Help! Need tooth impalant and insurance will not cover it!

[princessh]

Long story short, I broke a tooth. Apprently I had a cavity in it and did not know it. I went to the dentist to see if I can get a root canal, and he advised I need to have the tooth pulled and an implant put in. The problem is my insurance will not cover it, because it is considered "cosmetic" It is going to cost me about $ 3000.00 Has anyone ever purchased a discount plan for dental coverage? I really am at a loss. We really don't have $3000.00 just sitting around. I can't afford the implant, but don't want to be walking around with a big gap in my teeth, visable to everyone! Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[becka]

You could try to see if you can put this on a payment plan via your dentist.

I don't think insurance will work now because it will be a pre-existing condition so I think you are out of luck in that area.

 

[chris1gill]

I don't know anything about the implant, but can't you get a crown put on? My DH just had this same thing happen to him & the dentist put a crown on it. If necessary, if the root was affected, you could get the root canal & then the crown put on....?

 

[SillyMe]

Couldn't you apply for financing through their office?

 

[Karel]

I've broken a couple of teeth, due to weaken structure, and all my dentist did was fill it like a cavity.

 

[RitaZ.]

Get a second opinion, maybe there is a less costly option.

 

[Hannathy]

What about a bridge. I am in the middle of having a bridge made for a broken front tooth. Same story tooth broke couldn't be salvaged so It was extraced and they are doing a bridge to fill in the tooth. Cheaper than implants and most plans will cover some of it. Get another oppinion.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Tooth implants are not covered and 3,000 is low. They can run from 3,000-8,000.
I would go another opinion and see what else you can do.
My younger dd will need 4 implants more than likely....

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

wow! Was afraid I was gonna face this today - broke a tooth yesterday, luckily they could still fix it with a filling - and after that a crown is still an option. Seems to me they shouldn't have implants as "cosmetic", if they are necessary to replace the old tooth and maintain that "space" - or are bridges always an option, making implants not a total necessity?

Good luck - I hope you are able to work things out to a better solution!

 

[tar heel]

My insurance would cover half a bridge but not an implant, but the bridge would be about $3,000. Is the reason your insurance won't cover a bridge that it doesn't consider pulling the tooth to be necessary? If the tooth can be saved, then that is the option most likely to be covered.

 

[Disney-Kim]

My husband was in your same situation last year. He got the tooth pulled and we have not done the implant. He doesn't want to spend $4000+ on it. So for now he has a missing molar.
a bridge requires more teeth to be pulled...at least thats what the dentist told my DH. he said no again.

now...my DH has had the nightmare of all nightmares with wisdom tooth that was pulled a few months ago. He had every problem possible and the tooth left a permanent hole in his sinus cavity. (it was way up there) long story...short...won't get him back to the oral surgeon any time soon.

 

[TinkInPink]

A bridge won't require more teeth to be pulled in fact you need teeth on both sides preferably or at least one very strong tooth to anchor onto.

 

[tar heel]

A bridge requires additional CROWNS, not extractions. In fact, it is required that you have teeth on either side of the bridge for it to attach to.

OP -- Did your dentist say why the tooth cannot be saved even with a post and crown?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Please be careful with the discount dental plan thing. I don't know if it's the same as the medical ones, but I work for the billing office of a hospital, and we honor the discount medical plans (they are NOT the same as insurance) because we aren't contracted with them and they don't pay bills for the patient at all, but the companies don't tell the patients this. I feel sorry for the patients who think they will receive a discount and then find out they don't.

I hope you find something that works out for you, sorry I don't have any advice.

 

[LisaR]

This annoys me about dentists nowadays. Implants are the new, great thing but they aren't covered by insurance. Suddenly every tooth that breaks needs a $3000 implant that isn't covered? I don't believe it. I had a recent dentist that insisted I needed an implant. I went elsewhere and was told an implant would last much longer but a crown would work just as well. OP, I would suggest you get a second opinion.

 

[Snow_White]

A bridge requires additional CROWNS, not extractions. In fact, it is required that you have teeth on either side of the bridge for it to attach to.

Not always true. My mother has what is called a Maryland Bridge and it does NOT require crowns on either side. Maryland Bridges are often the best option for a missing tooth.

 

[scoutsmom99]

It is a bummer they are considered cosmetic because I know the two I have are not for cosmetic reasons at all!!! Anyways I would ask about a bridge as others have suggested or get a 2nd opinion.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My husband just went though this. They wanted to do an implant on the molar and one in the front. The tooth next to the front tooth. It was going to be over 4000. he ended having the molar pulled. ( I wasnt going to pay for an implant for a molar) My 6mo head butted him about 6 weeks ago and the front tooth got worst. He went for the bridge. He has a temp one in now and will have the permanent one next week. It ended up costing a little under $1,000. My dentist also did not have a financing paln and it has to be paid in full by the last appt. Even the $1,000 makes me cringe because its 1 tooth. I am paying $2400 for my sons braces and thats work on his whole mouth and visits for 2 years.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Not always true. My mother has what is called a Maryland Bridge and it does NOT require crowns on either side. Maryland Bridges are often the best option for a missing tooth.

Exactly what I was going to suggest. A Maryland bridge is realatively inexpensive (as compared to the other options) and it does not compromise the integrity of the other teeth.

 

[Michelina]

I am in this same spot. One of my molars got a cavity, I got a root canal and filling. Filling fell out, broke my tooth and I got a crown.
The crown popped off when I was eating a Jolly Rancher, the tooth got infected and had to be pulled.
So then I got a bridge, I think it was the Maryland bridge because it was under $1000 and it anchored with little wings onto the adjoining teeth. Well then the bridge got loose somehow and just fell out. I think the dentist did shoddy work.
Now the new dentist wants me to get an implant and my insurance won't pay for it at all. I've also heard that even if you get a dental plan that will cover the implant, if it's put in at the hospital you have to get your medical insurance to pay for the anesthesia, etc!
I gave up and am just learning to eat on the left side of my mouth.