Help Me with Dental Implant Costs

Hi there! My name is Jenn and I recently had an unavoidable tooth extraction due to decay and infection. I’ve never experienced anything like that before, but it seems I waited too long to give my Molar the attention it needed. I visited my PCP for an annual checkup last month and she recommended me to visit the Dentist. Next thing I know, a tiny cavity turned into something much worse.

Of course, this brought fear into my mind and heart because it’s not great to say, but the last time I visited the Dentist was about 2 years ago in Santa Barbara where I experienced unbelievable medical ignorance. I was supposed to have ONE wisdom tooth extracted, and the Oral surgeon was rushing, cracked into a nearby tooth & had to pull TWO. As you might guess, that left me feeling shocked, fearful and insecure about my oral health. At the time, they offered to provide me a new implant @ no cost (except the cost of my tooth, extra recovery time, trust..). I couldn’t do it because I just didn’t have the confidence in that Dental Practice anymore and I was afraid there would be a repetition.

On Monday, September 25, 2023, I had to go in for an emergency extraction because I was suffering from a terrible toothache that was radiating to the entire right side of my mouth & making its way to my ear. While sitting with excruciating pain and fear, someone, probably the finance counselor at that office, came to provide me the financial details of the extraction + replacement implant 5 MINUTES before the surgery. At this point, hearing the cost for the new implant/crown sent me into an emotional shock. This time, I had no option but to decide to sign up for a credit card to pay off the bill. The cost is $5,000 after using my insurance and this was so unbelievable to hear, I was a wreck going into the extraction. And I still am.

I am currently not in a place at all to even provide a down payment for the replacement (2 weeks from now) , but I was saddened by the fact that I was basically about to lose another tooth and not get it back …. This has caused a major setback for me in many ways, but financially, I’m already behind on payments for other things and am waiting to start working in my area. The monthly payments are just out of my reach & will be for a while until I can get myself grounded again. I wish I didn’t have to ask anything from anyone, but Insurance just isn’t helping me to the fullest. A credit card for payments is not fair or humane, but that’s what I had to do & I would appreciate your support in any way at this time.

I love my smile so much & I just want to preserve it, my health, security within myself and my pockets and will to work & pay it forward. Please please consider donating, and if not, please share!