Asking for Help (dental version)

Apparently, April is the month of dental work here at Team Dave's.

D got taken care of last year, but this is THE time for the rest of us.

First, Mal has a couple of teeth coming in fully in his soft palate. He's had "shark teeth" before, but they were always right behind the baby tooth, which eventually fell out. One of these top teeth has been emerging (and is fully in) for months. Mal has been wiggling the baby tooth for probably a year (because it's infected and likely has been ever since he got dental work done when he was 4 and they capped it without getting all of the rot out, thanks so much, jerks) and it's just not budging. When the second tooth started coming in, that was all we needed to take him down to our awesome dentist in south Austin. It's a 45 minute drive but they're SO good with him.

In fact, Mal let them use the electric polisher to clean his teeth for the first time! In two weeks, he's scheduled for full anesthesia so they can pull these two baby teeth (one is so small that I'm afraid his gums are going to grow over it), fix his effed up caps from several years ago (thanks so much, jerks), fill one adult tooth cavity, and two baby teeth cavities. Whew. This boy brushes religiously twice a day, and he flosses at night. He's just going to have "those" teeth, I think.

As a child, D brushed only at night, never flossed, and never had a cavity. After not having ANY dental care for about 10 years, they only had two small cavities and everything else was fine after a good cleaning. Some of us just get easier teeth than others.

Meanwhile, James had mentioned that it felt like one of his fillings was falling out. He hasn't been to a dentist since 1995. So we had an appointment scheduled here in town, but then not only did his filling come out, but his whole tooth crumbled. We were able to find an emergency appointment at a slightly-less-nearby office, where he's been now several times. First, they got the tooth and a second one cleared out and fitted with temporary crowns. Then he had to go back in to have the permanent crowns put on. He went back for a deep cleaning, then the next day for the second half of that.

Although we have dental insurance, a pretty good amount of this is still out-of-pocket. In fact, we have to pay in full for Mal's anesthesia, then we'll submit a bill for reimbursement to our insurance a couple of weeks after the procedure.

This morning, I had an appointment to establish care with the same dentist James went to. It hasn't been as long as James, but I think the last time I went to the dentist, D was about 5 years old. So 16ish years. I can tell my mouth is aging, but I don't have any pain or complaints.

After a bunch of photos and gum evaluation, I need a few things: First, I need the two-appointment deep cleaning, as well. Some plaque has gotten down under my gums and it can result in bone loss (James has some; not sure about me) if you let it stay down there. Like they won't do a regular cleaning until we get all of that out. Also, four of my molars that have fillings (I got them when I was maybe 12 or 13) are cracked, and one of my other molars has a cavity. The dentist said that two of my existing fillings are the priority, as well as the cavity. But the other two, we can do later.

I explained to them that we've exhausted our dental budget for the year. James has literally run out of coverage just in the couple of weeks that he's had to have intense stuff done. Between all of this and our recent notice that our mortgage is going up $265 a month (don't get me started on property taxes in this state), we're just maxed out. I know I need this stuff done, but...

And here's the cool thing about being honest and open: The front office did some things: 1) They said I could make 4 payments instead of doing it all at once. 2) They will start billing in May, even though I'm having the two-part cleaning done this month. 3) They're taking $200 off of one of the fillings.

I know it's all messed up how expensive medical care is, and especially dentistry, which just isn't fully covered by any insurance I've ever had or seen. But they wouldn't have offered solutions if I hadn't asked. Most offices have a sign up that says "Payment in full is expected at time of service."

So that takes a little of the pressure off, which is cool.

In other news, I got a referral to an oral surgeon because of some differently-pigmented areas in my mouth. I get to get those biopsied soon, which will be covered by medical insurance but, bleh.