Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

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I’ve lost a tooth and would like to get dental implants. Would dental insurance cover this if I get a dental plan? If so, are some plans better than others?

Justin

Dear Justin,

a dental implant diagram

If you already have dental insurance, then your plan will usually help you pay for some of it. Don’t expect it to be much, though. Most dental insurance plans prefer to cover the less expensive treatments, which all are removable appliances.

However, it sounds like you don’t have dental insurance. Are you just planning on getting insurance specifically to get the implants? That’s probably not going to work out for you. You will find most of them have a rider where you have to have the insurance for a certain amount of time, say a year or so, until you can use it on things other than general dental care.

If you really want a dental implant, you’re just going to have to save up and get it the old fashioned way. I’m sorry you are in this situation. If money is too tight at the moment, you could always pay for a removable option for now while you save up for the ideal solution.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Sinus Perforation with a Dental Implant

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I had a dental implant placed about six months ago that was recently removed. My oral surgeon suspected there was some bone loss because things weren’t progressing as expected. I haven’t even gotten to go to the dentist yet for the restoration part. Though he perforated the sinus cavity, he said that was normal and it was only a few millimeters. Instead, he believes the problem is the fact that no bone integrated with the implant, which isn’t normal. He said the good news is that it made it easy to remove the implant. He wants to do bone grafting and then try again. Is there anything you think I can do differently this time to improve my odds?

Karen

Dear Karen,

a dental implant diagram

There are a few problems here. The first is that the oral surgeon did not have the dentist determine the placement of the dental implant. It is always the dentist who should determine placement. Before doing anything else, I want you to see a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants to look at your case.

A second issue here is the perforation of the sinus cavity. I know he said it was “only” a few millimeters, but that is a HUGE amount in the dental world. It sounds to me like he did not do adequate diagnostics to prevent this. He should have taken x-rays as well as a CT scan to get a good view of the landscape, including a 3-Dimensional view.

Bone grafting can be a good solution if you do not have enough bone to retain a dental implant. Again, though, he should have known this ahead of time by doing adequate diagnostics. Had he done that, your dental implant failure could have been avoided altogether. See a good implant dentist and then you should have an idea where to go from there.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Should My Husband Get an All-On-Four Dental Implant?

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My husband needs to replace his teeth. Our dentist said that he has lost quite a bit of bone structure and is recommending the all-on-four dental implant procedure. I’ve heard this is a bit of a controversial procedure. Would this be okay for him to get? My husband likes the idea because it means he won’t need the additional procedure of bone grafting. I’m worried because of the controversy behind it. Can you please advise?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

illustration of the all on four

All-on-Four Dental Implant Procedure

 

One of the problems with the all-on-four procedure is that if one part of the appliance fails, the whole thing has to be redone. This is not an issue with an implant overdenture. If one of your dental implants fails then only that implant will have to be dealt with. If it were me, then I would encourage your husband to go ahead and get the bone grafting procedure done and then get implant-supported dentures instead of the all-on-four.

No matter what he chooses, it is important that the dentist he goes to has post-doctoral training in dental implants. This is quite an advanced procedure and it is not adequately taught in dental school. If something goes wrong, the complications can be quite serious.

Three of the top schools for this are:

  • The Dawson Academy
  • The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
  • The Kois Center

There are others, but those three are among the most reputable. Make certain the dentist has that training. There are countless dental implant horror stories.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

 

Solution for My Ugly Tooth

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I have a bit of a problem. I got hit with a pool cue right in the front tooth at full force. Don’t ask. It’s been a while and since then the tooth turned an ugly brown. I went to my dentist and he told me most of the root was gone so I would need a dental implant. He also told me I had three back teeth that needed fillings. I can’t afford to have all of that done and fix my ugly tooth. Do you know of anything that will help me?

Penelope

Dear Penelope,

illustration of a dental implant

I am going to suggest that you change dentists for a couple of reasons. One is the root resorption. If your dentist had treated your tooth when it first experienced the trauma, he could have saved the root, which would in turn have saved your tooth. He should have done a root canal treatment. Unfortunately, now that you have no root left, there really isn’t anything that can be done to save the tooth.

This does not necessarily mean you will need to have an expensive dental implant if you cannot afford it. There are other tooth replacement options. This leads me to the second reason to get rid of your current dentist. He or she is legally obligated to give you all your treatment options, even if he prefers other options.

Some possibilities for you include:

  • A dental bridge: This is a false tooth suspended between two dental crowns
  • A removable partial denture: This is just like it sounds. It will clip to your adjacent teeth.
  • A dental flipper: This is your least expensive option. It’s like a cheaper version of the denture.

