Why are dental procedures so expensive?

And why do people assume that when other people have to were dentures or partials its because they don't take care of there teeth?

Why are dental procedures so expensive?
I agree with you Anna. Why are they so expensive? Root canals are done at the drop of a dime. I went in to redo a cracked filling and I was told that I needed a root canal. The tooth was perfectly normal. I did not feel any weakness. But when I tried to tell the dentist he said I needed a root canal. So I did the root canal and all hell broke loose from there. I had nothing but pain. Could not stand up from the pain. Had to pay a specialist to redo the root canal which cost me twice as much. The pain continued. Then I was told I needed an apicoectomy. I was smart enough not to do that. When I went back to the dentist he said I should extract and have an implant. Let's go back to the beginning. The tooth was not a problem before all this. After, I have paid over $ 5000 so far. I went in for $200 filling. You would think that with all the money they charge on unnecessary procedures(experimental), the cost would be coming down. Instead we start off with hundreds and end up paying thousands. How many feel robbed?


My teeth are perfectly straight. No decay. I do my cleaning every six months. Ask all the right questions when I go in. So what went wrong? I don't smoke. I am not on any medication that would be affecting my teeth. Drink milk and take a multi-vitamin.
Reply:It is a HUGE SCAM in the USA the $$ of dental work compared to other countries..Because the medical profession likes to rip people off!
Reply:I'm a dentist.





Dental procedures aren't expensive. In fact, they are cheap!





Paying $2000 for a root canal and crown is not like paying $2000 for a vacation. For $2000, you are getting to keep that tooth for 10, 20, perhaps 30 or 40 years! Let us say, hypothetically that the tooth had to be pulled in ten years (which would be considered a short time). That's whe worst-case scenario. You got to keep that tooth (which was meant to be there) for $200 a year. That's a bargain. If it lasts 20 years, you got to keep it for $100 a year. That's a steal!





Some people b|tch about the price of dentures (e.g. $2000 to $3000 for a set). What's the alternative? Drinking your meals for the rest of your life? The ability to chew is worth $3 million, not $3000. If you ask me, I'd say chewing solid foods is even more important than walking. And mind you, dentures also last for about 10 years under the right conditions. $300 a year to be able to eat solid foods is one hell of a bargain, if you ask me.





That kind of "why is dental work so overpriced" attitude is exactly why so many people have filthy, rotten teeth--they don't consider their dental health to be important! Hence, they think that everything a dentist does should be $20 or less.
Reply:I know Nebula D can back me up on this, but it is a lot of hard work and studying becoming a dentist. Plus the tuition that we have to pay, I don't think many people would become dentists if they had to shell out a lot of money and not get it back in return. Pretty much it's supply and demand. People, some people, are willing to pay any amount of money just to have straight teeth, whiter teeth, or that beautiful smile. Think about it like sports (only they don't have to shell out a lot for tuition) as long as someone is willing to pay Shaq (he's awesome, even though he's with Miami now) that $20 million a year, it'll happen. Now I know there a lot of people out there that just don't think it's worth it, (not trying to be a jerk)but hey, what can you really do about it?





As for the second part, 95% my patients that have gotten prosthetics IS because they don't care of there teeth. I know that there are still people who need them because they got in a fight or they were eating some meat and a piece of bone was in there.
Reply:All the answers above are right in their own perspective. But the mute question is what are the options left for those who want the quality dental work (everybody wants it anyway) and do not have sufficient insurance cover nor enough to pay out of pocket. Those who have traveled can make far better comments than the ones (sitting ducks) just making noise. It is for this reason traveling abroad has become attractive where some of them like Dental Care India Tour offer fantastic dentistry at 1/3 the cost. The aspiring movie stars and models from US and Europe are reaping greater benefits. Spend Less Save a Fortune!
Reply:i agree they charge to much i have really bad teeth but can't have them looked at because i don't have the money they are a rip off
Reply:It is not because people do not care about their teeth It is called affordability Not everyone is that rich to have procedures done.We also have financial commitments with housing,utilities, college loans and what about medications. Yes, dentist do spend much for tuition and lots of study.Medical doctors have even more studying the whole body. I am not against dentists only their prices and for procedures that do not last. There is no guarantee no matter what they say. Loo at all the posts on here about root canals, and implants, people are not satisfied. it isn't because they do not care about their teeth, they did have the work done.


Gee, my son had 3 root canals all failed the cost was his pocket plus what the insurance allowed. That was a waste of money. As prices soar it is passed on to the patient. We are suppose to put trust and faith in dentists after all they are the professionals, but can we really trust them? We only know what they are telling us. Some are greedy, thankfully , not all. Assumption is ignorance.. If everyone wore dentures, dentists would be out of a job, except for those who do extractions and impressions.


Today all is root canals, crowns and implants.


My sister in law paid $22,000 US out of pocket for bridges, root canals and crowns. She lost them all. The dentist told her she did nothing wrong,but it happens. She said she could have bought a car for that and had it longer. She is now wearing dentures.
Reply:Yes, the mute question and mute answer as pointed out by Mark Bush above, travel abroad with Dental Care India Tour as one of the options or even in some different country. Save your pocket.