full denture Archives - Dr. Rick Lane

Will medical insurance cover dental implants?

Posted on April 30, 2021 by goodtooth.

Hi,

I have had some problems with my teeth over the years. At this time, I am missing three back teeth and I have a dental bridge that is probably more than 30 years old now. I am considering getting my upper teeth replaced with a denture implant, or what I think is called an overdenture. I also have periodontal disease and end up going in every six months or so for root planing and a scaling treatment. The dentist had me try a partial denture but I couldn’t get passed this gagging feeling. Eating with it didn’t work either. So, that was a bust.

So, I’m wondering if a denture secured with dental implants will be good because I would like to replace all my upper teeth at this point. I am trying to get a rough idea how much something like this will cost. Also, would it be considered a medical condition? I am trying to figure out if my medical insurance will help offset the costs.

Thank you for your time.

-Laurel in Texas

Laurel,

Thank you for your question and sharing your experience so far. Dental implants are a permanent replacement to missing teeth. They look, feel and function just like natural teeth. Also, there is no extra hardware in your mouth so you won’t have to worry about that gagging feeling you explained. The plate can cause complications, which is common with denture appliances.

Dental implants also stimulate the bone at the implant site, which prevents a condition called facial collapse. This condition worsens over time when you don’t have any teeth left. Your body take the minerals that would be normally used to support the teeth and uses them elsewhere. Patients with facial collapse tend to look much older than they are, and their face is sunk in. Sometimes, it can get so bad that a denture won’t even stay in place anymore.

If replacing all your teeth with dental implants is not an option, fewer implants can be used to secure it in place. This is the treatment that you referred to in your question, as the denture secured with dental implants or what can be called an implant overdenture, or implant-supported denture. The more dental implants you can afford, the more stable and secure your denture will feel. You won’t have to worry about it moving around or coming out at embarrassing times. Also, it will be more comfortable too. There are options where the removable denture will snap in place to the anchored dental implants. This is usually called a snap-on denture.

Instead of selecting the treatment you want, it would be wise to shift your research and focus to finding the best dentist for you. If you find a reputable implant dentist in your area, they will be able to make the right recommendations for your specific needs and budget.

Regarding your question about using medical insurance, unfortunately, it likely won’t cover anything. So, you will need to look into what your dental insurance covers. It is a common question since many people are in a position where their dental health ends up impacting their physical health. But, as you can imagine, medical insurance companies do not cover dental problems or concerns. Otherwise, they take the stance that anything could be claimed as a medical need, even a cavity or an infection that is affecting your health. That said, your medical insurance should cover damage that was endured in an accident of some sort. For example, if you are in a car accident and you sustain injuries to your face and teeth, then your medical insurance will likely help support your needs for that specific incident.

Lastly, there are so many variations in treatment plans and fees that we cannot give you an accurate cost estimate for services. Again, the best thing to do is to find the best dentist for you, and get those personalized recommendations and options for treatment to help you plan your next steps.

Thank you for your question. Hopefully, this information is helpful as you try to figure out an action plan.

This post is sponsored by Petaluma dentist Dr. Rick Lane.

Are dental implants the only choice?

Posted on June 7, 2019 by goodtooth.

I’m looking for some guidance on affordable tooth replacement options for my mom. She is approaching 80 and had a stroke three years ago. I’m responsible for managing her care. But she never really took care of her teeth to begin with, so they’re not in good shape. She has been wincing when she bites for about two months, but claims she’s not in pain. Adding to it, she appears to have lost a tooth. I know it probably sounds odd, but I don’t remember her having a gap between her teeth and there is one now. I know she was missing several on the other side, but I feel like this one was new. She says it isn’t and that it has always been that way. Is it possible she lost it without knowing it and swallowed it? She seems ok in the sense that she’s not having digestive issues.

I’m not really sure what to do with the whole thing. Since she’s resistant to going in, that kind of leaves me speculating as to what’s going on and how we’ll have to approach fixing it. She does have a limited budget. So I believe that means dental implants are out of the question. Are there other tooth replacement options like a bridge work?

