Well, I mentioned bad news from the dentist a few days ago about the condition of my teeth. They are in wretched condition. Think of a pile of loose boulders compared to a good pyramid... It isn't a question of "will they start breaking, but how soon?".
So yesterday, I had a "consult" with the Dentist. Not my usual "fillings and routine stuff", but a more specialty one who visits weekly for advanced work. He recommended placing new crowns on most upper teeth and replacing old existing ones then, but yesterday's visit was for a more detailed exam, a timetable, and costs.
The news is serious. Though I don't currently have any tooth sensitivity, it is coming soon, and each repair will be harder as less durable. Basically, I can wait for each individual tooth to fail and be in pain for several days waiting for an available appointment, or get it all fixed over a couple months.
Here's what he wants to do...
1. Put temporary caps on the 2 left and right upper back molars. This is to provide some slight leverage on my jaws to align them better and get me used to feeling a change. Part of my problem is that I have a small jaw and an overbite. And BTW, I have a family history of bad teeth. I have outstanding health otherwise, but bad teeth.
2. The Dentist will also do a digital scan of the shape of my teeth at the same time. Well, good, I won't have to suffer that hard molding stuff they used to use. I always hated that. A lab will create new permanent crowns based on that (as needed - this whole process will take several months).
3. After those few weeks of adjustment, the Dentist will put temporary crowns on my 8 upper front teeth. And I will wait several weeks to adjust to those.
4. Then, he will replace the back crowns with permanent ones. A week later or so, he will put on the permanent front crowns and make any minor crown-shaping to make the new crowns
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So he had described the procedure. He had advised me that each active appointment would mean numbing both sides of my mouth each time (ack). His insurance tech developed a cost estimate. I was shocked! Apparently, my health insurance company does not provide the same level of coverage as they used to (and I didn't notice that in the renewals). And on my Federal Govt health care program, I can only change plans in December each year. ðŸ˜
Something just short of $13,000! 😠. OK, I can afford it. I am planning some home and driveway renovations/repairs anyway and that would just be a 1/4th of all that. But I wasn't expecting such a large cost.
So, sitting in the Dentist's chair and looking at the detailed cost chart, I thought about how legitimate this all was. So I asked him about implants (which I already knew they didn't do themselves. The Dentist said that was a good option. He said there were some advantages to that. It could be done in just a couple visits, and offerred to refer me to an implant specialist with a great reputation. He said that can be easier on some patients and that there is even sedation implant specialists.
So that answered my internal concern about the Dentist just wanting to do all the crown work just for the money.
I also asked about the general cost of full implants. He said they were a good option. He said it is generally about $25,000 "per arch", meaning both upper and lower. OK, $50,000 will make me think twice too! 😰
So, I am going ahead with the 12 crown replacement at my regular Dentist. I'm going to hate it. Just having one new crown is miserable, 12 is going to be much worse.
I asked about the durability of the new crowns. He said 10-15 years. OK, 15 years from now I'll be 90 (if I live that long). I guess I have to do this... 10-15 years of good teeth is worth something, and there is not much point in dying rich when the option is good teeth for most of the rest of my life.
I have another option that just occurred to me now. If I wait until December, I can switch to a Govt Health Care plan that covers major dental work. I'll have to call the Dentist and ask about the consequences of delaying all this work that long. He may say yes that would work or he may say I have some teeth that won't last that long.
But it won't hurt to ask.
Advice welcomed...
2 comments:
Dental work is so expensive. Make sure there is enough of each tooth left for crowns. My hubby had a crown last year and it fell off already and there wasn't enough left to work with so he had to have it pulled. So he waited for months until he was in pain then I had to call around and find a place that could do it quickly. Most places were booking many months out so please don't wait to deal with everything.
I have pretty good health but dreadful dreadful teeth also. That said, I go to the dentist regularly and stay on top of repair work, so I've never faced what you're facing. However, my husband elected to have his top 6 middle teeth and his lower 6 middle teeth crowned (for cosmetic reasons) and had all six done (ie. in two groups, one jaw at a time) at the same time. Given that he didn't have sensitivity/nerve/root canal issus, he said it wasn't too bad, so I'm optimistic that you'll get through it okay. Did you ask about happy gas? Very worthwhile - especially for long appointments and especially if you have a small mouth.
Cost: yep - but I agree entirely with you: (i) not much point being the richest skeleton in the graveyard and (ii) oral health is important and worth investing in.
I was surprised by how 'low key' the dentist made implants sound. My understanding is that it's not possible for a dentist to know in advance whether they'll even 'take' in a patient's jaw.
I think you should see this work as a long-term investment in your health and well being and go for it.
Megan
Sydney, Australia
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