I've been lucky enough never to have needed to have a cavity filled, but unfortunately, my daughter has not been so lucky. She's had three cavities thanks to her back molars not forming properly and 3/4 of them developing cavities. And then one of those cavities had to be refilled last year.
For reasons I don't understand, the insurance would not cover the filling (which was over $100) because they used the tooth-colored filling instead of the metal filling.
I called the dentist and asked if we could use the metal filling instead. It's a baby tooth after all. They said that most practices only carry the tooth-colored filling these days. I asked if they could order the metal one and they said they couldn't.
I called the insurance company and explained this to them. They said that it was up to me to find a practice that used a filling that they would cover. I called a bunch of practices in the area just out of curiosity and they all just used the tooth-colored filling.
Delta Dental, you suck.
I have delta dental and our plan covers the porcelain fillings...
ReplyDeleteNow if they'd only cover the sealants. At $50 a tooth, I'm loathe to have them put on my kids' teeth. Because, of course, the fillings are covered!
I have delta dental and the tooth colored ones are covered 50% (still was > $100...) and the silvery ones are covered 80% to deductible then fully. And apparently the tooth colored ones last longer. And cost <$20 more.
ReplyDeleteI have Delta too and we had the same thing:( Our dentist also said tooth colored ones last longer but Delta won't cover tooth colored on a back tooth. We do not love Delta.
ReplyDeleteOMG that fucking sucks. I am sorry Fizzy.
ReplyDeleteThe metal filling has mercury in it. The dental community has been moving away from it for that reason.
ReplyDeleteDelta anything sucks in general...lol
ReplyDeleteThat sucks!!! Can you appeal? Either way, time for more brushing!
ReplyDeleteI don't have Delta, and have exactly the same issue... Cavities are expensive!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's strange to me that some dentists are saying that resin (tooth-colored) fillings are stronger than dental amalgam. Dental amalgam have been documented to last 8-20 years and hold up better to wear and tear and grinding than the tooth colored.
ReplyDeleteI had to have almost all of my resin fillings refilled with amalgam because the resin broke down and the cavities reformed under them.
Fillings you have an option - Mercury or BPA. It's a bit of the devil you know vs the devil we might now. Because of the known effects of mercury on dental staff (highest suicide rate) you aren't going to find docs willing to put themselves or kids in that risk. Now, BPA plastic fillings are we safer - no, not really. But you might find someone to put in porcelain or gold :)
ReplyDeleteDelta did that to us too. We no longer have Delta-the Coast Guard switched to a better carrier! OMG, that is amazing.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, that sucks. I'm sorry-I've been in your shoes-in Alaska-2 kids, one income, 4 people in the house, 30,0000/yr. :(