I am incredibly lucky that I have never even needed a filling in my whole life. I had teeth pulled as a child due to an overcrowded mouth, and a brace - all free on the NHS. I pay £22 or thereabouts to get my teeth cleaned and checked at my NHS dentist (which when I was a student I couldn't afford and so didn't have my teeth checked for about 6 years.)

It's appalling that the system in America expects people to pay out so much to secure their health, either through direct costs accrued or through insurance.  When people can't afford it, health deteriorates - it costs the country more due to that in the long run.

Ad astra per aspera