[Emily_Rose]

A doctor in my hometown referred me to a dental surgeon who specializes in sedation and is aware of nerve related RSD/CRPS. I had two of my widsom teeth out when I was 16, but they told me that the other two were not ready to come out. I am now 20 with severe jaw pain because of these wisdom teeth and they need to come out. Although he is about 5 hours away this dental surgeon is the only one that can safely take out my wisdom teeth, so that the RSD does not spread to my face. I am covered for half of the cost but I still need to come up with $1000 in under a week. I am on disability and only get $600 a month. I realize the procedure costs money and the extra sedation as well but I can't help but wonder how much more this dentist is trying to make off me. Private care and for $2000 is alot of money to start with and knowing that I have RSD, I am unable to work and don't have a lot of money. This site is probably American but since I am in Canada anything emergency or hospital related is usually free of cost, and I found out that in addition this doctor does work with the hospital. Does anyone know what sort of dental surguries are done in a hospital? How I would go about asking? I have an RSD treatment this month on the 17th that will take me right through to my dental appointment on the 23rd. I don't know what makes up a dental emergency but I am in more tooth and jaw pain then I have ever been. I don't want to delay getting them out because it's costs me money to travel too. Any general ideas or information would be appreciated.

[Bryanna]

Hi Emily ROse,

Yes, this site is in the US and things are done differently here.
The cost of $2000 is alot of money but it is in the ballpark of what a surgeon would charge here in the states to remove 2 wisdom teeth with sedation. If this is the dr who can handle your particular situation better or differently than someone else, then it behooves you to find a way to get to him. Because in the long run, you don't want to end up with problems from the surgery.

I know this is a financial burden for you and a long distance to travel to... perhaps you could speak to the dentist directly and/or ask the referring doctor to give him a call to discuss your financial situation? Whenever a patient calls me to discuss similar issues, I always do whatever I can to help them out and most offices that I know of will extend the same courtesy in certain situations. Don't be shy to give it a try.

Oral surgery is commonly done in the hospital. Perhaps you could call the oral surgeon's office and explain your situation to them and ask if he could do the surgery in the hospital rather than his office? Also tell them that you are in alot of pain because that alone makes your dental needs a top priority.

Please let us know how you are doing!
Bryanna

Originally Posted by Emily_Rose

A doctor in my hometown referred me to a dental surgeon who specializes in sedation and is aware of nerve related RSD/CRPS. I had two of my widsom teeth out when I was 16, but they told me that the other two were not ready to come out. I am now 20 with severe jaw pain because of these wisdom teeth and they need to come out. Although he is about 5 hours away this dental surgeon is the only one that can safely take out my wisdom teeth, so that the RSD does not spread to my face. I am covered for half of the cost but I still need to come up with $1000 in under a week. I am on disability and only get $600 a month. I realize the procedure costs money and the extra sedation as well but I can't help but wonder how much more this dentist is trying to make off me. Private care and for $2000 is alot of money to start with and knowing that I have RSD, I am unable to work and don't have a lot of money. This site is probably American but since I am in Canada anything emergency or hospital related is usually free of cost, and I found out that in addition this doctor does work with the hospital. Does anyone know what sort of dental surguries are done in a hospital? How I would go about asking? I have an RSD treatment this month on the 17th that will take me right through to my dental appointment on the 23rd. I don't know what makes up a dental emergency but I am in more tooth and jaw pain then I have ever been. I don't want to delay getting them out because it's costs me money to travel too. Any general ideas or information would be appreciated.

[Emily_Rose]

Thanks for the reply. I am afraid they don't seem very reasonable though. When they called with the cost, she automatically told us that there would be no payment plans and no exceptions. Not everyone has a couple of extra thousand handy. My stress is also coming from the fact that the office is closed now and only reopens right around the time I have to leave for travel. If I am unable to contact them soon, and I go to my week long treatment, it will not be easy for me to arrange details from the hospital. And to ask if they are able to do the surgery in the hospital, instead of their office. It would be better anyway to be moved within the hospital instead of across town. Also assuming that I have someone call for me their policy of no payment plans likely won't change. Unless we happened to talk to someone who goes out of their way to misinform and confuse patients. It remains to be seen if we will able to speak with the dentist himself, since coincidentally my referring doctor is also away on vacation and I am not even able ask about a confirmation, let alone a chat about my financial situation. So much to figure out.

