Cost of Crowns and Dentist Recommendations

[pklein9747]

Went to a new dentist and they recommended I have three crowns put in. Cost: $3600. Having never had crowns and knowing there are a lot of unreputable dentists in the area, I don't know if this is a fair price.

I am a bit wary because the crowns were the only thing in their pitch. Never even mentioned having a cleaning done. :(.

Any thoughts on this and recommendations for a trustworthy, professional dentist?

[JoMar]

I have found that Dentists in The Villages are expensive and love to up sell. It's part of the convenient charge for being close and maybe golf cart accessible. I use Dr. Timothy Pruitt, 15820 Dora Ave, Suite A, Tavares FL 32778 (352) 589-5660. Yes it is 45 minutes from here but several of my neighbors have gone to him and stayed. There are 3 dentists and the philosophy of the practice is to give fair prices and establish a shared development for treatments. I have had two crowns over the last 5 years and didn't come close to $3600, in fact I think both were just slightly over 4. Neither required a root canal which would be additional. Staff is competent and friendly and the doctors are young (of course so is everyone compared to me). Dr. Pruitt's practice is worth including in your investigation and search.

[retiredguy123]

I go to Dr. Lunsford in Leesburg. He did a crown for $895. Some dentists in The Villages definitely try to upsell. Some will want to do crowns that aren't needed and "deep cleanings" that I never even heard of until I moved here. A deep cleaning can cost over $1,000 and it is not even done by the dentist.

[Velvet]

Get a second opinion.

Let me tell you my story. I have one crown from many years ago and a couple of fillings. My long time dentist retired to travel the world and I needed someone new. I went to someone near by. He took X-rays and immediately recommended I change my crown and a filling too, right away! He showed me my X-rays and pointed out the long vertical shaded areas as THE problem. I don’t know anything about teeth X-rays so I googled it later and made appointment with another dentist for a second opinion. Google indicated that these shaded vertical areas on the teeth are normal. The new dentist took new X-rays I paid twice for the same thing, and the second dentist agreed with google that everything was fine. My teeth still feel good but I am angry at that first dentist. There’ll be lots of input from me about him. (He did the same thing to my husband.)

[JoMar]

Get a second opinion.

Let me tell you my story. I have one crown from many years ago and a couple of fillings. My long time dentist retired to travel the world and I needed someone new. I went to someone near by. He took X-rays and immediately recommended I change my crown and a filling too, right away! He showed me my X-rays and pointed out the long vertical shaded areas as THE problem. I don’t know anything about teeth X-rays so I googled it later and made appointment with another dentist for a second opinion. Google indicated that these shaded vertical areas on the teeth are normal. The new dentist took new X-rays I paid twice for the same thing, and the second dentist agreed with google that everything was fine. My teeth still feel good but I am angry at that first dentist. There’ll be lots of input from me about him. (He did the same thing to my husband.)

May want to share the name of the dentist where you had that experience.

[Velvet]

Dr. Freeman. He is up north, 1000 miles away. I hope you don’t consider my story irrelevant because of that.

[bumpygreens]

A deep cleaning is done to keep mild gum disease from becoming more serious. If you have "pocketing" where you have lost some bone around one or more tooth sockets, food can get trapped causing tartar to build up leading to a worsening of bone loss. The dentist will give you injections to numb the area because the hygienist will go much deeper below the gum line to clean these areas. If you have occasional tooth pain caused by trapped food particles, or you experience bleeding when you brush your teeth, your dentist is probably trying to save you future pain, expense and possible tooth loss. Full blown gum disease can be serious and not just for the health of your mouth. Serious gum disease can lead to other health problems including heart disease. If you don't trust your dentist, get a second opinion, but don't ignore it just because you haven't heard of the procedure. If the second opinion agrees with the first, get it done then go buy yourself a Water Pick and use it daily. It worked for me.

[retiredguy123]

Village Dental wanted to charge me $6,000 for 3 crowns and a deep cleaning. The deep cleaning was to be done entirely by the hygenist for $1,400. I got two second opinions outside of The Villages. Both said that I didn't need a deep cleaning, and only needed one crown and one filling. The total cost was $1,100.

[lake5798]

Run don't walk away from Village Dental$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Navy (SSBN 633)]

Recommend Dr Luong of Serenity Dental Spa...she makes her own crowns in house while you wait so all done in one shot......no up selling

[baustgen]

Dentists around here make used car salesmen look like saints. Never seen so much "bait and switch" in my 78 years. Anyone falling for the $79 free cleaning and exam should expect the deep cleaning sales pitch. Lived 75 years and never heard of it until I got down here.

[dnobles]

Dr Forest Jerkins

[perrjojo]

The average cost for a crown by a reputable dentist is usually $1000 to $1300. Cost can be higher if you need A “Post” under the crown. Many here have never heard of deep cleaning but as we age we are more likely to need that service. BTW, a dental hygienist is far more careful and qualified to clean your teeth. That is his/her speciality. No, I am not a dentist nor work for one here. I have however worked in dentistry a lot of years. Yes, there are good and bad dentist but most are recommending the correct procedure. Also, a dentist or doctor giving a second opinion is at an advantage because they already know your objections.

[Velvet]

Only if you tell the second dentist about your experience with the first one. And why would you? You don’t want to bias the new dentist.

I became suspicious of some dentist when I was a teenager and every 6 months when I went for cleaning my dentist found a new cavity. He also mentioned he had just bought a new cottage. I was wondering if my teeth were funding it. I changed dentist after a few years and for the next 40 years lo and behold, I had no cavities.

