The cost of it all!

southie_anseo

Guys i am seriously depressed. I have had the pleasure of having to attend a peridontist, years of dental phobia has lead me and my overbite to this and the news was not good, i have "moderate" gum disease and need Scaling and root planing which sounds very painful, but the thing is its going to be two sessions each €500 two weeks apart. well i cannot afford it, i work my ass off 5 days a week, but i am literally living pay cheque to pay cheque i dont have an extra €1000 to spend on myself this month, or next month or perhaps even this year, i haven't even got myself a new pair of shoes this Christmas as i cannot bloody afford them.

Why is it if i was at home sat on my ass (sorry to those that havent chosen social welfare as a career choice) but sat on my ass with my medical card in my back pocket i would not have to be worrying about this.

Its not fair and from what the periodontist said my only option if i dont/cannot look after this now is loosing a flippin tooth right in the front of my stupid mouth

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Look if you cant afford it you cant afford it. No point going into debt. What you need to do is ask the periodontst to send a report to your dentist who accepts medical card. Your dentist can do the scaling and root planning for you on the medical card. Now dont get me wrong here a periodontist will do a better more detailed job, but your dentist can do her/his best and at least buy you some time. A referral to the local dental hosptial might also be in order, however that often doesn't suit a busy 5 days a week worker like you.

Dont stress, It will be fine.

ger vallely

But fitzgeme, op may not be entitled to a medical card. I'm in a similar position myself. Had the root scaling( not near as scary or awful as it sounds), lots more work, cleaning, all sorts and back in 2 weeks for a filling. I too have to find the cash somewhere. It really is a sorry state when those working their asses off get none of the benefits. OP, I hope you got through with it. Perhaps the practice will accept weekly/ monthly payments? Don't let it go, you will feel so much better when it's all finished.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Sorry I misread the OP's post. Still advice is solid. Referral to dental hospital of have your generals dentist or their team to the work. Monthly payments may be an option, but dentists are not banks and ate bread is soon forgotten.

ger vallely

I guess I am lucky in that the practice I attend are really good with instalments. Still has to be paid, and it's not a measley sum but at least I can spread it out if needed.

Fann Linn

southie_anseo wrote: »

Guys i am seriously depressed. I have had the pleasure of having to attend a peridontist, years of dental phobia has lead me and my overbite to this and the news was not good, i have "moderate" gum disease and need Scaling and root planing which sounds very painful, but the thing is its going to be two sessions each €500 two weeks apart. well i cannot afford it, i work my ass off 5 days a week, but i am literally living pay cheque to pay cheque i dont have an extra €1000 to spend on myself this month, or next month or perhaps even this year, i haven't even got myself a new pair of shoes this Christmas as i cannot bloody afford them.

Why is it if i was at home sat on my ass (sorry to those that havent chosen social welfare as a career choice) but sat on my ass with my medical card in my back pocket i would not have to be worrying about this.

Its not fair and from what the periodontist said my only option if i dont/cannot look after this now is loosing a flippin tooth right in the front of my stupid mouth

Welcome to my world. Best part of €2k spent last year and back now next month for more. And what actually is more galling is that very little in Dental expenses can be claimed back in tax relief as per other health expenses.
Sickening.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Most advanced dental treatment can be claimed back at 20%. Gum treatment as above is fully covered as a medical expense.

Dr_serious2

southie_anseo wrote: »

Guys i am seriously depressed. I have had the pleasure of having to attend a peridontist, years of dental phobia has lead me and my overbite to this and the news was not good, i have "moderate" gum disease and need Scaling and root planing which sounds very painful, but the thing is its going to be two sessions each €500 two weeks apart. well i cannot afford it, i work my ass off 5 days a week, but i am literally living pay cheque to pay cheque i dont have an extra €1000 to spend on myself this month, or next month or perhaps even this year, i haven't even got myself a new pair of shoes this Christmas as i cannot bloody afford them.

Why is it if i was at home sat on my ass (sorry to those that havent chosen social welfare as a career choice) but sat on my ass with my medical card in my back pocket i would not have to be worrying about this.

Its not fair and from what the periodontist said my only option if i dont/cannot look after this now is loosing a flippin tooth right in the front of my stupid mouth

If you are close to the border you should go up north. Much cheaper, I got a great job done in Newry.

davo10

Dr_serious2 wrote: »

If you are close to the border you should go up north. Much cheaper, I got a great job done in Newry.

The last time I checked, there are no periodontists in the North outside Belfast. The ops condition is advanced enough for loss of teeth to be a possibility, that is why he/she has been referred to a specialist. Please do not confuse routine treatment provided by a dentist with advanced tearments provided by a specialist.

Fann Linn

Eliza Agreeable Electricity wrote: »

Most advanced dental treatment can be claimed back at 20%. Gum treatment as above is fully covered as a medical expense.

It is in 2018. Not previously.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Dental insurance is relatively cheap. Could take that out to cover it.

davo10

Fann Linn wrote: »

It is in 2018. Not previously.

Has been for 20 years, you used to be able to claim 40% back but that was reduced in 2010.

AndrewJRenko

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Dental insurance is relatively cheap. Could take that out to cover it.

Does any insurance policy cover pre-existing conditions like this?

SM35

A grand to stabilise your mouth and prevent loss of teeth is the least expensive option in the long term.

Loss of teeth may require their replacement - dentures will accelerate any dental disease including periodontal disease - bridgework similar cost to an implant but will involve cutting healthy teeth, and implants will require lifelong maintenance.

No dental insurance policy will cover a pre-existing condition for some time.

The medical card scheme does not cover periodontal therapy unless you have a pre-exisiting condition such as diabetes, and at that will not cover the intensive time and effort to get the job done properly. You have been referred to a specialist for a reason - the extent of your disease (which is not your fault OP - people with periodontal disease are just genetically susceptible to the disease).

Dentists are not banks - approach your bank or credit union and borrow it - your health is your wealth..

southie_anseo

Eliza Agreeable Electricity wrote: »

Look if you cant afford it you cant afford it. No point going into debt. What you need to do is ask the periodontst to send a report to your dentist who accepts medical card. Your dentist can do the scaling and root

thing is i work and i dont have a medical card

Par72

southie_anseo wrote: »

Eliza Agreeable Electricity wrote: »

Look if you cant afford it you cant afford it. No point going into debt. What you need to do is ask the periodontst to send a report to your dentist who accepts medical card. Your dentist can do the scaling and root

thing is i work and i dont have a medical card

As SM35 explained "The medical card scheme does not cover periodontal therapy unless you have a pre-exisiting condition such as diabetes, and at that will not cover the intensive time and effort to get the job done properly."

So it wouldn't make any difference if you were "sat on my ass with my medical card in my back pocket"

Fishorsealant

Best bet is dental hospital if you live close.
Some charge 35 e per quadrant so that's 140 for full mouth rsd.
Over 4 appointments with a student for about 60 - 90 minutes per quadrant for student to scale and rsd.

Also LA provided for RSD and most don't experience pain after.

Some hospitals include perio tx for free with other restorative.

Moderate periodontitis and potential loss of one tooth is not the realm of a specialist imo.