Archive for the ‘Dental Implants’ Category

Is there an optimal time to get my dental implant?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

My dentist told me I have a molar that has decayed below the gumline, and that it has to come out. She referred me to an endodontist who confirmed that diagnosis. They both say there is no way to save the tooth, and that the best course of action is to get a dental implant.

I do not have dental insurance, and a dental implant is quite expensive. How long do I have before the missing tooth starts to mess things up? Both my dentist and the endodontist said I had to get something in place “soon”, but they did not say why, specifically. I’d like some time to save up for this procedure, but I guess I could finance it if it is important to move quickly.

Sarah in New York

Dear Sarah,

You’ll definitely want to have the decaying tooth removed as soon as possible, to minimize the impact on the surrounding teeth and root structures. After removal of a tooth, the teeth surrounding the empty socket start to “drift” in just a couple of weeks. The tooth that corresponds to the missing tooth in the opposite jaw (the “opposing tooth”) will begin to grow to meet the tooth that is no longer there. This is called super-erupting. The teeth on either side of the empty socket will start to tip into the empty space.

Even though these are normal, natural teeth movements in response to a lost tooth, this motion still plays havoc with your bite and alignment. Changes in your bite and alignment can lead to headaches and TMJ issues. The longer you let the situation continue, the more time consuming and costly it will be to correct.

In the short term, your dentist should give you some kind of temporary space holder to prevent the teeth from drifting while the socket heals, and any infection clears. After the root form is placed, it will need several weeks to integrate with the bone of the jaw.

If you share your financial concerns with your dentist, she may be able to find a way to work with you to get you the care you need as expediently as possible. Certainly it is worth asking, because you do not want to delay this procedure if at all possible.

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Does dental insurance ever pay for dental implants?

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

My dentist just told me that I should get dental implants. I had all of my upper teeth pulled years ago, and it is getting really difficult to wear a denture. My dentist says I am running out of options, and that dental implants would be the best way to go, but they are so expensive! There is just no way I can pay for a full upper set of dental implants without some kind of help.

Is there a dental insurance company you recommend that would help pay for the cost of dental implants?

Thanks for your help,

Melissa in Oregon

Dear Melissa,

I’m afraid you are in a tough position. You will not find a dental insurance company that will pay for dental implants. If you think about it from the dental insurance company’s point of view, it makes sense. They would be out of business pretty quickly if they had to routinely pay for dental implants, which are many times the cost of a policy. Most dental insurance companies will pay a portion of the least expensive treatment, and most also have a yearly cap of $50o to $1000, which as you now know does not go a long ways towards paying for an entire set of dental implants.

Dental insurance is usually of the most benefit when it is supplied through an employer, where the dental care is part of the benefit package for employees, and paid for with pre-tax dollars. That way the insurance company passes on the costs of all the dental care they pay for on to the employer, along with a little profit for the insurance company.

The unfortunate thing is that you probably did not anticipate this kind of problem when you had all your upper teeth removed. Most people are not aware that the bone of your jaw is reabsorbed at the point of a lost tooth. If you have lost ALL your teeth, you can wind up with a condition called facial collapse. Over time, the bones of the jaws deteriorate to the point that no denture can be worn, and the face seems to “fold in” on itself.

Dental implants halt the process of bone loss. If you can not afford a full set of implants, see if your doctor does “mini dental implants”, which are used to anchor a denture. These mini dental implants will also work to stop some of the bone loss in your jaw, and are a less expensive option than a full set of upper dental implants.

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