[retiredguy123]

I understand that a crown performed by a dentist usually costs about $1,000. That is the going rate. But, when the hygienist at Village Dental described the deep cleaning procedure that she was going to perform for a cost of $1,400, it really sounded like ripoff. It was a 2 hour procedure with no dentist present. Dental hygienists may be well trained, but I don't think they command an income anywhere near that of a dentist. So, I thought that her quoted price was outrageous. Two other dentists told me that I didn't need a deep cleaning. And, 3 years later, I my current dentist has still not recommended a deep cleaning. I believe that this procedure is oversold and overpriced in The Villages.

[JoMar]

Only if you tell the second dentist about your experience with the first one. And why would you? You don’t want to bias the new dentist.

I became suspicious of some dentist when I was a teenager and every 6 months when I went for cleaning my dentist found a new cavity. He also mentioned he had just bought a new cottage. I was wondering if my teeth were funding it. I changed dentist after a few years and for the next 40 years lo and behold, I had no cavities.

When I was a kid I never ate black licorice before going to the dentist, if he saw it he drilled it :)

[perrjojo]

I understand that a crown performed by a dentist usually costs about $1,000. That is the going rate. But, when the hygienist at Village Dental described the deep cleaning procedure that she was going to perform for a cost of $1,400, it really sounded like ripoff. It was a 2 hour procedure with no dentist present. Dental hygienists may be well trained, but I don't think they command an income anywhere near that of a dentist. So, I thought that her quoted price was outrageous. Two other dentists told me that I didn't need a deep cleaning. And, 3 years later, I my current dentist has still not recommended a deep cleaning. I believe that this procedure is oversold and overpriced in The Villages.
The dentist takes 60% or more of the hygienist salary.

[Martian]

I had a couple crowns done and I am in the process of having 3 implants and the associated bridge and crown work, as well as some jaw reconstruction, bone transplants etc.

I decided on Dr Acosta in Cuenca, Ecuador. He has a multi-generational family practice, they are trained in the US and return to practice in Ecuador. Their office is state of the Art.

Crowns take about a week (if you are in a hurry) start to finish, cost $400 each. I was quoted $1200 each here in the states. I had three done., Cost of flights, AirBNB and food, sight seeing etc for myself and my wife was $2100. So Total price for a vacation in Ecuador with 3 crowns was around $3200 vs the $3600 my dentist in Live Oak, FL quoted me. Would have been cheaper if I went alone...but we had fun.

The Implants and jaw reconstruction was quoted here at around $16,000 to $18,000 depending on complications.

For Dr. Acosta the bill comes to around $4000 to $5000 plus a couple thousand for another vacation in Cuenca for me and my wife. So, total around $7,000, or a savings of about $9,000.

Dr Acosta is friendly, fluent in English, and does excellent work. If I had to complain about anything he works a little "fast". It took some getting used to but, now I enjoy the fact I am not in the chair as long as I was used to here.

If you would like to see a bit of the world, maybe visit the Gallopolis Islands (a couple hours away from Cuenca) all for "free" compared to having your dental work done here - you may want to consider a medical vacation, a booming industry. Prices are similar in Mexico, I just prefer Cuenca, the people are incredibly friendly and there is a big expat community if you prefer to hang out with Americans.

Normal cost in Cuenca for Dental work is about 25% of what it costs here. Flight runs about $400 to $600 round trip (not first class :) depending on the day of the week. Rooms range from $15 to $35 per day for a couple. Meals depending on your diet can run $2.75 for a 3 course lunch. American food is more expensive, but we loved the local food and a retired lady had a "restaurant" in her converted garage a couple houses down from where we stayed, and her service and food was outstanding. No car rental is needed, public transit is faster and silly cheap. Bus is $0.25 from to anywhere. Taxis run about $2,00 to $3.00 to/from almost anywhere. Time to catch a bus or taxi is about the same - about 2 to 5 minutes anytime of day.

Dr. Acosta (http://www.ecuadordentalcare.com)

[Villagevip]

Went to aesthetic dental in Colony, $2,500.00 for a damaged implant crown...Dr. Lesh, Southern Trace Dental, $1,000.00...Saved $1,500.00..Plus, no attempted up sell scam....

[biker1]

You don't want a "deep cleaning" (actually called scaling and root planing) done by a dentist. A hygienist will probably do a better job. If you have gum disease and deep pockets the procedure may be called for. Getting a second opinion, preferably by a dentist outside the bubble, would be a good idea. If you ever go to a practice where the dentist is routinely performing that procedure you should go to another practice because dentists should be spending their time doing restorative procedures.

I go to Dr. Lunsford in Leesburg. He did a crown for $895. Some dentists in The Villages definitely try to upsell. Some will want to do crowns that aren't needed and "deep cleanings" that I never even heard of until I moved here. A deep cleaning can cost over $1,000 and it is not even done by the dentist.

[justjim]

Dr. Freeman. He is up north, 1000 miles away. I hope you don’t consider my story irrelevant because of that.

Not at all. Gold diggers are everywhere. :MOJE_whot:

[Dan9871]

I've been going to Dr. Hards at Village Dental for about seven years, ever since we moved here. My teeth have never been in better shape.

I always had gums and teeth that sometimes are sore and occasionally became big deal toothaches., mostly because I always put things off. All that has gone now. When I first came here Dr. Hards recommended a bunch of crowns and that is what I had done. He also said there were two that didn't need attention right away but eventually would. Since then I've had almost no issues except those two teeth Dr. Hards pointed out finally did need crowns.

[karostay]

My pet peeve is the oral exam scam for $30.You mean to tell me if the hygienist during a cleaning sees a problem area they wont tell you about it unless you pay it.

Scam