Has anyone had work done by a peridontist?

[linsleyd]

I need to see a periodontist about my lower gums and I don't quite know what to expect. Has anyone ever been to one? I'm going to schedule my consultation today.... (I hate having my teeth messed with!):(

[CherylO]

Yes, actually in my previous career I was a dental hygienist. Taking care of your teeth and gums is so important. I also have had a perio graft. Gingival tissue is sensitive by your periodontist and hygienist will be able to take care of you pain free. FLOSS EVERY DAY!

[linsleyd]

Oh I floss everyday but for some reason my front two bottom teeth have receding gums. Yuck! Just so I know it will be relatively pain free !:D :D ;)

[Laura]

My DD (13) just had gum graft surgery two months ago in the exact location you are talking about. She has braces and they were concerned about the thinness of the gum tissue at those two teeth. The visit was nothing. The surgery was not bad. It was sore, but she handled it very well. They fitted her with a stint (not sure if that is the right word) to cover the site on her palate where they got the graft from. I think that helped a lot to reduce soreness and irritation. If you need the surgery you can PM me. Laura

[linsleyd]

Thanks for the information!
I just called the periodontist my dentist recommended and found they don't accept my insurance which means I would have to handle the visit fee (95.00) and the surgury fee (6-900). No thanks. I checked on my insurance carriers website and found there are no periodontists that accept my insurance in the 40 mile radius that I checked.

Insurance companies SUCK>

I go for a cleaning next week so I'll see if my dentist has any other suggestions because there is no way I can afford that!

[LaraW]

Linsley, is there any way that your dentist can do that work? My DH had a periodontal cleaning done a year or so ago, and he just had it done at the dentist office. Not sure if this is the same thing - maybe an oral surgeon could do it too.

Sorry - you're right - insurance companies suck :(

[linsleyd]

I would assume since my office referred me that they don't do the work.:(

Oh well, I'll check with them for other options on Tues when I have my cleaning.

[jjsooner73]

Linsley--

If you can't afford the surgery, I would seriously talk to your dentist about the repurcussions down the road. I was terrified to visit the periodontist, but hearing my dentist say something like, "If your gums continue receding and you do nothing about it, you'll be losing your teeth much earlier than you should." She later mentioned age 50. Sure, that's over 20 years away, but still...
Fortunately, my insurance covered 80% of 'reasonable costs' of my 2 gum grafts; I was still out of pocket a chunk of change.

Another option you may consider looking into is a flex spending account w/ your employer. You have to sign up for one at the beginning of the year, but it's been a big help to me-my portion of my 2nd surgery (@350) was paid for this way.

And if you do end up having it done eventually, it's not bad at all. My experience was much like Laura's daughters, though I had a larger area grafted. The first was on my top and bottom right side and the 2nd was the top left. I did my Christmas cards about 8 hours after my first one, and I had been anethesized (sp?).

[clairea]

Linsley, check with your insurance carrier about this. Sometimes if there is not an in-network provider available in your area,the insurer will cover an out-of-network provider at the same rate as in-network. You might still have to pay the doctor and get reimbursed, but most doctors will work with you on this and you wouldn't end up having to foot the whole bill.

The flex spending account is also a good idea if you or DH have access to this through work and the surgery can wait a few months. You usually do have to sign up at the beginning of the year, and tax-free dollars are withheld from your paycheck. You can withdraw that money (still tax-free) after you incur the expense. You can defer up to $5000 a year this way, although anything you don't use that year you will lose.

One other option is to try talking to the doctor. Sometimes they will work with you on costs, or maybe let you pay over time, if you don't have insurance coverage

In any event, if you need the surgery I really encourage you to have it and find a way to pay for it. Believe me, I know this is difficult (our share of DH's and DS's medical bills is over $2500/month:eek: ), but it certainly beats the alternative!

Claire

[linsleyd]

Thanks Jennifer, I appreciate your story. I truly do understand the repercussions, but there is really no way I can afford that kind of money. I guess I need to do some more research with my insurance and in finding someone that takes it! Sometimes it makes you wonder why you even have insurance if no one freakin takes it.

And really, as long as they don't use needles, I'll be a happy camper!:D

[Laura]

Originally posted by linsleyd

And really, as long as they don't use needles, I'll be a happy camper!:D

Ummm.... they still use needles. :(

[ashleenicole]

Acutally, it's not so much your insurance as the plan you employer has chosen for you. A lot of insurance plans change around the first of the year, so you might want to voice your concerns now about your plan to the person making benefit decisions. Most companies (even smaller ones)offer a couple of difference options with different benefits and pricing to accomdate their employees needs.

Of course, you may also talk to a periodontist about joining your plan. I actually recruit dentists to participate on a major PPO plan and find that many dentists will join plans at the urging of their patients. Of course, may offices refuse to participate simply on the basis of an anti-insurance philosophy. The problem is due to trememdous variances of fees/charges and the only way to contain costs and keep premiums reasonably low is to put networks in place.

I'll get off my soapbox now ... :p

Also, many general dentists will perform Perio services, which would save you quite a bit of $$.

Goog Luck!

[luckylori]

I just found this thread and find it interesting because I had my consultation with a peridontist a couple weeks ago. I'm scheduled to have surgery in a couple weeks for the same thing (only mine is on the side). I'm still waiting to hear from them how much/if my insurance might cover. They want me to pay the entire fee before they'll do the surgery, and then try to get the money back from insurance myself. Fee is around $1000, and that's with laughing gas only (not being knocked out completely which would've been an extra $300 for the nurse anasthetist). I sure hope you can figure out a way to have it done, because the consequences aren't pretty according to my dentist...besides, my exposed root sure hurts! Good luck!!

[linsleyd]

Trust me I know this needs to be done but really and truly there is no way we can pay out of pocket for this service.
I understand a lot of it is the employer choosing the plan but I have to whine about something!:)

I'm going to talk to my dentist Tues and hopefully he'll either be able to find me someone he recommends with my insurance or tell me how long I have until this is a necessity, because right now it's not close to being a problem.

[LaraW]

Linsley, do you have a flexible spending account at work? If you do, (and if you can wait until January to have the work done) you can pay the out of pocket expense over the course of the year from your paycheck - for example if the cost was $1,000 and you got paid every other week, you'd only have $38.50 coming out of your check each time. It is a pre-tax deduction so you also lower your taxable income.

Its just a thought, but may be a way to minimize the blow if the insurance won't cover it.

[linsleyd]

We do have an account like that, I think. I wouldn't be able to start contributing until the new year, though. I guess it depends on my dentist and just how long I can wait.

I did just find a periodontist near work (an hour from home) that I might try once I call the insur company to see if they'll cover what I need done. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all of your help, you've definetly given me some different thoughts on the subject!

[LaraW]

Do look into it - we are going to have a big hospital bill to pay later this year, and I have been putting that money into my flex spending so that we wouldn't get hit with it all at once.

Good luck! Hopefully your surgery will be able to wait until January, and can sign up for the flex during your open enrollment period.

[Valerie226]

My DH just had some major things done by a periodontist. It was $$$$$. Read your plan carefully. our dental coverage did NOT cover most of it, although on the surface the policy sounded like it did. for example, the policy says they cover "implants" but after billing you find out they don't cover any of the preliminary work necessary to get to that point. so that was all out of pocket. so the issue of the perio person not being on your insurance plan may not mean a thing. hope this works out for you. and yes, insurance sucks.