Dental Brokers

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

When I was a child, growing up in Burns, I was afraid to go to the dentist. He was a big man, a bit heavy handed and stern. I remember reluctantly heading to his office after school, my steps becoming increasingly slower and more reluctant as I got closer. Looking at his collection of various bird eggs, in a display case in his office, helped to distract me from the coming ordeal.

When my children were growing up we made the three-hour trip to Boise, Idaho, where our new dentist did excellent work - with a gentler touch, a great sense of humor and lower fees. He was a hunter, who teased the children about the bear in his closet that he’d brought back from a trip to Alaska.

Once in a while they’d tiptoe cautiously to the closet, but never quite worked up enough courage to open the door. He teased me about the weight of my numerous fillings, suggesting that I would be unwise to dive into a swimming pool. Appreciating his sense of humor lightened the apprehension that could build on the trip to his office.

My daughter was referred to an orthodontist, who turned out to be lacking in humor. He was very stern with her, and on one visit - our last - she bit his finger! Comparing notes with another family led us to a different orthodontist, who was far more pleasant. He often had several young patients at a time - all seated in a row of chairs in his office - who could console one another.

One of the many things I admire about my daughter is her assertiveness, which can be attributed to her having grown up with three older brothers. Instead of shrinking from conflict she meets it face to face, and usually resolves it handily.

I came home from work one afternoon to rescue her from a monorail her ingenious brothers had designed. She was hanging on for dear life, a foot or so above the ground, halfway between two trees. She’s outgrown the feeling her childhood was blighted, and now appreciates her brothers. Surviving their pranks resulted in her never being intimidated by men.

To get back to dentistry, I doubt anyone enjoys going to the dentist. However, good dental care is essential to good health. Lack of dental care can lead to digestive disturbances and malnutrition, and occasionally to the need for a root canal procedure. The cost of dental care has increased along with health care. Both are serious issues for low income families and for seniors who live on small, fixed incomes. Washington County Department of Disability, Aging & Veterans Services keeps a list of low cost dental services.

My own search for lower cost dental care led me to Ameriplan, where I’ve been a member for approximately one year. My basic plan gives me discounts from 25 to 65 percent on all restorative and cosmetic work (fillings, crowns, braces, etc.), and 80 percent off on preventative work, such as teeth cleaning, X-rays, etc. I chose the lowest monthly fee of $19.95.

Dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic services are available, but the cost for new plans could’ve gone up over the past year. Ameriplan is not insurance. Instead, members are entitled to discounted services from Ameriplan providers. I had been quoted a fee of $1,600 for a crown by an independent dentist. The fee for the Ameriplan dentist that I selected was only $600 and a payment plan was available. When offset by a savings of $1,000 on a crown, the Ameriplan fee ($19.95 per month for 12 months = $239.40) looked like manna from heaven.

One of my earlier senior columns was a dental care survey, that was also printed in the Disability, Aging & Veterans Services Advisory newsletter. The responses to the survey were fewer than I’d have liked, but I did gather some information:

Average age of respondents: 68;

Some upper dentures, some bridges, none with both upper and lower dentures; and

Dentists prefer credit card payment rather than offering a payment plan.

Several respondents reported not being able to see a dentist on a regular basis due to low income. One of my respondents thanked me for writing about dental care for seniors, saying that “at least someone cares.”

I hope that my columns provide useful information and lead readers to think about the issues with which we deal today. My six years as an adult foster care provider, followed by over 20 years of extensive volunteer advocacy for seniors, enriches my own life. I’m only one of many seniors who volunteer in organizations that do good things. Being able to give to the community is a blessing.

This article appeared in The Oregonian on May 6, 2008