Hi, I am also dental phobic, but bound by financial restraints and a "preferred dental program" dental insurance plan. It's been recommended so often that I 'look into' the university dental clinic, so I've visited their website and I printed out the info, and I
am procrastinating on making the call.

Are the fees much lower than a private dentist? I need to know that our co~pays for the clinic will be manageable, compared to the preferred dental agreed fees. Also, I know it will be more time~consuming, but are they good with the phobic? I am assuming the newest methods are used, right? That's a plus.

Convince me? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

Hi Narey http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Welcome to the boards..

To answer some of your questions.. Yes the dental schools are a little cheaper than conventional dentist prices. Your looking at a 30-50% savings off the work. Can you be more specific on the extent of the work you need done and also what kind of insurance plan options do you have, payments, yearly maximums ect?

If you give that info we can be of a better help to your situtation.

Let's say you go to the dental school but need extensive work, and do not use insurance.. Then it still can be quite costly. for example, you need a root canal and crown. It might cost about $750 dollars for a routine job at a regular dentist, but will still cost $300-$450 at the dental school for a routine scenario.

If you need quite a bit of work done it can start adding up, and they do require you pay for the work as you go, cash, check or credit card.. Some do have payment plans, not many, basically based on your credit. They do accept a lot of different insurance plans, so if you use that in conjuction with the savings, you can save quite a bit of money off of going to a regular dentist..

What is the extent of work you need done? I needed a lot of work done and it was still going to be a few thousand dollars at the dental school, and they only accept you after an evaluation which also costs money, for me it was $75, if they were not studying your problems at the moment they can turn you away..

They do use the new techniques, not sure how good they are with phobics, being students and not yet an actual dentist. Althought they are completely monitored by actual professional dentist instructors..

Hopefully someone else with dental school experience can come along and add to this. That way you can see the differences. I am sure all the school are the same, but vary a little as well..

Hope this helps a little with your questions..
Hottrodd

[This message has been edited by hottrodd (edited 08-01-2003).]