MY DS has a Fantastic Dentist!

[DawnCt1]

DS 21, in orthodontia since 5th grade, finally got his 7 congenitally missing teeth replaced. It was a long process just to determine the appropriate course of action. We went to a highly recommended, professor of Tuft's University Dental School who does not participate in any insurance plan. You pay cash up from and the claim forms get submitted. He is a prosthedontist and an esthetician. (sp) . DS's teeth look fabulous. You cannot tell which are his actual teeth and which are the replacements. In addition to replacing teeth, he had to have the biting surfaces of his molars raised because they were fused to the bone. Our first dental plan paid up to the limit, the second one, the one that I "cobra'd" refused to pay for teeth that didn't exist before they became the insurer. Missing teeth were not the only problem and despite having been paid 9 months ago, DS's dentist, without my requesting it, wrote a lengthy letter and appealed the decision. They still refused to pay and responded with a letter that we could appeal to a higher, state level authority for a fee of $25 because the claim had been reviewed by a dentist with 12 years of experience. I was grateful that DS's doctor had gone to the lengths that he did and I figured we were at a dead end. Was I shocked when that office called yesterday, asking DS to come in for xrays because the doctor is appealing it to a higher level! He is extremely busy, very much in demand, had given us a 6% discount from his fees and has been tremendously accommodating. In this case, he is going way above and way beyond the call of duty. He is so specialized that he doesn't need to strive to keep us as patients. He doesn't do general dentistry. I am extremely impressed with this guy, not only on a personal level but a professional level as well. No for my opinion of Guardian Dental Insurance? That's another topic!

 

[rascalmom]

That is wonderful to hear. Congrats to your son on getting his mouth restored - he must be so excited! Nice to hear complimentary comments about a dentist for a change.

Sounds like you found a top notch prosthodontist - if you have the time, please pm me his name. DH occasionally needs to make an out-of-state referral & it is always good to be able to pass along a good name.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

This is wonderful!! I must say, posts like this amaze me. You never once doubted you needed to make sure your son had an attractive and functional set of teeth! You spent years and years to make sure everything needed to get done, and it was! Why it surprises me is that I had the opposite experience - I grew up in a family where my parents NEVER saw fixing my palate & horribly crooked teeth as their responsibility. Never once. It was MY problem alone. And I am not so old that braces weren't invented yet, so my parents knew, they just refused to help me, year after year, and they had the money. I still can't understand why parents would purposely leave their child "ugly". Why?? Nowadays, parents do what needs to be done to get a child a nice smile, no doubt that it will be done!

Yes, I still have issues on this one! But your DS will have an awesome smile for life, thanks to all your hard work to make it happen!

 

[DawnCt1]

This is wonderful!! I must say, posts like this amaze me. You never once doubted you needed to make sure your son had an attractive and functional set of teeth! You spent years and years to make sure everything needed to get done, and it was! Why it surprises me is that I had the opposite experience - I grew up in a family where my parents NEVER saw fixing my palate & horribly crooked teeth as their responsibility. Never once. It was MY problem alone. And I am not so old that braces weren't invented yet, so my parents knew, they just refused to help me, year after year, and they had the money. I still can't understand why parents would purposely leave their child "ugly". Why?? Nowadays, parents do what needs to be done to get a child a nice smile, no doubt that it will be done!

Yes, I still have issues on this one! But your DS will have an awesome smile for life, thanks to all your hard work to make it happen!

Thank you so much for your post. I took DS today the dentist did a panorex (sp). While I was waiting in the office he had a framed quote by Miguel de Cervantes de Castaneda, from Don Quixote. It was about teeth being more valuable than diamonds. I made the connection immediately. Here is this prosthodontist, who is so busy, but takes the time to tilt at the Insurance company windmills!