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I have 4 cavities and no dental insurance?

My mom already pays about $200 a month on Aetna and has to pay $25 each a month for 2 of her prescriptions. On the Aetna plan she has dental is not included and I looked in the mirror the other day and saw I had 4 cavities. what am I to do? I don't eat crap...I'm lucky if I eat candy once a month!

Public Comments

1. stop eating crap and become a self taught dentist so your mom wont hate you forever
2. You can actually shop around and get cavities taken care of very reasonably. They are one of the few medical items that you can purchase for a set amount of money. 4 will probably cost you around $300 total - way cheaper than buying insurance.
3. try a discount card provider. it's not insurance but it discounts traditional procedures something like 25 to 60% off their cost. I use one called careington 500 or something to that effect. you pay 130 or so up front then choose a dentist in the area that accepts their card off of a list, then just call and ask for an appt.
4. You can ask your mother about contacting a dental school around your area. The students will do the work with supervision. It's a lot cheaoer to go to a dental school. Good luck.
5. I know we are suppose to care for our teeth but sometimes you have to just let it go. Now I know you don't have dental insurance but not all dentist are blood sucking crooks. There are some that work on a sliding scale. You may have to call around but I'm sure you can find one that will work with you.
6. Don't let it go - they won't get any better, only worse.
7. I would encourage you to visit this great website: www.healthsavings.ourperfectcard.com I signed up online over 5 years ago and they have saved me thousands of dollars on all of my dental services. From extractions to xrays, fillings, Cleanings, root canals, and even my braces had coverage. They even had my affordable benefits active in 2 hours and was able to use them the very same day. Good luck and Hope this helps
8. Finding the right value in dental insurance or dental plans is an important step in purchasing dental coverage for you and your family. Both types of dental plans have advantages and disadvantages and one size does not fit everyone. Keeping this in mind is an important rule when you shop for the dental plan that best fits your needs. I have taken the opportunity to provide a brief information on the different types of Insurance and Plans that are available and what they mean to you, as noted below. Indemnity Plans This type of dental plan pays the dental office (dentist) on a traditional fee-for-service basis. A monthly premium is paid by the client and/or the employer to an insurance company, which then reimburses the dental office (dentist) for the services rendered. An insurance company usually pays between 50% - 80% of the dental office (dentist) fees for a covered procedures; the remaining 20% - 50% is paid by the client. These plans often have a pre-determined or set deductible amount which varies from plan to plan. Indemnity plans also can limit the amount of services covered within a given year and pay the dentist based on a variety of fee schedules. Some typical features of these plans: High deductibles before coverage begins (well-designed plans don't apply the deductible to preventive services) Probationary periods on certain procedures that last up to a year Annual dollar limit on benefits Chose your own dentist Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments. Dental HMO These insurance plans, also known as "capitation plans," operate like their medical HMO cousins. This type of dental plan provides a comprehensive dental care to enrolled patients through designated provider office (dentist). A Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) is a common example of a capitation plan. The dentist is paid on a per capita (per person) basis rather than for actual treatment provided. Participating dentists receive a fixes monthly fee based on the number of patients assigned to the office. In addition to premiums, client co-payments may be required for each visit. Some typical features of these plans: Monthly premiums (some require you to prepay a year's worth) Co-payments for office visits Free preventive or routine care You must select from an approved network of dentists May have an initial enrollment fee Annual dollar cap Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments. Preferred Provider Organizations Another true insurance plan, a Preferred provider organizations (PPO) falls somewhere between an indemnity plan and a dental HMO. This plan allows a particular group of patients to receive dental care from a defined panel of dentists. The participating dentist agrees to charge less than usual fees to this specific patient base, providing savings for the plan purchaser. If the patient chooses to see a dentist who is not designated as a "preferred provider," that patient may be required to pay a greater share of the fee-for-service.  A group of dentists agrees to provide services at a deeply discounted rate, giving you substantial savings — as long as you stay in their network. Unlike the more restrictive DHMO, though, you can go out of network and still receive some benefits. Some typical features of these plans: Monthly premiums Annual dollar cap You must stay within the approved network of dentists or pay higher deductibles and co-payments Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments. Dental Discount This type of dental plan is not insurance. The managing organizations have negotiated with local dental offices to establish a set price for a particular dental proc