Fixing a tooth is a minor surgery, not equivalent to just seeing a specialist. I'd compare it more to something like an MRI, which is comparable in price to putting a crown on a tooth.

Their prices are pretty similar after insurance; free to $30 or so for just a visit, and $500-1000 for a minor surgery or using a heavy-duty test.

Dental insurance isn't insurance. Think about your car insurance. It has a deductible, say $1000, and after that you don't have to pay anything to get the rest of your car covered if you have an accident. The maximum you pay is $1000. Health insurance is the same. Dental "insurance" is backwards. It usually covers UP TO $1000-1500. So if you need something simple done you don't pay anything. If you need a $40k set of implant dentures you're on your own. Dental insurance is quite literally the opposite of insurance.

The rate of coverage also used to be higher. Crowns on average now are $1200ish, they used to be $700 a decade or two ago, but insurance hasn't budged.

It's also very easy relatively to ruin your teeth. If you get 15 cavities thats 15 procedures to fix it. It gets expensive fast. Prevention is super important and infinitely cheaper.

Because dental work is surprisingly still considered cosmetic work and not essential health.

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So just to keep your touchstone prices in perspective, a private company near me performs diagnostic radiography.

If you are worried about a sports injury or something, you can make a booking and get an MRI, and one of their doctors will provide a report. GPS, physiotherapists etc will recommend getting scans done before treatment.

After this private clinic makes it's profit, and with no insurance involved, it's 200 dollars for an MRI. First world European country, where everyone is making plenty of profit.

You guys get hosed.

A couple things... one Dental insurance is entirely seperate and different from Health insurance, and has fairly low caps on what it covers annually.

But fixing a tooth isn't the same as just seeing a doctor, its more like a medical procedure and a medical procedure could easily cost you $1000's out of pocket if you haven't hit your deductible. Your twice annual exam/cleaning is like a regular visit and those have a nominal cost with insurance typically.