Apr

5

The Teeth That Will Cost Me My Life Savings

April 5, 2006 |

On Friday I had to take my two oldest children to the dentist for cleanings and check ups. They had their teeth scraped and polished and then it was time for the annual x-rays and the dentist’s evaluation.

We started with O as she felt a little apprehensive about the whole process. She’s 6 so it’s not that routine to her yet. She’s only been going for a couple of years at the 6 month increments. Her x-rays looked great, everything was coming in perfectly in line . She has a cavity that has to be filled but that’s the extent of her treatment.

Then on to my son. N’s x-rays were pretty on the bottom and pretty scary on the top. Let me just say you do not have to attend dental school to know that my son’s top jaw is pretty messed up. In the span of just one year, things have gotten all crooked and crazy and have done some damage. *sigh* The situation was such that the dentist referred us on to the orthodontist. I truly shudder at that title. To me Orthodontist means no insurance coverage, big bucks and long payment plans. I was not disappointed.

We were able to get in the next business day thanks to a cancellation and thus began the journey to a better smile. N has 2 impacted eye teeth - they are coming in crooked and starting to wipe out the root of the 2 adult teeth next to them. The plan of action is to have the 2 baby eye teeth pulled so as to guide the 2 adult teeth into the right spot in order to prevent further damage. Simple enough but means a trip back to our dentist and a child in pain from having two teeth extracted.

Then on to the really fun part. N apparently lost a molar that he should have had for two more years. He’s 10, we don’t know what order or year that teeth are necessarily supposed to fall out we just put them under the pillow when they do. Because that tooth came out early an adult molar shifted and took its spot. This created 2 BIG problems. All of his teeth have spaced unconventionally on that side putting his bite off by half a tooth or more AND there isn’t a spot for the corresponding adult tooth to come in. 2 adult teeth are currently sitting in the ready vying for the same one opening.

How do we handle this? We have a spacer created for N that he will have to wear 24/7 except when he eats to create 7mm of space for the adult tooth to go in the right spot. If we are lucky this will all work out as the orthodontist hopes and we may not have to get him braces in a couple of years. Great! Oh did I mention that the spacer is not covered by insurance at all and will cost us $2000. Let me reiterate - TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. From people that can barely pay the light bill right now.

And we have no choice. Really. I mean if we don’t get all of this taken care of he is going to have major problems down the road that far exceed the ones he has now and will probably cost us the equivalent of a new car. Why did N have to get my teeth? Sorry buddy. Well, at least we hadn’t spent our income tax return yet. I really didn’t need a new dining room table anyway - we can all just eat on the floor and take turns admiring the new appliance N will have to take out of his mouth and set down for all the world to see. Gosh this part of parenting is so much fun.


Comments

5 Comments so far

  1. mrs. diamond on April 5, 2006 8:23 am

    i feel your pain. my eldest seems to have inherited my husband’s small jaw, which means CROWDING….. and crooked…. I am determined to do whatever needs done to help her fix that if it comes to that.

  2. Bev on April 5, 2006 8:27 am

    Sarah had MAJOR messed up teeth too. We were fortunate in that our insurance covered about 50% of the 5000+ dental bill, but in her case it was SO worth it, because her teeth just ruined her looks, and now she has beautiful teeth!

    Get insurance on that spacer………those kids have a habit of LOSING them when they have to constantly be taking them out to eat, etc!

  3. Autumn on April 5, 2006 10:00 am

    I just saw my dentists too…. They’re a costly bunch aren’t they. And they’re recommend orthodontics now for my lower teeth because I stopped wearing my retainer as a teen. *beats 15 year old self* I dislike visits to doctors where the boll comes with four digits Before the decimal.

    So basically, I feel your pain.

  4. Theresa on April 6, 2006 8:50 am

    Jules, I feel your pain. All four of my girls have done or are doing orthodontia. With an insurance max of $1500 per kid, I figure I’ll have shelled out more than $17,000 for their teeth, including the necessary extractions and periodontal procedures. Ouch.

    I’ll cross my fingers that the spacer thing works, so you have some time to save up for the braces, or get insurance that covers it.

  5. Andrea on April 6, 2006 11:57 am

    Stinks, doesn’t it? My son has what is called a “severe crossbite” which means that all of his top teeth fit *inside* his bottom teeth. We are currently waiting for him to lose a tooth and for 2 to grow in so he can start the orthodontics. He has to have an expander, as well as braces - and as you guessed, I get the bill. *sigh*

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