Thank you,

Mary in Oregon

Dear Mary,

Sounds like you have a whole lot going on there. To start, yes, teeth can fall out. It’s a symptom of advanced gum disease. If your mom didn’t take good care of her teeth before and isn’t getting help now, there’s a real chance all her teeth are loose or in danger of being lost. Chances are, if you think there’s a new space there, she did swallow the tooth. In which case, she probably would have passed it through her digestive system without an issue. If she complains of abdominal pain, has bloody stool, or other odd symptoms, she should be checked out by her primary care physician. But things like that rarely cause damage on the way through.

If she does have advanced periodontal disease, then dental implants may be an unrealistic option. They can only be placed when someone has good oral health. And, if other teeth are loose, that would make a dental bridge unfeasible too.

All that said, getting quality nutrition is paramount, especially at this stage of life. And if she can’t eat without hurting, her overall health and quality of life will suffer. She’ll need to get checked out to see if any of the remaining teeth are healthy and salvageable. Then, from there, a treatment plan can be devised. In all likelihood, the most viable and most affordable solution will be dentures. Either a partial to replace the missing few or extracting the rest and having the full arch replaced.

A possible option that she may be interested in are implant-supported dentures. This treatment is a good alternative for someone that wants the added benefits of dental implants, without the cost. The more dental implants that are placed, the more secure the denture will be and helps to avoid common denture problems.

If your mom is resistant to care, that adds another barrier. You may want to check with her and see if she’s at least open to “meeting” a dentist. She may feel reassured that the first visit is purely to have a look and discuss options. At least then she’ll be established at an office and you’ll have a game plan ready for when she’s willing to start treatment. Best of luck as you consider the next steps.

Dr. Rick Lane is an implant dentist located in Petaluma, CA. He offers many options to replace missing teeth, including dental implants, implant overdentures, dental bridges and partial dentures.

Am I a dental implants candidate?

Posted on February 19, 2019 by goodtooth.

I’ve been told that dental implants are the best solution because I am missing several teeth. So, I’d like to learn more. But, I was also wondering if there are other options?

-Jerry in Washington

Jerry,

You are correct. In most cases, dental implants are the ideal treatment plan to replace missing teeth. They are a permanent solution and when they are placed properly, implants look, feel and function just like your natural teeth.

The dental implant acts like the tooth root and is surgically implanted into your jawbone. The implant stimulates the bone at the implant site and helps keep the bone healthy too. Because if the bone is not stimulated, it will reabsorb the minerals to be used elsewhere and bone loss will be the result.

Then, after a period of healing, a porcelain crown is placed directly onto the dental implant. The entire process can take up to a year.

Sometimes there are situations when a patient is not a dental implant candidate.

If you don’t have enough bone at the implant site. (Sometimes, bone grafting can be done to rebuild the bone.)
You suffered a recent heart attack or have ongoing heart conditions.
If you’ve recently had a stroke.
If you’re a cancer patient.
If you are a smoker or drug user.
If you suffer from psychiatric illness.
Cannot afford them.

Generally speaking, if you are in good physical health, you should be a candidate.

Other Tooth Replacement Options

However, if you would like to consider other options beyond dental implants. You may be interested in the following alternatives.

Dental bridge – A bridge fills the gap between two healthy teeth and attaches to the surrounding teeth with a crown. The crowns are anchored into your health teeth and the false tooth spans the empty space. If the surrounding teeth already have decay, a dental bridge may be an alternative that will work for you. However, if the surrounding teeth are otherwise healthy, then the healthy tooth structure would be compromised for the preparation of the crown.

This diagram shows how a dental bridge is placed — Example of a dental bridge

Dentures – If you are missing all your teeth on top or bottom, a full denture may be an option. This type of appliance is completely removable and usually made of acrylic. Dentures are the most affordable option. But, they come with other problems. Patients complain of discomfort, difficulty eating, they move around and eventually may fall out at embarrassing times. Also, bone loss will occur since nothing is anchoring them in place.

Implant-supported denture – Dental implants can be combined with a denture and help keep it in place. This is an option for an individual that is missing all their teeth. At this time, it sounds like you still have healthy teeth, so this is likely not the best option for you

Thank you for your question. Hopefully, it will help guide your next steps. Dr. Rick Lane is an implant dentist in Petaluma, CA. If you have further questions, please reach out. We will be happy to help you continue exploring your options.