How can I pay for wisdom teeth extraction?

Asked by livelaughlove21 (15724

) June 30th, 2011

I’m about 90% sure I’m going to have to have my wisdom teeth cut out. It feels like they’re coming in and I’m having some pain/headaches with it as well. I’m a college student with no insurance and I need to get it done before mid-August when the new semester starts.

I got quoted at about $2000 out of pocket for the procedure and it seems like no oral surgeons will do payment plans unless you can get a CareCredit Card, which I was denied for due to no credit history. I simply can’t afford $2000 at one time. It would completely wipe me out and then some.

I was looking at dentalplans.com and saw that for about $100/year I can get discounts on dental procedures, 15–50% off and discounts for specialists like oral surgeons too. Some of the discounts seem really good, but is it a scam? Is there catch that I’m not aware of? It says I can get a plan activated as soon as July 4th, which would work, but I don’t want to get screwed over.

Dental work is so expensive! What am I supposed to do? I have no one that can loan me the money.

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6 Answers

Have you checked with the university to see if they have any health plans, deals, ideas?

jaytkay (25810

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I would call around and see if there are any dental schools around that do work on the public. My friend got his taken out at OHSU for a pretty significant discount. He paid about 50% of what I paid at a oral surgeon.

jrpowell (40562

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I suggest you continue looking for a dentist that will accept payments. It took some work, but I found a place that agreed to $250/month, and they also we’re the cheapest I could find – $1200 to take all 4 out.

FutureMemory (24758

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< = dentist: it depends on what kind of extraction and medication you will require. If you are a young person whose wisdom teeth are not fully erupted; and you will need some level of sedation ( usually a valium drip IV) , and surgical extraction. I would buy some sort of plan, because your lower teeth might be what’s called a ‘boney impaction’ and tops a ‘partial impaction’ . All in all it’s not a small thing, it’s about a $1200.00 ordeal, get some help from your parents. It’s not a good thing to keep them in at this point: the risk of infection is greater, complicating the removal.

trailsillustrated (16804

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The free clinic here offers dental service a few times each month. Several area dentists volunteer their time on a rotating basis. Maybe there is something similar in your area.

Supacase (14573

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Support politicians who support health insurance for all citizens which includes wisdom teeth extraction. If it’s urgent ask the dentist to get paid later when you can afford it knowing he or she took the Hippocratic Oath. They have to help you.

mattbrowne (31735

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