Urgent Dental Question

[Guest guest]

I'm hoping someone can help my daughter and son in law with information.

Their daughter Jackie, who is 6 years old, seems to have developed at

least one pretty bad cavity which started hurting her this Monday.

When they realized why she was crying so badly, my daughter took her to

a the dentist she uses in the hope he would be able to confirm that it

was a tooth that was causing her to cry so.

While he could not take x-rays due to the fact that Jackie would not let

him take an xray, he was able to get enough of a look to see a cavity.

On Tuesday she got her in to a pediatric dentist who treats special

needs children. He was very good with her and with the help of Jackie's

dad, this dentist was able to get a better look at the tooth. He is

recommending a root canal with cap to be done next week. The tooth in

question is not a permanent one, but he says to pull it, would cause a

problem down the road, when the molar comes in.

He said she would be knocked out, have x-rays taken, and if what he

suspects is true, they would proceed with either the root canal or pull

the tooth.

He told them to watch for any signs of swelling or redness between now

and then. My daughter alerted the school Jackie attends since she

returned today. The school called this afternoon and said they thought

the tooth was hurting her because of the way she was crying and they

also thought her face was swollen.

Her parents picked her up and took her to an oral surgeon, who was

unable to get x-rays because she would not hold still or allow anyone to

put their hand in her mouth to hold the film next to the tooth. They

also have the equipment to do an xray where the machine circles the

head, but she would have to sit still in the chair by herself, and there

is no way that was happening!

The problem is in order to have her knocked out, the cost is $1500.00.

My son in law called his dental insurance carrier - Aetna US Health Care

PPO and his health insurance carrier - United Health Care PPO. Both

say they will not pay for the anesthesia, even if the procedure is done

in a hospital, which was also suggested by either the pediatric dentist

or the oral surgeon. He did stress to both that she is autistic and

there is no way anyone will be able to get an xray without her being

knocked out.

Is there anyone on the list who can make any suggestions about this

situation. Right now, trying to dig up $1500.00 is going to be just

about an impossibility. Any advice, or suggestions sure will be

appreciated. Thank you.

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June Guerin-Najdek

mailto:jn516@...