this decay so the tooth can "build itself up". Or am I gonna have to starting begging? I don't have any family or friends that can help me. Unless anyone knows a dentist in the Long Island area that can take a charity case. >I'm disabled and on a limited income, in New York state. >Unfortunately the right side of my mouth is in bad shape. I had a lapse >of a couple of years that I did not go to a dentist, mainly because I >couldn't find one that accepted Medicaid. You need to find a g-g-g------g----o-oo-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-d dentist who accepts medicaid. >Anyway, I am going to a dental clinic now. What brought me there (its a >long trip but I had no choice) was both the wisdom teeth on my right >side of my mouth were in severe pain. There had been advanced decay in >both upper and lower right wisdom teeth. Yank 'em out ... ten minute job, after profound anesthesia of course! >The upper one was tilted >toward the back a bit, but was fairly easy for them to extract. The [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >cause alignment problems. >The bad news is Medicaid doesn't cover root canal in New York Move to Pennsylvania ..... > and I >cannot afford the $900 or so it will cost. I barely make expenses for >the month as it is. I wasn't too worried since that tooth wasn't >hurting me. Standard advice will follow .... give up cable TV, ciggies, internet, prepared foods, MickyD's, and the like. >But it is starting to hurt me, and I see a brown area >(decay) in the pit of the tooth, and unfortunately I see a little on >the other molar as well. So what am I gonna do? >Beg on the street for $$ for a root canal. I saw a guy with a sign by Wal-Mart, "I will work for root canal therapy." >It's an outrage it isn't >covered. So I am asking is there anything I can do to "reverse" the >effects of this decay so the tooth can "build itself up". Or am I gonna >have to starting begging? YUP, ask George Bush to raise the minimum wage. >I don't have any family or friends that can help me. Unless anyone >knows a dentist in the Long Island area that can take a charity case. Where's Flab when you need him? >Where's Flab when you need him? Flab be working on his blop ....... > >Where's Flab when you need him? > > Flab be working on his blop ....... Is "working on his blop" another euphemism for "going full osseous"? > The bad news is Medicaid doesn't cover root canal in New York and I > cannot afford the $900 or so it will cost. Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my state either. Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, under Medicaid, states are required to cover normal dental care only for children, so many states don't cover adults except for dire emergencies. > I don't have any family or friends that can help me. Unless anyone > knows a dentist in the Long Island area that can take a charity case. Even when Medicaid says it "covers" any type of dental treatment, it only covers a fraction of the cost. The dentist who accepts Medicaid patients is already providing charity to each case. In the case of severe decay, you would need to find a dentist who can perform the extraction under the low Medicaid fee schedule. Under the Medicaid system in my state, when there is a severely decayed tooth, the choice comes down to extracting the tooth under Medicaid, or paying for the root canal yourself. And remember that when a back tooth has root canal treatment, it then needs a crown too. And Medicaid won't cover the crown. So it sounds like extraction is your cheapest alternative by far. - dentaldoc > > The bad news is Medicaid doesn't cover root canal in New York and I > > cannot afford the $900 or so it will cost. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > for children, so many states don't cover adults except for dire > emergencies. At least in your state you can choose to place compomers or composites or Am. Up here, we can only place Am in posterior teeth. The populace will pay for white fillings in permanent teeth perhaps, but not the deciduous ones. IMO, it should be the other way 'round, as it is in the early years that the nervous system develops. ... and so it goes... SP  SignatureTake out the TRASH to reply I am not so sure if the pain is coming from the upper right molar as I previously thought. It seems to be coming from the extraction site of the lower right wisdom, because when I brush around the site it hurts ALOT. They had to suture that site, but with dissolvable stitches. But I still feel the stitches in there even though it's been almost 3 weeks since the extraction. It feels very sore as well, and the pain may be radiating to other teeth. Because my 1st molar which has no cavity is also having pain. Should the stitches dissolved by now? It seems to bother me at most when I'm sleeping, and there's pressure on my head. The first few weeks after extraction went fine but I'm noticing the site is very sore now. > I am not so sure if the pain is coming from the upper right molar as I > previously thought. