Cost of Dental care - please help???!!!!

[doris day]

I have to have most of most teeth removed and dentures fitted - both upper and lower.  I work in France and have a mutual (which I took out knowing I needed to have some serious work on my teeth - the advisor described the cover as "correct")

The devis from my dentist is 2755 euros (which does not cover the cost of having my teeth removed) of which the securite sociale and mutual combined will pay just over 1100 euros, leaving me with a bill of 1600 (at least).  So if  it's bad enough having to have my teeth out at 48 years old - now I have to pay what I consider quite a lot for the privilige. 

My question is; does anyone else have similar experience?   Am I being over charged?  Would it be cheaper to go to the UK?

If anyone can help that'd be great. 

[Clair]

The reimbursement is 70% of the tariff set by the Sécurité Sociale (shown HERE).

You will be reimbursed on the basis of that tariff, not on the fees paid.

Some dentists charge more than the agreed tariff. The excess fees (called dépassement d'honoraires) are never reimbursed by

the sécurité sociale. They may be reimbursed by your mutuelle if the contract you signed provides for it.

Most mutuelles have a maximum % or a ceiling on dental work. What % or max does your mutuelle pay?

Some mutuelles also have a list of agreed dentists. Have you checked with yours?

[Gardian]

I can provide some pretty current comparison information, having just back from the dentist.

Today was just a clean-up following a small filling at the last visit. However, when there on the 1st visit we discussed a partially broken crown: it's not giving any pain and it's not 'cosmetic', but he submitted his devis to our mutuelle for feedback on their level of reimbursement. The plan was to provide a 5-tooth prosthetic and his devis was for €2550: the Soc Sec reimbursement was €316, our mutuelle €561, leaving me with €1672.

The dentist reckoned that the mutuelle's offer was hopeless and advised me to re-frame my cover at renewal, with a view to doing the work at some later date. I readily agreed!

Obviously there's no direct comparison between the work being proposed, but on the face of it, it doesn't sound as though you're being overcharged. Others may well have more comparisons.

As to the UK, can't help I'm afraid, but I doubt that it would be cheap. 

 

[Cerise]

Clair is right you should contact your 'mutuelle' for advice, a list of dentists and perhaps get other devis.  Dentistry seems to be pretty expensive everywhere, but if the mutuelle told you their cover was 'correct' I think they are the first port of call to discuss.

[nomoss]

Your profile doesn't show where you are, but you'll find dental treatment is a lot cheaper in Spain, maybe half the cost according to your figures, but you wouldn't be able to claim anything back from securité sociale and probably not from your mutuelle either.

Unless you could persuade them it was emergency treatment under your E111. The same reimbursement rules would apply in UK.

I think dental treatment providers are a bit more competitive in Spain than in France

[Braco]

I had a quote of £3k to remove one tooth and replace with a screw in. So I guess that the UK is probably not cheaper.

[Panda]

In the UK if you have Denplan and go to an NHS dentist and the treatment is essential then it's 100% reimboursed, all a bit late for you though I would imagine.  Denplan is cheaper than a mutuelle too.

[doris day]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments.  I will call in to see my mutuel..  I live in the dordogne - does anyone know a good dentist?  I thought mine was good but I think perhaps he's suggesting more expensive proceedures than I need.  Part of the devis is 515 euros for temporary teeth which he says I need until my gums fully heal.  Dunno if anyone out there has experience of having their teeth out and dentures fitted either here or in the UK (or anywhere really).  Screw in teeth are expensive I kno and not an option for me.

thanks again

doris

[nomoss]

I had almost all my upper teeth removed in one session by my (Brit) dentist in Spain some years ago. He had been a specialist in a major London dental hospital before semi-retiring to Spain.

Previously he had taken an impression, and had the new plate ready, which he slapped into my mouth as soon as he finished the extractions. He said it was important to do this so that the new plate was in place as the gums healed.

I had no problem whatever with the new plate, which lasted for many years.

 

[Théière]

Consider going to Poland, excellent dentistry for a fraction of the cost,  They send their builders over to us so why not go there for re-building work [:-))] that icons got no teeth [:D]

[Dog]

I have used a Dentist behind the Palaice of Justice in Perigueux.

He has all the modern kit and even speaks some English.

I paid cash and he was quick, painfree and cheap.

I reckon as soon as the insurance company is paying the price zooms up - get a cash price.

[KathyF]

Our NHS dental practice in the UK is staffed entirely by Polish dentists and they are extremely good.

[doris day]

[quote user="nomoss"]

I had almost all my upper teeth removed in one session by my (Brit) dentist in Spain some years ago. He had been a specialist in a major London dental hospital before semi-retiring to Spain.

Previously he had taken an impression, and had the new plate ready, which he slapped into my mouth as soon as he finished the extractions. He said it was important to do this so that the new plate was in place as the gums healed.

I had no problem whatever with the new plate, which lasted for many years.

 

[/quote]

Thanks so much for that.

Well, my dentist went on for quite some time about how it takes around 2 months for your gums to fully heal and the bones shrink - which is why I "need" the 550 euro temporary teeth.  He told me that I would need to keep going back for him to adjust these teeth as my bones/gums shrunk over time.  Then once they had shrunk as far as they were going to he would fit my permanent teeth - cost 1115 euros.

I would be interested to hear anyone else's experience. 

Thanks again

Doris

[woodparkerz]

A checkup will be pretty cheap, even without insurance.

There's no reason for to not get a checkup.

dental implants cost   

[Jimmy]

[quote user="woodparkerz"]A checkup will be pretty cheap, even without insurance.

There's no reason for to not get a checkup.

dental implants cost   

[/quote]

Your link doesn't work.

[Russethouse]

 The thread is over a year old too !

 

[Jimmy]

So it is but

woodparkerz link to prices would have been of interest don't you think?

[Clair]

[quote user="Jimmy"]So it is but

woodparkerz link to prices would have been of interest don't you think?

[/quote]

The site in question is a US-based and the post itself is in breach of the forum code of conduct, which is why the link was removed.

Any further question about this, please contact a moderator by PM.

Thank you.

[Jimmy]

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Jimmy"]So it is but

woodparkerz link to prices would have been of interest don't you think?

[/quote]

The site in question is a US-based and the post itself is in breach of the forum code of conduct, which is why the link was removed.

Any further question about this, please contact a moderator by PM.

Thank you.

[/quote]

Thanks - it's nice to be told these things!

[bubbles]

do you know - I read the whole thread and every time I read it as woodpeckers!

sorry - off topic I know.

ps. we have found dentists to be very reasonable here in France. Last year I was charged just 30something euros for the extraction of a wisdom tooth - plenty of anaesthetic involved too!