Aug 14 2007
The Value of a Tooth
We always talk about health care being expensive in America, but we rarely put a price around health care. Mostly, those of us who write about expensive health care are insured… so we pay our $20 copay and the true cost of health care rarely hits home.
We are aware of those around us who have no insurance, and we think we know what it would be like to be uninsured. Or at least we are enraged at this injustice.
How about dental?
Let’s say you have a molar gone bad, with an old root canal. Your dentist says, “you need this root canal redone and then we need to build the tooth up with a crown.”
What’s that tooth worth to you?
My molar required $2,500 in repairs. If it was a car by the name of Molar, it would have been totaled, which explains why those without dental insurance will rather have the tooth pulled than fixed.
Insurance only covered a percentage of the bill, not before printing the following disclaimer on my bill: “THE PLAN DOES NOT COVER ANY PORCELAIN,VENEER OR TITANIUM MATERIALS ON MOLARS.” (Statements and bills people haven’t heard yet that ALL CAPS=SHOUTING )
My share? $550. For that money I could get 2 iPods, or an SLR, or a trip to Jamaica, or a car! What I got is a porcelain molar that only I can see if I open my mouth wide in front of a mirror, plus the promise of better breath, a healthier mouth, longer-lasting dentition.
On second thought, I should have gotten a titanium tooth instead, which might have brought on the promise of quickly opened beer bottles. I’ll drink to that!
One response so far
You actually got a decent deal, all things considered. It could have been much, much worse, cost-wise. But it’s all true about the lack of insurance; I didn’t go to the dentist for seven years because I didn’t have insurance. Now that I do, I go frequently. The ironic thing is that I didn’t have insurance when I was in school; however, when I was in school I also had no money. Now that I’m working and have enough money to pay for my own dental expenses if need be, I’ve got insurance. What’s up with that?
Now, for opening bottles, you need to replace your chompers with good ol’ stainless steel. Real thick, too, so you can get a good grip.