Looking for Dental Insurance as low as possible

I am calling as soon as I find a University for dentists AC. Thanks again, I think this is going to be the best thing for me, and I don't have any other options but to continue suffering. I have Norco, Aleve, and Amoxicillen but those won't last, plus it scares me having to live on those. I slept about 6 hours, and woke up hurting but took my pills right away, plus I put oragel on the gums, still no swelling. I'm sorry to all that this turned into a "pain" thread but I had to get off the "insurance" search and onto looking for a damn dentist I can afford. I had my money saved up to fix my brakes on my truck, and it will now go for a bus ticket/any costs for travel.

It's all going to work out though, I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Thanks to everyone, but a special thanks for the University idea AC. I went to OHSU in Portland Oregon years ago and they were excellent. I would go there if I could, but pretty sure I can make it to a closer one here in CA. Also, I do have denti-cal which is pretty good, and I think will pay some or at least part. I need a diagnosis first, then I'll know better.
 

thanks again, so far, I haven't found a University close enough. Do you know of any in California, or does anyone else? I know I'll have to go at least 3 to 400 miles to just get to Redding, but was hoping for an easier trip down 101, to maybe I-5 etc.
 

Denise1952 said:
I slept about 6 hours, and woke up hurting but took my pills right away, plus I put oragel on the gums, still no swelling. I'm sorry to all that this turned into a "pain" thread but I had to get off the "insurance" search and onto looking for a damn dentist I can afford.
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A few suggestions in the meantime, rinsing with warm/tepid water and sea salt will make the gums less sensitive, clove oil (anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, anti-bacterial, germicide) is a natural remedy for tooth and gum pain and Anbesol to me, is much more effective than orajel and available over the counter. Hope you can find a university that it closer to you.
 
SeaBreeze said:
A few suggestions in the meantime, rinsing with warm/tepid water and sea salt will make the gums less sensitive, clove oil (anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, anti-bacterial, germicide) is a natural remedy for tooth and gum pain and Anbesol to me, is much more effective than orajel and available over the counter. Hope you can find a university that it closer to you.
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Oh thanks Seabreeze, I have the sea salt right here and I think I can get down to get Anbesol. There was some sort of thing my mom use to use for her coughing than you would spray and it would numb throat a little. I might find some of that as well, thank you again. After I quit being so paranoid about the pain coming back, the pills are kicking in I think. I am also getting down some oatmeal this a.m. I'm freaking starving, lol! I have to be super careful. I can't chew, even on just the "ok" side without putting pressure on the bad side. Still no swelling. I sure never heard of any infection where there isn't swelling.

Does anybody else feel like they only get things that are totally baffling. I mean a cavity I know about, or swelling would tell me abscess.
 
That was probably Chloraseptic for the throat, it does work well. Sensodyne toothpaste also helps with gum pain and sensitivity, but you have to use it a few days at least to notice the benefits.

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thanks Seabreeze, yes, that's the stuff my mom had. I do want to get sensodyne as well when I can get to the store again. I did pick up some cheap AIM toothpaste I figure will be safer than what I was using. It was Crest Pro-health and said it was for sensitive & enamel shield, but it did also say tarter control, something like that. I think it might have been too rough on my teeth. Plus I think I mentioned I'd been using an electric toothbrush and might have been too hard on my teeth as well.

I have to lay down again, got some oatmeal down, but those dang pills just don't allow me to do much. Sure they can take the pain away but there's definitely a price to that:( hate pills, but to stop the pain, it's a trade-off:( ttyl, and thanks again, denise
 
Just to let folks know, I am doing ok. I have a plan figured out, and that is to get over to Redding to see a dentist. What I believe now is that one of my wisdom teeth never came through so they never pulled it. That is the area where the pain is centered, not on the other areas, but it effected them. Now only that one area has aching, so I figure I may need the type of surgery that a pro needs to handle, and I sure don't get that even if this clinic allowed me in. Mostly, I feel I may need a specialist so I may as well go where I can get into one of those if a regular dentist finds that is what I need.

Just wanted to update anyone interested. Later on, when this is over, I will have to think about whether I want to move in order to get better healthcare. Happy New Years everyone!! I was lucky to get into emergency room when a certain Doctor was on duty as he was excellent, and as thorough as he could be (not being a dentist) and really checked me over. He did have quite a lot of knowledge about the whole thing, and I didn't feel like they just herded me in and out:)
 
Denise1952 said:
Just to let folks know, I am doing ok. I have a plan figured out, and that is to get over to Redding to see a dentist. What I believe now is that one of my wisdom teeth never came through so they never pulled it. That is the area where the pain is centered, not on the other areas, but it effected them. Now only that one area has aching, so I figure I may need the type of surgery that a pro needs to handle, and I sure don't get that even if this clinic allowed me in. Mostly, I feel I may need a specialist so I may as well go where I can get into one of those if a regular dentist finds that is what I need.

