So the last time I wrote about the dentist was when I had my oral exam. The story continues from there.

I made an appointment for the cavities to get filled and for a tooth cleaning (separate appointments). I got nervous the day of the cavity filling (May 27) when I still hadn’t received my dental insurance card yet. I called and found out I wasn’t enrolled. WHAT?!?! was my reaction, since my hubby had called back at the end of APRIL to sign me up. Spoke with someone on the phone, paid them money to get me signed up, was told it was all set. And they screwed up. I got all that straightened out on the phone only to be told that the earliest they could (or would) backdate my insurance was June 1. Apparently, even had it gotten set up correctly when Den did it, it wouldn’t have started coverage until June 1 – a fact they neglected to tell my husband.

So I got three cavities filled that day, and none of it was covered by insurance.

I still had to make an appointment for a surgeon to get my wisdom teeth taken out. I want it to be done as soon as possible, given my month-to-month status of being un-pregnant. I booked an appointment with the surgeon my dentist recommended, got my x-ray taken, booked the surgery date… and found out they don’t take our insurance. Or, rather, they’re not “in-network.” Which means insurance covers only so much, we’d have to pay the rest. turns out it’s a difference of about $200 extra we’d have to pay, just to go to this dentist over an in-network dentist. Considering the money we just spent on my damn fillings, that is $200 we don’t have.

I did print off a list from our insurance of oral surgeons that ARE covered and asked my dentist who she’d recommend from the list. Today I called to make an appointment. Yep, as expected, I have to have another consultation before booking the surgery. I can get the x-ray sent over though. And the best part? The earliest they’re booking is end of August. 2 months away. Fucking hell.

I’m paying money and jumping through hoops just to get something done that I am dreading. It’s starting to feel to me like it’s just not going to work out. I’ll keep the appointment… if I’m not pregnant. If I am we’ll have to wait another year to try this all again. (I honestly don’t know what type of surgery is safe during pregnancy, but given my emotional state of paranoia surrounding the whole thing I’m not going to take chances for an elective surgery.)

I am SO frustrated by all of this. How come dental insurance sucks so freaking bad? I have great health insurance for everything from my depression to gynelogical health and preventative care… but getting my teeth healthy is apparently not important enough? By the end of getting my wisdom teeth pulled and my cavities filled we’ll have paid out of pocket over $1000. And did you know that periodontal disease has been linked with preterm and low birth-weight babies? This is part of the reason I decided I needed to take care of my teeth, regardless of the cost: the health of your teeth and gums is a part of the balance in your body, and it can and does affect your health in other ways. So WHY does it fall outside health insurance?! Why isn’t it considered important enough to ensure that people get proper care?

Arrrgggggg.