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Teeth; again !!
Topic Started: May 2 2011, 07:17:44 PM (604 Views)
ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

Following on from the saga of both my kids missing two top adult teeth, Nakita had four baby teeth where she should have had adult ones and x rays revealed that two were missing and two were coming down but at an angle which would impact the existing teeth. She had the baby teeth removed in October to try and encourage the adult ones to come down but they haven't so a visit to the dentist today has revealed that she needs an operation. She needs to be put out completely and cuts made in her gums and hooks attached to the teeth inside her gums. Then the teeth will be gradually pulled down before braces fitted to bring the rest of the teeth forward to hide the other missing teeth.

The dentist told me that they have done as much as they can so now it's all down to the orthodontist. She was due back there in August but dentist says that there's no point in waiting as nothing else is going to happen. Every visit to the ortho costs me three figure sums so I can't afford to do that at the moment. We are in the process of trying to sell everything we can to get some much needed money in for other things anyway so wondered if anyone has any idea how much we may be looking at for this ? I know the approx cost of the braces is $6000 but what about the op, hooks and ortho visits prior to this ? The dentist told me that medicare cover none of this at all and, without codes, I can't check if my health care would cover any.

I just need a ball park figure so I can go away and scream and bawl and then come back with a clear head and make a revised plan.
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

ohippy
May 2 2011, 07:17:44 PM
Following on from the saga of both my kids missing two top adult teeth, Nakita had four baby teeth where she should have had adult ones and x rays revealed that two were missing and two were coming down but at an angle which would impact the existing teeth. She had the baby teeth removed in October to try and encourage the adult ones to come down but they haven't so a visit to the dentist today has revealed that she needs an operation. She needs to be put out completely and cuts made in her gums and hooks attached to the teeth inside her gums. Then the teeth will be gradually pulled down before braces fitted to bring the rest of the teeth forward to hide the other missing teeth.

The dentist told me that they have done as much as they can so now it's all down to the orthodontist. She was due back there in August but dentist says that there's no point in waiting as nothing else is going to happen. Every visit to the ortho costs me three figure sums so I can't afford to do that at the moment. We are in the process of trying to sell everything we can to get some much needed money in for other things anyway so wondered if anyone has any idea how much we may be looking at for this ? I know the approx cost of the braces is $6000 but what about the op, hooks and ortho visits prior to this ? The dentist told me that medicare cover none of this at all and, without codes, I can't check if my health care would cover any.

I just need a ball park figure so I can go away and scream and bawl and then come back with a clear head and make a revised plan.
I'd get a referral to an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon. You may have a long wait on Medicare or a quick appointment privately, but they should be able to tell you if the op could be done on Medicare. Heather's op was, and Abs' op will be, done on Medicare because they are not considered cosmetic but vital. You may find that the guy who does Nakita's op will consider it to be the same. There's definitely no harm in trying. In my experience dentists are much the same as GPs - they know so much but not everything. The orthodontist should know. In fact if the orthodontist's receptionist is anything like ours, she should know also. You could ring them, explain the work required and if it could be on Medicare - a phonecall shouldn't cost and a referral letter to the surgeon shouldn't cost either.
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BIX
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Boner-fide Bonza Bloke

My youngest is part way through a 2 year treatment as he effectively had a double layer of teeth.

Removed teeth then an op where they cut his jaw and roof of the mouth and inserted a plate to stretch his jaw wider.
I had to turn a key device a millimeter every day for a while.

He's come through most of that palaver and is now on "normal" brace type orthodontics but the teeth will be different lengths so they will have to sort those out once the braces do their job.

Not a direct comparison with what Nakita needs done perhaps but it's going to cost $12,000.
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ohippy
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BIX
May 2 2011, 08:32:25 PM
Not a direct comparison with what Nakita needs done perhaps but it's going to cost $12,000.
:omg:

I like MP's suggestion and will ring ortho tomorrow :thumbsup:
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

BIX
May 2 2011, 08:32:25 PM
My youngest is part way through a 2 year treatment as he effectively had a double layer of teeth.