Just wanted to update anyone interested. Later on, when this is over, I will have to think about whether I want to move in order to get better healthcare. Happy New Years everyone!! I was lucky to get into emergency room when a certain Doctor was on duty as he was excellent, and as thorough as he could be (not being a dentist) and really checked me over. He did have quite a lot of knowledge about the whole thing, and I didn't feel like they just herded me in and out:)
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Denise, what did that doc say he thought might be wrong?
 
He didn't know for sure, but I think I have a good idea, which I mentioned above. An actual dentist will have to figure it out for sure though.
 
Denise, I'm glad you have the ER visit behind you and have a plan of what you want to do, that's half the battle some times. Try to enjoy your New Years Eve and New Year's Day, hopefully with some diminished pain.
 
CindyLouWho said:
Denise, I'm glad you have the ER visit behind you and have a plan of what you want to do, that's half the battle some times. Try to enjoy your New Years Eve and New Year's Day, hopefully with some diminished pain.
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I'm so dingy I forgot tomorrow is a holiday so I have that to get through before I can connect with a dentist, LOL!! Oh well, I'll make it. Funny how I used to look forward to weekends and holidays, now it seems like they just get in the way of me taking care of business.

Thanks though Cindy, I appreciate your notes:) It all helps, Happy New Year to you and yours, Denise:beerandwhistle:
 
Well, no yours... :), just me and my dog who is sick and I'm not leaving his side. That's funny, Denise, the weekend is great unless you need to reach someone, then it's hurry up. I'll be calling the Garage Door guy, unfortunately. If it ain't one thing it's another. Yupper.
 
Looks like some of this advice is good and doable. I have a Dental Plan but it's not considered "insurance". Last year I had to have a crown put on one of my back teeth. Although I paid $2,400 out of pocket, It would have been $3,500 without my dental plan. I found my plan, Aetna Dental, at https://www.dentalplans.com/ourpromise They have several companies offering plans. I admit that if one is just having a cleaning every year, it almost doesn't pay but one never knows what kind of procedure will wind up being needed. I was glad I didn't drop the plan in 2017! For 2018, I waited for their special deal to sign up again. it was $132 for the year. I hope one of these options members have posted works well for you.
 
I've looked at various dental plans but nothing seems to be that good. The plans with the 'better' benefits are only written with dentist I do not care to go to. Just the other day I paid $200 for a dental cleaning, dr exam and full mouth xrays. I do xrays every 2 years and dental cleanings every 9 months. Used to go every 6 months. I have a few crowns so insurance would have helped with those, but the annual cap is so low the overall math just doesn't make much sense. At least not in my area.
 
It just depends. My DH did use a dental school to get his false teeth made...not free, but cheaper. Now he's got dental free at the VA, so if any problems he goes there. I've been screened at the dental school a couple of times, but they only need patients with certain dental problems and I didn't qualify. And after using dental insurance for a time, it was obvious I was paying more overall than if I just did without that insurance. Now I go to this 7 to 7 place and I pay a bit for their own plan...so far, it's working out well overall, although not so well for the extraction I'm getting soon. I'm paying 70% of the cost for that, expensive.
 
Denise, how are you doing? I hope you have been able to get to a dentist and are feeling better.

ETA: I just saw your Diary Thread entry after I posted this. I hope everything went well today. Hugs to you.
 
Try Careington Dental Plans. It is not insurance. It is a deep discount
dental service off everything. I have been happily using it for many years.
However, only some dentists accept it, but you can look them up online.
 
One tip I learned earlier this year at our dentist's office is that if you pay cash or check they'll knock off 5%. We have a state medical savings account with a debit card I'd been using there, but forgot the card that day. When I asked if I could write a check I learned about the discount. I guess you have to ask if they offer a cash discount.

This week DH just had 6 molars pulled in prep for upper dentures to the tune of $984. The cash discount was $49.20. Hey better than nothing, right?
 
Denis, you have gone down a long hard road but you are proving that my recent decisions to no longer pay for dental insurance was right.

In 2016 I started a new dentist where we had recently moved. He did a cleaning. some repairs, and suggested a different dentist in different town to rebuilt a root canal problem. When all was done I had paid $400 of the $1400 of my dentist bill and $0 on my over $1400 crown repair. Seems like pretty small returns on my annual investments, so now I don't buy insurance any more. It was a named insurance in this thread but I won't name it. Just consider the cost and payback mentioned by several on this thread.
 

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