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > The first few weeks after extraction went fine but I'm noticing the > site is very sore now. You may have some undissolved stitches in there. Have it looked at and irrigated if necessary. Sleep with an extra pillow to aid drainage. Use ice on the cheek wrapped in a towel. It's been a while, but if there's infection there, you may need it to be looked at. You may have a small piece of bone that has broken off and is irritating the area. Hope this clears up soon. SP SignatureTake out the TRASH to reply Yes I have made an appointment to have it looked at on Wednsday. I have a feeling it has gotten re-infected. After the extraction I took Pennicillin for 10 days. I am using an extra pillow, it helps. That and the ibuprofen. :-) I guess I am one of those "lucky" few that have trouble with dissolvable stitches. > > Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my > > state either. Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > deciduous ones. IMO, it should be the other way 'round, as it is in the > early years that the nervous system develops. For years, we couldn't place composites in posterior teeth under Medicaid. Now, they allow it, but it doesn't mean they pay the cost. They simply pay the same that they pay for amalgam (which is only about 30% of the normal amalgam fee). This is the state's method of discouraging the placement of posterior composites, while still being able to claim that they "cover" it. - dentaldoc "Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my state either. Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, under Medicaid, states are required to cover normal dental care only for children, so many states don't cover adults except for dire emergencies. " It's a real shame that in a supposedly developed country like the United States, dental care isn't considered neccesary. The safety net this country has is a joke. "Even when Medicaid says it "covers" any type of dental treatment, it only covers a fraction of the cost. The dentist who accepts Medicaid patients is already providing charity to each case. " That's probably why so few dentists accept it. The Medicaid program should pay out as much as any regular insurance program should. "Under the Medicaid system in my state, when there is a severely decayed tooth, the choice comes down to extracting the tooth under Medicaid, or paying for the root canal yourself. And remember that when a back tooth has root canal treatment, it then needs a crown too. And Medicaid won't cover the crown. So it sounds like extraction is your cheapest alternative by far. " I had no problem extracting my useless Wisdom teeth, but extracting regular teeth can cause alignment problems, and impair your ability to chew and speak. Not something I'm willing, or should even have to accept, in a country where every 3rd person drives a $60,000 Hummer H2 that gets 8mpg. I'd rather beg. Especially here on Long Island, where there's plenty of rich people that can spare a few hundred. I guess what it comes down to is begging, so that's what I'm gonna have to do. I should be glad there's ANY dental coverage under Medicaid. This country truly is a joke. I guess after how they treated New Orleans one can't be suprised at the ignorance of the government toward those who are poor and disabled. >This country truly is a joke. You are free to leave anytime you choose. You may begin the flame war at any tine. Amatus >"Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my >state either. Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >Orleans one can't be suprised at the ignorance of the government toward >those who are poor and disabled. .. Amatus . >>This country truly is a joke. You may want to move to the city ... .things are better here. > You are free to leave anytime you choose. > [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > . > >>This country truly is a joke. > > You may want to move to the city ... .things are better here. "Things go better with Coke-a-Cola,,,, Things go better with Coke. " Just down memory lane a bit there.... SP SignatureTake out the TRASH to reply > "Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my > state either. Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > Orleans one can't be suprised at the ignorance of the government toward > those who are poor and disabled. Well, you know they're going to have an "offset" for Hurricane Katrina relief expenses. No, they're not giving up the tax cuts. There is a movement afoot to eliminate the new prescription benefit under Medicare. There used to be a debate here whether health care is a right or a privilege. No debate anymore. Steve Signature{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Remove "nospam" to reply\par } >> The bad news is Medicaid doesn't cover root canal in New York and I >> cannot afford the $900 or so it will cost. > >Medicaid doesn't cover root canal treatment for posterior teeth in my >state either. PA ~ yes. >Most states have cut it out of their budgets. In fact, >under Medicaid, states are required to cover normal dental care only [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >- dentaldoc True, but their reimbursment is only 270 for molar 225 for premolar 180 for anterior. shad wrote: True, but their reimbursment is only 270 for molar 225 for premolar 180 for anterior. ____________________________ 270 would be passable for the molar, but what about the second and third canals? Shouldn't they be filled too? ;-0 - dentaldoc |
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