Major dental problem~am I being charged too much?

Zippy · 01-01-2006, 03:42 PM

Ok around six weeks ago the dentist came and worked on Zips teeth~Zip was having some problems eating~his food was falling out of his mouth~turns out one of his teeth(the last one farthest back in his mouth) was cracked from decay and they took half the tooth out and said they would come back in two months and check on the other part of the tooth to see if it is going to heal up or need to be removed~my horse ate fine the same day and he seems to be doing fine no more dropping food~it has almost been six weeks two days to go~I have been extremely worried because the dentist said it would be $1500 to $2000 to take the tooth out~I have the money but my horse is extemely sore and needs other care for his back and old injury so I hate to spend the money on that if it generally doesn't cost this much~I talked to my husband's brother he works in a vets office and he said that having a tooth pulled should only cost me $200~My question is do you think 1500 to 2000 is too much to pay? and if so should I get a second opinion?

BornToRide · 01-01-2006, 03:45 PM

i think that is way to much to pay !!!! my horse tag had the exact same problem and i have the bill right infront of me !!!!! i payed 238.98 !!!!!! thats all i payed that is outrageuously(sp) over priced

morgan21 · 01-01-2006, 03:46 PM

Are you taking him in to have surgery where they put him under anesthsia (sp) and surgically remove the tooth? Or are they just coming out, giving him a local sedative and then pulling the tooth?

horsegent · 01-01-2006, 03:46 PM

It really depends on whether its a simple extraction that will require sedation or whether it will need a full anaethetic.

I had a horse in the week before xmas because oddly he had an extra tooth in his upper jaw which has been causing difficulty for some time and meant he had to have very regular attention as there was nothing lower side for it to grind on.

Anyway he ended up with a loose tooth and had to go in to the specialist equine surgery. I was warned that it might cost up to £800 dependent on what they discovered and whether it needed full anaethetic.

In the event it didn't and was removed with a lot of sedation only and cost £300 which is still a heck of a lot more than $200.

Its normal though to have full antibiotic cover after a tooth extraction as well though.

I appreciate your prices will be different over there, but hopes this give you an idea.

Zippy · 01-01-2006, 03:56 PM

Ok the vet told me there was a 50% chance that he maybe able to remove the tooth with just a local for $400 but if he needs oral surgery it will be $1500 to 2000~My horse is 20 years old so I didn't think his tooth was that strong at this point that they couldn't just yank it out orally with a local~Anyone else with similar situtions~thankyou for all your reponses so far~

honeydoozy · 01-01-2006, 09:10 PM

Oh wow... of course I'm not a vet (nor do I play one on TV)... but I'd *definitely* get another opinion.

I just had an equine dentist come out and spend an hour (with basic sedation) to overhaul my rescue horse's bite. Speculums and power tools were involved. It's so major, he has to come back in a few months to do another adjustment. I can't imagine that an extraction (particularly on a partial tooth in an old horse's mouth) would be more time consuming and difficult than that! (usual disclaimers apply here)

Total charge: $235.00 (including farm call and sedation)

Yes, I would absolutely get another equine dentist's opinion (not a regular vet) before plunking down that kind of money on this.

RickB. · 01-02-2006, 11:56 AM

I don't understand how only half a tooth can be removed and the remainder expected to heal. It doesn't make sense to me.

If general anesthesia is required, then yes, the bill can be quite high, although the fee you quoted does seem a bit stiff. Is this an upper or lower tooth? If an upper, then a sinus cavity may also be involved. How are you treating the infection at this time?

Perhaps you should seek a second opinion, or at least an explanation of the fees prior to having any more work done.

Xena_n_joss · 01-02-2006, 12:29 PM

Id get a second opinion...

But if your horse needs to be anesthetised then yes, it will be up and over 1k... When Xena had a surgury, her Anthesia was 425.00... Then there was lab testing because you have to test to make sure your horse isnt allergic to it which was 97.00...

This didnt include the proceedure or anything and they have to have alot of people to have your horse anthesitised...

sdl1up · 01-02-2006, 01:19 PM

I would absolutely get a second opinion, it would be worth the farm call. I had an over 20 mare that had a tooth removed twice and it did not cost over 200.00 either time and was done with a local. I too am not a vet but it sounds like this really should not be that huge an ordeal for your horse. I think he is overpriced.

horsegent · 01-02-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdl1up

I had an over 20 mare that had a tooth removed twice and it did not cost over 200.00 either time and was done with a local. I too am not a vet but it sounds like this really should not be that huge an ordeal for your horse. I think he is overpriced.