Removed teeth then an op where they cut his jaw and roof of the mouth and inserted a plate to stretch his jaw wider.
I had to turn a key device a millimeter every day for a while.

He's come through most of that palaver and is now on "normal" brace type orthodontics but the teeth will be different lengths so they will have to sort those out once the braces do their job.

Not a direct comparison with what Nakita needs done perhaps but it's going to cost $12,000.
I don't even want to think how hard it must have been to turn that key :sick: If the treatment the girls have to go through/gone through wasn't on Medicare there would be no way we could afford it and it wouldn't be done. That's seriously depressing and they really need to let more dental stuff into the Medicare list. Your son and Heather's daughters teeth are beyond the norm and prevent a normal life in later years, they should be on Medicare. I get that most stuff should be paid for if it's cosmetic but they know now that problems with the jaws can cause major spinal problems later in years. We wouldn't be putting our kids through this shite if it wasn't necessary.
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

Just don't go and see the Maxillofacial dude at Garden City. He's shite and just looking for an easy buck.
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

which one ? The ortho we see is at Garden City. I completely forgot that one of my mates is actually an ortho receptionist so I've been emailing her and she stated :

'Procedures done with oral surgeons and specialists including orthodontists can only be claimed through private health insurance and not medicare regardless of whether it needs to be done or not unfortunately.' however, she did say that there is one place which does public work but she's not sure of the waiting list so I may get the ortho appointment booked and get her on the waiting list and, if we can gather the cash beforehand, then we can go private.
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BIX
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Boner-fide Bonza Bloke

moneypen20
May 2 2011, 10:10:09 PM
I don't even want to think how hard it must have been to turn that key :sick:
It was very much a case of grinding the teeth. :ooer:


Here's the plate they put in after the operation to extract teeth and cut his jaw.
The key fitted in the middle piece and we had to turn it one revolution in the direction of the arrows.
Attached to this post:
Attachments: 2010_05__11_.jpg (180.83 KB)
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

:barf:

I didn't want to look but something made me
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Oh f*** me sideways! :sick: I'd rather remember Heather's op to be honest, at least she was asleep and then on major pain killers.
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Anne
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moneypen20
May 3 2011, 10:22:52 PM
Oh f*** me sideways! :sick:
:rofl: :rofl:
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Lynnj
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Orthos and dentists all seem to be different, some out for the general good of the patient, other for the general good of their own pocket. Dom had his first Ortho appointment in Jan of 2010. The adult teeth next to his front teeth are missing, on one side the tooth next to that (pointy one whatever its called) was growing at an angle and in danger of undermining the root of the front tooth, so the remaining baby tooth was whipped out in the hope it would grow down into the space. No sign so far, but.... he was back at the ortho last week, she felt in the space and said "oh fantastic it's on its way down and it's straightened up, but may still take another year to appear, no need to xray him as I can feel the tooth, see you in 12 months and you can go straight out theres no charge for this appointment"

So I think it's really worth you persuing this in as many ways as you can, if some procedures can be done on medicare in another state then surely that has to be the same here, maybe just a case of finding the right person.

Also I know he said there was no point waiting, but did he say that it had to be done immediately? If not then why not give yourself a couple of months to see how things go with work etc, then decide what to do.
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Lynnj
May 4 2011, 04:44:56 PM

Also I know he said there was no point waiting, but did he say that it had to be done immediately? If not then why not give yourself a couple of months to see how things go with work etc, then decide what to do.
I do agree. The girls' orthodontist wouldn't let them have braces until he knew they had finished growing. Because of the nature of the problem, if he did it earlier, he'd worry that if the braces came off and they grew again, all his work would be undone. Nakita is still growing I'd guess, so it may work in her favour to wait a bit??????? Obviously her problem is different to H & A and if there's spaces, the other teeth need holding back so they don't fill the space needed for a tooth. Is it urgent she has it done now? For peace of mind, what with all your other problems at the moment, I'd be putting the teeth on the back burner for a year if I could iyswim.

