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.