Fun fact: I spent more on my teeth than I did on my university education.
It’s true. When it comes to out-of-pocket expense, my dental bills easily top my school bills.
Of course, this is largely the result of having a scholarship to cover tuition (and working all through my degree to cover other costs) but still. The fact that I can write a sentence like that is…something.
How did I end up with so many dental bills? And what on earth did I spent that kind of money on?
Let me tell you.
My teeth, in brief
What you need to know is this: my teeth are a freaking disaster. They always have been. Here are some of the ways I have been “blessed” in the dental department.
Missing adult teeth
Three of my baby teeth did/do not have adult teeth underneath them. I have lost one of these teeth already. When the baby tooth came out, there wasn’t anything underneath it. Which leads to…
Baby teeth
I still have two – and they are my bottom front teeth. There are no adult teeth underneath them. Thankfully, they are very solidly in place right now. They will need to be replaced with one dental implant some day. This is because I have…
Super small teeth
My teeth are both tiny and worn. They are so worn my dentist tried to tell me I grind my teeth at night. I don’t (I know this because my retainer is a sort of plastic and if I did, I would have ground through it). My teeth are just crappy like that.
And finally…
Cavity-prone
It’s only been in the last few years that I have been able to go to the dentist and not need a filling. I work really hard to take care of my teeth, but it does not take much for them to break down.
What you’ll find in my (adult) dental file
I can’t speak much to my experience with the dentist as a kid because…well, I wasn’t old enough to really grasp what was happening. And when I finally was in a place where I could understand it, I couldn’t afford to go.
That’s a whole other post for a whole other time, honestly. I find it appalling that dental care is so inaccessible to so many. That said, many of my dental issues are genetic, so preventative care wouldn’t have been all that effective anyway.
I started seeing a dentist regularly when I was 19 years old.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve had one root canal, two teeth pulled (in the back, thankfully), and more fillings than I can count.
Once all those things were done, I moved on to the most expensive part of my treatment: braces.
My experience with braces as an adult
After getting my teeth into better shape – and getting a job with dental insurance – I started talking to my dentist about orthodontic options. She connected me with my amazing orthodontist and that’s how my journey with Invisalign began.
I went into braces understanding my teeth would not be perfect. The combination of the nature of my teeth and the fact that I still have some baby teeth meant achieving the results some people get with braces wouldn’t be possible.
But if I was willing to do the work, my orthodontist felt there was a good chance to improve some areas.
I felt good about it – until I saw the $8.6K bill.
Even with insurance, I would be responsible for half of that…and where I was making about $15/hour and living on my own, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to do it. None of the payment plans were realistic for me. I figured I would have to wait.
Thankfully, my orthodontist understood that – and was willing to work with me to find a way to make it work. We put together an interest-free payment plan that would let me pay off my braces over a longer period of time. As it turned out, I was in braces way longer than initially expected (not a compliance issue – just another example of my stupid teeth being stupid) and, thanks to a small windfall, I was able to pay them off faster than expected.
My $10k+ smile
Paying for braces sucked at the time. But now that my treatment is “over” and they are paid off, I can say with 100 per cent certainty that it was worth it.
My teeth look better than they did before but they are not perfect. They never will be. That’s OK. The discipline my experience with braces taught me is more valuable than the cosmetic improvement.
I take better care of my teeth now than I did before. That’s a win in my book.
Why is “over” in quotes? As much as I wish it was just regular cleanings ahead, the reality is my teeth will need more work. Those baby teeth are holding strong now, but eventually they will need to go – and that is not going to be cheap.
(Fun fact: during my orthodontic treatment, I met with the dental professional who will likely do the implant when/if I can ever afford it. Technically, I “need” four implants – but when he showed me the $22K bill, I almost fainted)
For now, though, I am happy with my results – and grateful to those who have helped me make it possible.
Tips for making dental care more accessible when your budget is small
Thinking about how much I have spent on my teeth makes me want to barf, if I’m being honest. Most of this money was spent during a time of my life where I was making so little money – here are a few things I did to make it possible.
Do your research when choosing a dentist
I picked my first dentist without doing any research. This ended up being a huge, expensive mistake.
To be fair, I was in pain – the result of, I would soon learn, an inflamed nerve in one of my molars. When the pain became unbearable, I went to the closest dentist I could find.
He recommended a root canal. I didn’t know better so I said OK.
It cost me $900 after insurance. About three years later, while having that tooth pulled, the dentist asked why in the world anyone would have recommended a root canal, considering there was so little of the actual tooth left.
It’s not surprising to me that the dentist who did the procedure is no longer practicing. B
Be honest about your financial situation – and ask about your options
I paid off my braces on a custom plan designed for – and with input from – me.
None of the options my orthodontist had for payment plans worked for my budget – so I told her. I laid my cards on the table and her team worked with me to create a more realistic plan.
I realize this might not work for everyone – not all providers are willing to be flexible – but you don’t know if you don’t ask!
Advocate for yourself
In my opinion, this is the single biggest thing you can do when it comes to making dental care more affordable on a small budget.
In my case, advocating for myself has meant putting off paying for that dental implant for the time being – despite pressure to get it done ASAP.
It’s meant pushing back on unnecessary procedures (for example, when my new dentist tried to tell me I needed to have my wisdom teeth removed – despite my previous dentist and my orthodontist telling me that is not the case). And it’s meant being blunt about my needs, insisting they are being met – and not being afraid to move on if they’re not.
I trust the advice of my dentist – but I also take it as just that: advice. At the end of the day, you need to look out for yourself when you’re in that chair because no one else is going to.
Final Thoughts
Getting braces as an adult was pricey – but it was easily one of the best things I have ever done for myself. I’m still a closed-mouth smiler, but now, it’s because I want to be. I’m not embarrassed by my teeth anymore. They’re not perfect, but that’s OK. They are certainly better than they were before – and that’s a win in my book.
Did you have braces? Would you ever get braces as an adult?
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