Just had the mother on the phone, left me with a churning stomach and a headache. Said she's been thinking and believes it's very expensive and it can't possibly be that much. In other words, we're trying to get money out of her by lying. Explained how they work here, how even children have to pay for fillings etc. She then asked if Kevan's mum and step dad could chip in. Said I'd not asked as I knew they were worried about their financial situation. She then said there could be a problem with her will but that as her financial guy was away, she would talk to him as soon as and let me know and still didn't think there would be a problem.

As Kevan said, she's just twisting the knife to ensure we know who's in charge and that we'll be beholden to her. I just wanted to say not to bother but had to bite my tongue and tell her how grateful we would be blah blah blah. :sick:
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Sorry Heather, I shouldn't be using your thread to bitch about my issues. If a mod (or whatever you're called on here apart from Anne, Hevs etc :whistle: ) wants to take my rubbish out into a thread on it's own, please feel free.
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ohippy
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Original Opulent Optimist

Feel free huni, I'm not precious about any threads that I start and, whilst it's crap for you, it does help me to know that there are other people in a similar boat that's sinking :lol:

With Nakita it is different as the brace is going to actually move all her teeth forward so that the gaps aren't at the front but at the back. The sooner it's done the better, as she's still growing, everything is more pliable and so will move easier, quicker and be less painful. There is no sign of the teeth coming through at all, x rays show they haven't moved since October. However, I reworked the finances yesterday and there's no way I can afford the ortho appointment as there's not enough space left on either of the credit cards so it's all academic anyway. Fell a bit sick at the mo, bit like you MP. We're committed to a UK holiday in July (which my mum bought the non refundable tickets for and, if we don't go .... well it doesn't bare thinking about). Paul wouldn't be paid and, unless some financial miracle happens, that would be the end. So the thoughts are there that Paul wouldn't go and stay and work which I have introduced as a thought to my mum and got an ear bashing for that too ... for some reason she thinks we'd be saving money by going :crazy: we wouldn't have a penny between us, not for food, petrol, shopping or anything but then I guess mum would like it that way as we would definitely 'owe' her a kilo or 30 of flesh. Now if she accepted fat instead of flesh, we could compromise !
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

It wouldn't even be open to discussion here. Kevan would refuse to go regardless of how much shite came his (or my) way. When we went back for two weeks a few years back, I had so much earache as to why Kevan wasn't with us, I just started saying 'no money, no interest'. They shut up after that :lol: The idea of going on 'holiday' knowing that there will be less than no money on the return would freak me out so much, it's making me feel sick just imagining it :sick:
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Bridiej
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Chattermonster Extraordinaire!

I am so over the cost of dental treatment in this country.... Malc has a calcium deficiency and his teeth crumble and break. He's had a loose tooth for weeks and finally, last week, it snapped off - leaving part of the tooth and all of the root in situ. He's going Tuesday to have it removed. It's a front tooth too (not one of the big ones at the front but one next to those) so he'll have a gap. The cost of even a basic false tooth is ridiculous.... we just can't afford it but I feel bad that he's going to have to go round with a gap for who knows how long, he's self conscious about his teeth enough as it is. :(

We have private health but the most you can claim for dental in any one year is $600 - it's not right.
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Bridiej
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Chattermonster Extraordinaire!