[Bryanna]

Hi Emily Rose,

Yes, you do have a complicated situation. In the US, there is always a referral doctor or dentist on call to cover the office for emergencies. Is it that way in Canada too?

Your situation is considered special due to trying to coordinate your weekly treatment with the surgery in the hospital if possible and the fact that you are in pain makes it urgent. If you had known sooner about the dentist working out of the hospital, you could have arranged your surgery accordingly, but since you didn't know, then I suggest you reach out for help from someone who may be covering for that dental office while the dentist is on vacation. Sometimes a staff member from the office is the one covering the phone calls.... even so, they should be able to help you. I would leave a message on their office phone stating <<you would like to move your oral surgery appointment (give the surgical date) from the office to the hospital and if possible arrange it for a day around the same time as your treatments....give the dates. Say you are in pain with your teeth and cannot postpone your appointment and you're hoping someone will be able to call you back as soon as possible to help you discuss rescheduling your oral surgery.>> I would leave the message that simple and if you don't hear back within 2 buisness days, leave the same message again.

I hope this helps you.... please try not to worry too much ... the most you can do is reach out for help and hopefully someone will respond to your call.

Please keep us posted on what's happening...

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Emily_Rose

Thanks for the reply. I am afraid they don't seem very reasonable though. When they called with the cost, she automatically told us that there would be no payment plans and no exceptions. Not everyone has a couple of extra thousand handy. My stress is also coming from the fact that the office is closed now and only reopens right around the time I have to leave for travel. If I am unable to contact them soon, and I go to my week long treatment, it will not be easy for me to arrange details from the hospital. And to ask if they are able to do the surgery in the hospital, instead of their office. It would be better anyway to be moved within the hospital instead of across town. Also assuming that I have someone call for me their policy of no payment plans likely won't change. Unless we happened to talk to someone who goes out of their way to misinform and confuse patients. It remains to be seen if we will able to speak with the dentist himself, since coincidentally my referring doctor is also away on vacation and I am not even able ask about a confirmation, let alone a chat about my financial situation. So much to figure out.

[Emily_Rose]

Thanks for the help and advice. There is just not enough time or money to arrange or pay for that appointment. Leaving Monday. I think that I will be ok, when it comes to the details of my main treatment and I should be focusing on that. My wisdom teeth will have to wait until next month. When I have more time to come up with the cost and other arrangements. I am going to see my doctor about some painkillers until then. All that I can do.

[Bryanna]

Hi Emily Rose,

I understand. But if there is any swelling or drainage in the areas of the wisdom teeth, then you may also need an antibiotic if you are going to postpone your dental appt. Infected wisdom teeth can develop into serious infections and I'm providing you with this information to help avoid that from happening.

I wish you all the best.... please let us know how you're doing =)

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Emily_Rose

Thanks for the help and advice. There is just not enough time or money to arrange or pay for that appointment. Leaving Monday. I think that I will be ok, when it comes to the details of my main treatment and I should be focusing on that. My wisdom teeth will have to wait until next month. When I have more time to come up with the cost and other arrangements. I am going to see my doctor about some painkillers until then. All that I can do.

[Judysh]

My daughter has RSD and had 8 teeth removed last December - wisdom teeth and the molars in front of the wisdom teeth. The dental surgeon did it in a hospital, under a general anesthetic. They added ketamine to the anesthetic as well as an anti-nausea med. There was also a local freezing at the extraction site. The result: no RSD in the mouth or jaws.
Problem: each province funds dental surgery differently. In the "old days" Manitoba health funded hospital procedures 100%. Today, only the cost of the hospital stay (my daughter stayed overnight to make sure care was at hand as the freezing wore off) is covered by provincial health. The anesthetic cost was our responsibility as well as the surgeon, and - get this - the thread used for the stitches! The surgeon uses a different kind than the hospital uses. Blue Cross covered about 80%, but if you don't have private insurance, you are stuck with the whole bill, unfortunately. Dental work is very expensive, no question about it. But, it needs to be done. If you are on disability, there may be some help from them, I don't know. The surgeon, if he is at all human, will allow you to pay monthly installments. The option, not a good one necessarily, is go to your university's dental school. They may be able to help. Good luck, and best wishes.