Need alot of dental work but cant afford it

I feel for you too, nelly041. I really do. I need a lot of dental work done, and I also can't afford what I sense is going to be very expensive as well as extensive work done.

I am going to go to my local credit union and see what the story is about qualifying for a loan, as in, how much money do I have to be earning in order to qualify for a loan, or, if I don't make enough money to qualify, if I have an account with them and have some money in that account, would I then qualify for a loan.

I just wish there was or could be a national dental health care plan put into place for people who need dental work (more than what the medical card entitlements are - which is minimal), and who genuinely have every intention about paying for the treatments, but who simply just cannot afford it (especially if it's a lot of work and a lot of money), to be allowed to pay every month, or even fortnightly, little by little, in installments, until the entire thing is paid in full.

Naive of me to wish for such a thing, I realise, but still...

I believe up to two emergency extractions can be done in a year free if you have the medical card. Would you be able to come up with money for perhaps 1-2 fillings.
If you speak with the dentist perhaps he will let you spread the cost of the remainder over a month or two.

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

You have that wrong... 2 fillings per year and as many extractions as you want....

Apologies. That should help the OP. Shame they cut back on the fillings. Horrible to have to lose a tooth over a lack of funds.

Especially when dentistry is now focused on extractions as the last option people should take .

That'd be an excellent option. Is it general dentistry (fillings, extractions) or everything (including specialist and/or cosmetic)?

If I knew the name of the place, I'd definitely place my name on their waiting list.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks, Jungleman, for letting me know the name of the dental hospital. I'll go to their website and/or email them about available treatments, prices, and being put on a waiting list.

Thanks also, NSAman. I'll check a few NI places out, as well...a co-worker told me about one specific place in Enniskillen that she uses, so I may contact them very shortly.

Like nelly041, I'm going to try and hold out as long as I can...save as much as I can in the meantime. I'm not in any pain, but, as you've said nelly, I just cannot afford major work done right now either, so I have to explore other options.

I wish you all the best, nelly041. Try not to worry and stress (easier said than done, I know).

OP,

I am sorry to hear your plight, and as a general dentist, it is something I come across in my patients daily. Unfortunately dentistry is an expensive business to run, which needs to be passed on to the patient. I generally take home a net 20% of the fee charged, having paid the staff, equipment, materials, bank loans, insurances and taxes etc

My advice to you is to first find out what is going on i.e. go and get an examination from a reputable dentist and get a DIAGNOSIS e.g. condition of gums , decayed teeth, abscesses around root tips, lack of support for your bite etc.

Quality dentistry will involve a staged approach to care following diagnosis- first of all addressing any areas of pain, before removal of decay and placement of straightforward fillings. It is also vital that a preventative approach is taken i.e. advice on modifying and improving your home hygiene habits, addressing smoking if it applies to you, and to reduce the frequency of consumption of sugar containing food and drinks. A thorough cleaning visit(s)with a hygienist may also be required. This straightforward and planned approach to STABILISATION by a local dentist may be less expensive than you think, and will involve less travel and costs than going to a dentist who will not be there for you should you need them in an emergency.

You say you need extensive work, and I would caution against rushing into getting a lot of extensive work done in a short space of time - either abroad or in Ireland. It is important to respect the biology and to observe your dental health after stabilisation, before proceeding with any advanced work. Advanced work is only doomed to failure if it is carried out too soon, or in a mouth that is not ofoptimal health - i.e. there must be no active decay and excellent plaque control, and gum health.

I can only disagree with some posters suggesting that dentists from a particular country are "better" than those in Ireland. There are good and bad dentists everwhere. I see a significant amount of poor work in my patients from overseas to know that there is not an overseas dental nirvana where advanced work is done quickly and to a high enough standard for long term success. There have been plenty posts on this forum by more advanced dentists than me, detailing the disasters that they see when advanced work has been rushed or carried out in inherently unstable and unhealthy mouths.

Best of luck, and I do hope you get your self sorted.

Hibernosaur wrote: »

The General level of healthcare in Czech and Hungary is far higher than Ireland's who have dismal statistics for a developed country.

Dental tourism seems to be telling a slightly different story.

Kori Gifted Fluid wrote: »

You wont get 15k of treatment done for 2.5k in the north. What you might get is less treatment for less money..

Sorry Sir, but that is simply the fact. Better results a timetable, appointments kept on time and the cost for ALL the treatment was SO much cheaper. In fact I knew the price of everything prior to the treatment as a cost sheet and method/timetable for treatment was given to me before I started. Braces for example were 1000 as opposed to 5000 (exact same braces)...go figure. I spent a year getting everything fixed and was shocked at the cost differences.

Previously if I had an appointment at 9.30 it could be 10 before I was seen, in the north if the appointment was 9.30 I was SEEN at 9.30. I have sent many people to this dentist from the South, they have all had the same experience with him.

helimachoptor wrote: »

Where to start picking hole in this :rolleyes:

- NI dentist not as busy
- NI dentist rushing through a procedure etc etc


Also as someone who has had treatment in NI, the headline price savings are not anything like you quoted. If there were you'd have people flying from Cork to Belfast to get a filling done and still have money in their pocked.
Never mind adding in the time of getting to NI from Dublin


I've looked at a place in NI (not where i had work done as they dont have their prices published now for some reason)

Implant - £1950 which is €2550 using XE.com
Dublin - €2200

So a saving of €350 without factoring in the cost of getting to NI.

You can pick holes all you want. I am just giving MY experience and I continue to attend the same dentist. I have nothing to gain by telling lies here. All I know is that the treatment I received was MUCH cheaper and for me even including the travel time, saved a fortune......

Hibernosaur wrote: »

The General level of healthcare in Czech and Hungary is far higher than Ireland's who have dismal statistics for a developed country.

I recently met an employee of GSK who works in the area for denture fixatives& denture cleaning tablets, he informed me that their biggest markets for export of these products worldwide are China& Eastern Europe.