Military healthcare question? Can my wife get a referal for Wisdom tooth extraction from the on base dentist.?

My wife is enrolled in tricare dental, but even with it the cost of wisdom tooth extraction will still probably be close to 800 dollars. I'm only an E-3 so 800 dollars is a huge chunk of my monthly pay. I got a referal from the on base dentist and it was paid for 100 percent. Will they allow spouses to get the same referals?

Military healthcare question? Can my wife get a referal for Wisdom tooth extraction from the on base dentist.?
Let me start by saying unfortunately there is a slim chance you're wife will be able to have her tooth extracted on base, most base facilities only cover the active duty member.





Regarding the $800, that seems very high even if it needs to be cut out, has she been seen by an oral surgeon? I ask, because you didn't say in your information. If that was a direct quote, I would see someone else. If not, one will see her for a free evaluation with a referral from her dentist. They can also let her know what your portion would be, if I remember correctly it's less than 40%.





Most oral surgeons also have financing plans available if it's too expensive, but there is one other option like someone else mentioned. You can go to your branch’s relief society, they give money assistance for things like this. However, before you can be given the money they make you take a budget class, no matter what your rank is.





I had to have all four of mine removed (two cut out, which is more costly than pulling) before the military would allow me to come overseas with my husband and the total cost was over $1200 and we had to pay only $300. I avoided having them removed for years because I was afraid of the actual cost out of our pocket, but it ended up not being too terribly much in the scheme of things.





Good luck with this and just ignore the people who feel they need to be rude and negative!
Reply:Ask the Dental people where you are Based...


Am sure that they will help as much as they can...
Reply:Like Marine says. ASK THE DENTAL PEOPLE. Why bother on here? Do you think people here know more?


Well I will tell you what LT. COL, as if, I retired long before TRICARE and holding the little troopies hands when they got wet diapers. Not sorry I missed it and officer like you.
Reply:I'm somewhat surprised by J%26amp;C H's answer. If the AF MSgt he is citing didn't know this, I cannot explain why: You can also talk to your first sergeant to see about AF Aid Society. They do emergency grants for these sorts of things.





If your wife is not seeing an in-network dentist, the cost is more. You may need to change dentists.





You should talk to the TriCare office on base. Are you active or reserves?
Reply:It can depend on the dentist that your spouse is going to and the facilities at the base. Some dentists who are prior military or Reserves often will have the authority to refer the patient to the base dentist when they have an opening. This in turn can take weeks or months before it is done so you are aware. It also doesn't necessarily mean that the base can do it, they can refer but that is it.





Now with the cost, it shouldn't be $800 for the wisdom teeth to be taken out. The most I was ever quoted was $600 and that was with all 4 taken out. It wasn't anywhere near the $1200 coverage either (your cost isn't included it in so if it is $600 for you and $600 for the dentist then that is it). Get a 2nd opinion and find out if a regular dentist can do it, not just a surgeon. I was told it would be necessary and got a 2nd opinion and it wasn't necessary. A regular dentist could do it for less than $200. So check around yourselves.





Also if it will cost this much and you don't have the funds to do it, then go see Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Army Emergency Relief or whatever your branch has. They will usually loan you the money for this and it is interest free (or very low interest rate if they do charge interest).