@surreality Two things to look into if you haven't already: first is dental insurance. I'm not certain how long a wait there is before you can use it for major work (if there is one) but it's worth exploring every available plan since you're talking that much money. Once you're done, just cancel the policy.
Second is dental discount plans. They're not insurance but you get a discounted price if you use the ones in their network. That can save you a lot of money, if not as much as actual insurance.