Dental Dilemma?!?!?!

[newstart4me]

I have been putting off going to the dentist for months now, and I need to go soon because I am in pain. My mother and sister both go to the dentist I used to go to. The crown that has been loose for months was done by her several years ago (the last time I had insurance). I want this same dentist to look at my crown, etc..(I have been putting off going to the dentist because I don't have the $, and I was waiting until I land a job with insurance. That will happen when it happens!) Now that I am fairly certain that I'll be filing for bk it makes sense to go ahead and go to the dentist because it will be something I can have discharged. I feel badly about doing this though because I like the dentist & she's also my mom's and sister's dentist. I wouldn't want her office staff to hit them up for payment. I also don't want to go somewhere else. I feel it's highly likely that I'll end up at a specialist needing a root canal based on the crown I had a similar problem with. (I had insurance and the insurance covered the $1000 fee.) I don't want to call the dentist's office and make a promise I cannot keep about paying I will be consulting with an attorney soon. What suggestions do you all have for me? Thanks again for your input!

[keepmine]

If you have any credit card with that sort of limit still active, that's what I use. Discharge the debt to the cc in bk.

[newstart4me]

That is a brilliant idea! I'm guessing that business must be slow for the dentist as well because someone in her office called and left a message about how long it's been since I was in, did I need a cleaning...blah,blah,blah. I won't feel great about charging the dental bill, but I'll feel better about that than stiffing the dentist. Since the card with the largest balance closed my account last Sunday I'll need to get right on it...The office is closed right now, but I left a message for them to please call regarding an appointment. Thanks km

[newstart4me]

Thank you for your post BB2U! More options to consider!

[newstart4me]

Dental Dilemma Update!

I went to the dentist, found out the tooth was infected! I knew it probably was infected, but I put off going because I didn't have the $. I used the Chase card to pay for the prescriptions. The payment went through just fine. My dentist was so sweet when I told her a little about my situation. She was so understanding! She didn't charge me for the visit or the xrays. I'll be having a root canal next Tuesday, and I'll need to take several cards w/me just in case. According to the online info and a recent credit report, all my accounts are in good standing. (I just have one cc that I made a tiny payment on). For the moment I'm planning on not paying any of them anything now. Appointments w/attorneys are scheduled for later this month. That's the soonest I could get in. The root canal and consultation will be over $1000. I had a bad reaction to antibiotic #1, and #2. I also have bone loss and gum disease. My dentist also promised to give me a custom made night guard if I come back in for the follow up appointment to have her start the gum treatment process! Any kind of dental work makes me very anxious, so the dentist wrote a prescription for valium for me. Thank you all for your input and support!

[Phillymanhere]

You gotta do what you gotta do. Taking care of teeth and infections is a priority!

I can totally connect with putting off appointments for lack of money. I have had good health insurance recently, but there was a time about 10 years ago when I did not and I got a tooth infection and I put off going to dentist.

I ended up in emergency room on major pain killers and antibiotics and then had to have emergency root canal.

good luck

[AngelinaCat]

I don't know where you live, but if you are somewhere in or near a major university city, check with the university and see if they have a dental school. The dental students need the practice.

I know that sounds horrid, and you are cringing while reading this, but really, some of the best places to go for health care are the teaching hospitals, and the dental schools. The students are under constant supervision.

Good luck to you!

[Joe Farmer]

Newstart?

My sugeestion is to prepay for your dental work before your cards are cancelled, or take cash advances- but a dental charge ought to be less an issue than a cash advance prior to folikng, perhaps? It sounds like you are needing thousands in work....and your opportunity to pay for it is dwindling...?

[Dave C.]

The one thing no one has mentioned

It's fine to you to use your credit card to pay the dentist. Inasmuch as your bankruptcy goes you must wait 90 days at the least before filing your petition. Should you file less than 90 days after paying the dentist it can be considered a luxury purchase thereby not dischargeable?

[AngelinaCat]

That would be true if it was being done to perfectly healthy teeth soley for cosmetic reasons. But in that this work is being done to clean up an infection and repair the tooth so that it can function properly in the process of chewing and swallowing food, I see it as being a health issue. Even so, I would wait six months before filing.

[dragonnfly]

If the dentist is a luxury purchase does this mean I dont have to go anymore!!! It was the worst luxury purchase I have ever made. Dragonnfly

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Dave C, AngelinaCat is right. That was a really good catch you made! But necessary dental work is not considered a luxury purchase. In addition, the various scrips for antibiotics, etc would make it plain to the trustee/creditors that it was a medical problem and not a beautification thing.

Newstart may not have to wait the 90 days at all, though it would certainly be safer in terms of potential creditor objections, especially if she has some income right now with which she could conceivably be making payments. I don't remember whether Newstart has an atty or not, but that would be a great question for him/her.

[AngelinaCat]

If the dentist is a luxury purchase does this mean I dont have to go anymore!!! It was the worst luxury purchase I have ever made. Dragonnfly

You don't know my dentist. She gives me good meds, works on the problem, then steam room, full body massage, and gives me candy on the way out, what is wrong with your old fashioned dentist?

[AngelinaCat]

OOOOOooooops. Just kidding, Ms. Cat just read this. T'aint true. Honest.

[AngelinaCat]

Now I'm REALLY in trouble. I didn't sign her out and sign me in. It is 'Hub on this one. Oh I see fireworks today and no they won't be in the sky. 'Hub