Why does dental work cost so goddamned much?

[Orrex]

I mean, it's not as though I'm having platinum and diamond implants screwed into my jaw. In addition to the horrifying guilt trip that many dentists seem to lay on their helpless patients (eg., "you wouldn't be hemorrhaging from the gumline if you flossed more aggressively"), the sheer cost must be preventing a lot of people from showing up for their semiannual scrape-and-gouge.

And for that matter, why the hell isn't dental work covered by standard medical insurance? I have a friend who had about $30,000 worth of shoulder surgery, for which he had to cough up a $25 copay. But my dental insurance covers only $60 of my $600 crown.

What is that about?

[NewWaveChick1981]

1. Dude, dentists, orthodontists, and endodontists and their ilk have vacation homes and

boats to pay for. :P Not to mention the fancy surroundings in their offices, student loans, etc. :)

[skygazer]

2. I've often wondered that about the insurance

And you're right about the guilt trip thing, too. "Your teeth are in terrible shape - why haven't you been to a dentist in the last five years?"

Because I can't bloody well afford it, that's why. :eyes:

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. This is Mer'ka, dude

You don't think health care should be affordable or something, do you? :eyes:

[Zavulon]

4. Actually, I wouldn't do that sort of work cheaply.

Some people have some pretty gross teeth and bad breath. There isn't any way I'm going to root around in there for just a few bucks. I'd get every cent I could for that.

[idgiehkt]

5. I haven't had my teeth cleaned in a while

But then I have excellent hygiene and my gums stay in really good shape, I'm a compulsive flosser so that's probably why. Every major problem I've ever had in my mouth has been caused by dentists or orthodontists though, so I avoid them like the plague except for major things like crowns, etc. I find flossing and crest white strips work well.

[skygazer]

7. My teeth were pretty much destroyed by an orthodontist in the 70's

Until recently, I had no dental insurance so every time I had a problem with a tooth (and there were lots of times), I waited until it was unbearable then had it pulled. I've probably spent more on having my teeth pulled than my father spent on the braces that screwed them up. :eyes:

[idgiehkt]

10. mine too

I have mild sleep apnea apparently because my upper pallet is so small because of the way that they did braces then. They pulled four teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. The mercury fillings I got as a child caused a reaction that was like having permanenent mono, and I spent the 2nd half of my childhood on antibiotics, which caused all kinds of problems that I'm still dealing with. I had 3 root canals in 1996 that caused permanent ringing in my ears that continues to worsen. It has been a nightmare and if I'd never darkened the door of a dentist or orhtodontist the truth is I would be so much better off. I may have lost some teeth in the back due to cavities, but the root canal teeth won't last forever and I'd still have 4 more teeth in the top of my head as well. It's horrible what they do to people. I think they've come a long way toward helping people instead of wrecking their lives with bad orthodontia (tinnitus alone can make one's life pretty miserable), but what those of us who were the guinea pigs have had to go through for them to get to the point of doing less harm to people is just about unforgivable.

[NashVegas]

6. Because People Will Pay

Good looking teeth are a business asset.

[Orrex]

13. I agree that that's true, but isn't it disgusting?

If we're gauging employability on appearance, why not just hire the woman with larger breasts or the guy with the nicest haircut? Unless you're going into an actual appearance-based line of work, why should it matter whether someone spent thousands of dollars to have his teeth whitened?

[azmouse]

8. Dentists are sadists.

I only see a dentist if I think there might be a problem. I'm thankful I have good teeth.

[Omphaloskepsis]

9. anti-dentite

[jmowreader]

11. You're really not paying for the WORK...

Dental fees are a form of protection money.

If you pay the dentist enough, he won't turn into Orin Scrivello, DDS, Steve Martin's sadistic dentist in Little Shop of Horrors.

[Debi]

12. Because it can

If we could find a way to do our own dental work (at home DIY root canal x() the prices would go down.