Is the number one cause of lost teeth in the US greed?!

Is the number one cause of lost teeth in the US greed?

I work in an industry (biological research) that is clearly divided into haves and have nots. We have a ridiculously large number of low-level skilled professionals who barely make enough to live on and a number of PIs who make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
I'm one of the few lucky ones that makes a little more than those caregivers and techs, and a lot less than those PIs, and despite having insurance that would cover the whole thing, I have to come up with $1000 out of pocket to cover a root canal.
The endonists in my area will not accept direct payment from my insurance company (even though two admit that it's because they've had problems with OTHER companies) reasonable payment arrangements (500/week, for example) or even a check (I'm literally $99 short, my bank would cover it and sock me with a $30 fee, but I'd no longer be in pain.)
All the low-wagers at work tell me they've been in similar situations and the solution is EXTRACTION.
(more below)

2 months ago
These are *all* people who would have this proceedure 100% covered by insurance...we have good insurance.
The media says that a toothless smile is from being dirty, doing meth and other stuff, but when I'm better off than 90% of my coworkers and I am facing down coming up with a high cost of a dental proceedure that's just about enough to break me, what other choice are these people being left with?
Pain or a pull?
And if people with INSURANCE can't afford it, what about the people WITHOUT?!? What are they getting done?
Is this just greed? I mean, I work with MDs, and I *KNOW* the prices of malpractice insurance and the like, but a doctor is morally obligated to end a patient's pain, and they don't amputate a broken leg because a cast is too much.
How can it be ANYTHING but greed to refusing to accept payment from an insurance company?

2 months ago
socal-
I'm 15mins over the US Canada border, I'm seriously looking at Canadian dentists.

Dental insurance currently is a waste of money usually. Dental procedures have gotten more and more expensive due to increased prices in supplies. However, insurances haven't raised their coverage, in fact, many have lowered their yearly maximums. Endodontist often don't take insurance for a few reasons: 1. Most of the time when someone goes to the endodontist it is b/c there were complications with the root canal after a dentist treated the tooth. So, insurance is not going to pay for another root canal treatment for at least 1 year. 2. Insurance companies do not have a special fee for endodontist. They do for periodontist, but not endodontist. If the endodontist became a provider for insurances he would have to take the pay for what the insurance would pay a regular dentist for a root canal. 3. The endodontist would wipe out your max. in one swipe.
It is crazy b/c the endodontist are being pushed into a corner. Supplies for root canals are some of the highest for dental supplies. To be making money they almost can't accept most insurances. I do know many endodontist that take insurance but usually they just have to tell the patient sorry your insurance is not going to cover this treatment for another year. An extraction continues to stay way cheaper b/c there is not a lot of material involved. So there is no reason for the prices of extractions to increase much. If you add up the money you spend on your dental insurance and the amount it will actually pay out a year you would be better off to save your money in a health savings. Many dental offices do have financing that has no interest for 1-2 years if approved. And of course after that pricey root canal you need a crown. But your insurance is probably already maxed out.