I am so over the cost of dental treatment in this country.... Malc has a calcium deficiency and his teeth crumble and break. He's had a loose tooth for weeks and finally, last week, it snapped off - leaving part of the tooth and all of the root in situ. He's going Tuesday to have it removed. It's a front tooth too (not one of the big ones at the front but one next to those) so he'll have a gap. The cost of even a basic false tooth is ridiculous.... we just can't afford it but I feel bad that he's going to have to go round with a gap for who knows how long, he's self conscious about his teeth enough as it is. :(

We have private health but the most you can claim for dental in any one year is $600 - it's not right.
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Hevs
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Miraculous Mamma Mod

Extras are a rip off, no matter how I do the sums they just dont add up. I have lost my tooth next to my front tooth and have a shitty plate. It cost $400, and does the job till I can save the 4K for the implant! BUT dont go to the dentist for the plate, go to a dental prothetsist, its cheaper AND they know what they are doing, you cut out the middle man (read dentist!)
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Hevs
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moneypen20
May 4 2011, 09:03:53 PM
If a mod (or whatever you're called on here apart from Anne, Hevs etc :whistle: ) wants to take my rubbish out into a thread on it's own, please feel free.
:dunno: Mods...last time I looked :flowers:
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Bridiej
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Hevs
May 8 2011, 10:22:01 PM
Extras are a rip off, no matter how I do the sums they just dont add up. I have lost my tooth next to my front tooth and have a shitty plate. It cost $400, and does the job till I can save the 4K for the implant! BUT dont go to the dentist for the plate, go to a dental prothetsist, its cheaper AND they know what they are doing, you cut out the middle man (read dentist!)
Thanks for the tip, I didn't realise that :)
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Pommygirl
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There's no point in going private in Australia. I've never been private and have never had to wait long to be seen by the doctor or consultant - I even did IVF when on a temporary visa and claimed it back on Medicare! I've not been to the dentist here but I am on the GP Management Plan and with that you are entitled to $4500 of dental treatment. Not used it yet but I need another filling so might have to go soon. I always go to the dentist when I go back to England for a visit and use my Mum & Dad's address. At Christmas, I had a full check up and hygienist clean plus 2 x fillings and x-rays all for 32 pounds! Good one!
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Bridiej
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Chattermonster Extraordinaire!

Hmmm I'm not so sure. Going private meant I had my choice of obstetrician when I had both Katie and Adam - with Medicare I'd have had whoever was available while giving birth. It also meant I had my own private room in hospital.

What's the GP Management Plan?
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BIX
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Boner-fide Bonza Bloke

Bridiej
May 9 2011, 08:49:14 PM


What's the GP Management Plan?
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbsprimarycare-chronicdisease-pdf-brochure
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Pommygirl
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To be honest, I wouldn't have cared who delivered my baby as long as there was someone qualified to do the job but I never had one so it doesn't matter now. I also had my own private room but in a public hospital when I was ill a few years ago.

I qualify for the GP Management Plan because I have a few chronic illnesses, these being Asthma, PCOS, Endometriosis and Pre-Diabetes. Still cost me $34.20 for an inhaler today though, grrrrrr.
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Hevs
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Bridiej
May 9 2011, 08:49:14 PM
Hmmm I'm not so sure. Going private meant I had my choice of obstetrician when I had both Katie and Adam - with Medicare I'd have had whoever was available while giving birth. It also meant I had my own private room in hospital.

I'm with PG, I didnt care who did it, I prefer midwives anyway :yes: And I didnt care about a private room either, I wasnt on holiday :wink: :whistle: :kiss:

Also with all of Matts dramas priavte would have killed us with the gaps! BUT we do have top hospital cover now, I feel as we are getting older that hips etc are becoming more prevelant :giggle:
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Lynnj
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I declined to go private for both kids although we had cover, I wanted a midwife not some doc who wanted to deliver to his schedule not mine, there was an ob outside the door while Ind was born, but he was only there because it was a quiet night and he wanted to feel involved, it was his suggestion to stand outside the door at the vital moment.

We have private cover but I have never used it on hospital stuff. But we have it if we need it if something comes along.
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Pommygirl
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I still keep meaning to get the post office ambulance cover! Oops.
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Bridiej
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I'm so glad I had my choice of obs there at the birth of Adam (I only wish he'd I could have had him for Katie) as I saw one who wasn't that nice and I know of a couple of others in our local area that have bad reputations. For me, it was worth our annual premiums for that alone :)

Edited by Bridiej, May 14 2011, 07:15:44 PM.
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