How do you get a tooth removed twice

01-01-2006, 03:42 PM	#1
Zippy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 376 Images: 43	Major dental problem~am I being charged too much? Ok around six weeks ago the dentist came and worked on Zips teeth~Zip was having some problems eating~his food was falling out of his mouth~turns out one of his teeth(the last one farthest back in his mouth) was cracked from decay and they took half the tooth out and said they would come back in two months and check on the other part of the tooth to see if it is going to heal up or need to be removed~my horse ate fine the same day and he seems to be doing fine no more dropping food~it has almost been six weeks two days to go~I have been extremely worried because the dentist said it would be $1500 to $2000 to take the tooth out~I have the money but my horse is extemely sore and needs other care for his back and old injury so I hate to spend the money on that if it generally doesn't cost this much~I talked to my husband's brother he works in a vets office and he said that having a tooth pulled should only cost me $200~My question is do you think 1500 to 2000 is too much to pay? and if so should I get a second opinion? __________________ You will smell him again~You know~he will come to visit you in his spirit form and you will feel him all around you~ Judy Askins

01-01-2006, 03:45 PM	#2
BornToRide Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,009 Images: 192	i think that is way to much to pay !!!! my horse tag had the exact same problem and i have the bill right infront of me !!!!! i payed 238.98 !!!!!! thats all i payed that is outrageuously(sp) over priced __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't and times when you have to. got to get the bagel with the cream cheeze oh the creamy creamy cheeze eh Blistering Winds? lmao

01-01-2006, 03:46 PM	#3
morgan21 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,448 Images: 161	Are you taking him in to have surgery where they put him under anesthsia (sp) and surgically remove the tooth? Or are they just coming out, giving him a local sedative and then pulling the tooth? __________________ “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” VF Morgnificent-- My baby! Rodeos Native Rocket-- I'll miss ya girl.

01-01-2006, 03:56 PM	#5
Zippy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 376 Images: 43	Ok the vet told me there was a 50% chance that he maybe able to remove the tooth with just a local for $400 but if he needs oral surgery it will be $1500 to 2000~My horse is 20 years old so I didn't think his tooth was that strong at this point that they couldn't just yank it out orally with a local~Anyone else with similar situtions~thankyou for all your reponses so far~ __________________ You will smell him again~You know~he will come to visit you in his spirit form and you will feel him all around you~ Judy Askins

01-02-2006, 11:56 AM	#7
RickB. Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 2,320	I don't understand how only half a tooth can be removed and the remainder expected to heal. It doesn't make sense to me. If general anesthesia is required, then yes, the bill can be quite high, although the fee you quoted does seem a bit stiff. Is this an upper or lower tooth? If an upper, then a sinus cavity may also be involved. How are you treating the infection at this time? Perhaps you should seek a second opinion, or at least an explanation of the fees prior to having any more work done. __________________ Rick Burten, CJF, CNBBT/F, RMF Je pense, donc je suis

01-01-2006, 03:46 PM	#4
horsegent Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 696	It really depends on whether its a simple extraction that will require sedation or whether it will need a full anaethetic. I had a horse in the week before xmas because oddly he had an extra tooth in his upper jaw which has been causing difficulty for some time and meant he had to have very regular attention as there was nothing lower side for it to grind on. Anyway he ended up with a loose tooth and had to go in to the specialist equine surgery. I was warned that it might cost up to £800 dependent on what they discovered and whether it needed full anaethetic. In the event it didn't and was removed with a lot of sedation only and cost £300 which is still a heck of a lot more than $200. Its normal though to have full antibiotic cover after a tooth extraction as well though. I appreciate your prices will be different over there, but hopes this give you an idea.

01-01-2006, 09:10 PM	#6
honeydoozy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Location: sunny so. california Posts: 1,765 Images: 51	Oh wow... of course I'm not a vet (nor do I play one on TV)... but I'd definitely get another opinion. I just had an equine dentist come out and spend an hour (with basic sedation) to overhaul my rescue horse's bite. Speculums and power tools were involved. It's so major, he has to come back in a few months to do another adjustment. I can't imagine that an extraction (particularly on a partial tooth in an old horse's mouth) would be more time consuming and difficult than that! (usual disclaimers apply here) Total charge: $235.00 (including farm call and sedation) Yes, I would absolutely get another equine dentist's opinion (not a regular vet) before plunking down that kind of money on this.

01-02-2006, 12:29 PM	#8
Xena_n_joss Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Eastern Ontario Posts: 213 Images: 2	Id get a second opinion... But if your horse needs to be anesthetised then yes, it will be up and over 1k... When Xena had a surgury, her Anthesia was 425.00... Then there was lab testing because you have to test to make sure your horse isnt allergic to it which was 97.00... This didnt include the proceedure or anything and they have to have alot of people to have your horse anthesitised...

01-02-2006, 01:19 PM	#9
sdl1up Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Beloit, WI Posts: 413	I would absolutely get a second opinion, it would be worth the farm call. I had an over 20 mare that had a tooth removed twice and it did not cost over 200.00 either time and was done with a local. I too am not a vet but it sounds like this really should not be that huge an ordeal for your horse. I think he is overpriced.

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