Do I really need this work done?
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
April 15, 2016 8:34pm CST
A couple of months ago, I went for my regular dental check up, and I was told by my dentist that I needed a dental bridge. She told me how I needed it, and how much it would cost, which was a little over $1,400. Now I have dental insurance, but unfortunately it doesn’t cover all of it, only 80%. So to get this done, I still have to fork over $280.
I had my appointment a couple of weeks ago, but I had an urgent call at work and I had to skip my appointment. They’ve been calling to re-schedule, but I haven’t set the date yet.
I’m sure I would feel better about my teeth if I had it done, but currently I don’t really feel any different. I am not struggling to eat/chew, and I don’t really feel any pain in my teeth. This is making me ask myself – if I really need this done? Knowing that I have to spend money for it.
Would you do it?
4 people like this
8 responses
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Apr 16
If you don't feel you need it then let it go until necessary. I've gone without where my teeth are concerned for many years. It's time I had to take care of them as I needed to have my upper teeth pulled and a couple on the bottom, so now I'm looking at dentures.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
That's what I figure.
I might just ignore my teeth for now, and deal with it when I really need to.
I don't like to think it, but sometimes it feels like dentists just want to claim those insurance money that's why they prescribe certain procedures.
2 people like this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Apr 16
@bounce58 I'm sure they do. However, it was time for my teeth to come out, not because the teeth were bad, but because my jaw was. It's deteriorated to the point where my teeth were literally falling out on their own. I pulled several of them myself - no pain. They just slid right out. So now I'm needing dentures. When I went to get that started in February they said it would take a month for the approval to come from Medicaid. It's April. I called on Tuesday and they still didn't have it. My next appointment is in two weeks and I still need to arrange my transportation there. I might just do that on Monday and hope for the best.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
16 Apr 16
Im not sure Im familiar what a dental bridge does. Is it necessary? If it were something that over time would destroy your tooth if you go without it I would do it. Such as a root canal. I am personally waiting until I have enough saved up to get this done. Did you ask the dentist what would happen if you didnt do it?
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
I did. She said that it will deteriorate to a point that they'll need to be pulled out. And if a lot of my tooth suffer the same faith, I'd have to go with dentures. But that is still far away (I think!).
How they described a bridge was - just like the picture up there, a "fake" tooth connected to adjacent teeth so as to cover an empty space.
@marguicha (223028)
• Chile
16 Apr 16
I´d wait. You will know when and if you need it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223028)
• Chile
16 Apr 16
@bounce58 I have been through that with the dentist. At the end, I decided to do what was urgent and wait for the rest.
1 person likes this
@karjatwala (1120)
• Pune, India
16 Apr 16
I and my wife have both under gone dental bridges fitted a couple of years ago. We are very fine with no complaints and no further issues with the teeth.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
16 Apr 16
@karjatwala
I'm sure they'll be fine if I had it done.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
20 Apr 16
That's really expensive for the dental bridge. I don't like to visit dentists at all. I'd seek for another advice if I'd have to go through any surgery. I am not sure about dental surgeries, but I'd prefer to leave it if it's okay. It seems like some surgeons just like to advice others to go for surgeries, so I'd always seek for second opinion.
@much2say (55616)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Apr 16
If my dentist told me that, I'd demand the full explanation - all the whys, is it absolutely necessary - what are the alternatives - and what happens if I didn't go through with it. I guess I "might" do it IF it is predicted that something worse would happen down the road and end up costing me tons more (including pain). But I'd really have to think about it - I'd want to know how urgent the situation is. If you don't feel pain and actually don't feel anything strange - I would question it too - and delay it as long as possible.
My thing is I don't fully trust the words of a dentist or doctor. My orthodontist said, when I was about 14, that my 2 permanent front teeth would probably get super loose in my early 30s because of all the work they've done on my teeth. Well, I've gone more than a decade and a half beyond that and seems my 2 front teeth are still very much intact!