Find another dentist who has the integrity to look after your oral health and give you all your options. Then, ask him or her to triage the needs so you can start with the most urgent. This can make it easier to deal with financially.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

 

My Husband’s Dental Implants Smell Awful

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My husband recently received implant overdentures. He only has the temporary dentures, which are acrylic. There are porcelain ones being made. Before those are attached, I wanted to reach out to another dentist because I think we need to switch his dental implants from the metal ones to the ceramic ones. There is a horrible smell in his mouth since getting these metal implants. I feel certain I can smell the implants themselves and the metal is reacting with his mouth. I think this will have long term negative effects on him, not to mention how I can’t stand being by his mouth at the moment. But, his dentist thinks there is nothing wrong. I think he just doesn’t offer the non-metal kinds and does not want us going somewhere else. Is there a way I can convince him something is wrong here?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Titanium and Zirconia Dental Implants

 

While there is something wrong, I don’t think it is what you’re thinking. The metal dental implants are made from titanium, which not only is biocompatible with decades of data. There has been no data showing any reactivity with titanium. It’s often used as a prosthetic and not just for in dental work. It’s used in other medical procedures too. One example is a hip replacement.

As to the smell, titanium is an inert metal, which means it doesn’t have any real smell. You could even ask the dentist to smell one and you’ll understand what I mean. However, none of that answers your question about the smell. A bad smell is an indication that something is wrong. My first place to look would be the denture used for his implant overdentures. It may have some open gaps that are allowing food and other bacteria to get trapped in there, which would make a horrific smell.

I would try having your husband use something like a WaterPik to help clean out the area. If that is the problem, the smell will go away. He’ll need to be extra tedious with his oral hygiene.

Another possibility for a bad smell is an infection, but that is generally accompanied by other symptoms such as pain and / or fever. I would start with the WaterPik and go from there.

Re-Doing a Dental Implant Procedure

Having him switch to ceramic (zirconia) dental implants is not as simple as taking metal implants out and putting non-metal in. First, he’ll need the surgery to remove the implants. This procedure will remove much of the bone in the area. Because of that, he’ll need a surgery for bone grafting to build back up that bone giving the implants a chance of success. Then, after a period of healing from the grafting, it will be time for the dental implant surgery. That’s three additional surgical procedures to switch these implants. Not an easy thing to ask anyone to do.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

 

Can Dental Implants Replace My Baby Canine Teeth?

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I am sixteen years old and still have baby canine teeth on my top and bottom. Last year, I had the two bottom teeth taken out. For one of the canines, there was an adult tooth growing behind it. Over the last year, it has moved sort of into the right place. The other one did not have an adult tooth behind it so I am stuck with this empty spot. I still have the two baby canine teeth at the top. I don’t want empty spaces in those the way I did with my bottom teeth. Could I take those out and get dental implants so that I have teeth by the time I take my senior pictures?

Camilla

Dear Camilla,

Illustration of a dental implant

One of my questions before going into the solution is why are you having to handle this? Where is your dentist? Your parents? Don’t get me wrong, you are very mature and I am quite impressed at the fact that you are trying to take this on. Your dentist, however, should have dealt with this years ago. Dentists are instructed in exactly what to do in situations like yours.

The first thing you need is a good set of x-rays to see if you have adult canine teeth under there. If you do, dental implants will not be a good solution for you because there won’t be any place to put the implants. If it looks like they can erupt into the correct position, then making a surgical incision into the tissue will help them to erupt properly. Sometimes, they are not in a good position, though. In that case, you will need an orthodontist to help you. The canine tooth is an anchor tooth and very important. If there is too much crowding it would be better to remove a premolar to make room.

Now, let’s say that there are not any teeth to deal with. You will not want to get dental implants right away. Your jaw is still growing. While dental implants are the best tooth replacement, you will have to wait until your jaw is fully developed for them to function properly. In the meantime, you can have your baby canine teeth extracted and have a temporary tooth replacement, such as dental flippers placed, and you will look beautiful for your senior pictures.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Should I Change Dentists in the Middle of this Dental Implant Procedure?

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I went to see my dentist about repairing two teeth. Both are premolars that have had problems over the years and have both been capped. He suggested I have both teeth extracted, have bone grafting done, and then replace them with a dental implant and crown. The cost will be just over $9,000.00. I was fine with the plan but have recently developed some concerns. The bone grafting is done. Now, I’m in a three-month healing period using two temporary tooth replacements. From there, it will be time to place the implants and crowns. I’ve only had the Maryland Bridges for a little over two weeks and they have fallen off three different times. I’m beginning to wonder if this dentist has the skills necessary to do this procedure correctly. Do you think I should be concerned? If so, can I switch dentists in the middle of my procedure?

Mark

Dear Mark,

Titanium and Zirconia Dental Implants

 

Yes, I think you should be concerned. There are a couple of red flags here for me. One is the choice of the “temporary” tooth replacement. A Maryland Bridge requires some tooth preparation for the bonding to hold properly. This preparation would include putting a notch in the tooth to hold the bridge wings. Anything that changes the structure of the tooth is not a temporary restoration. In order to get the tooth back to its original form would require dental bonding to be done. Most dentists would use a true temporary (and much less expensive) option such as a dental flipper.

The second issue here is that your dentist can’t keep the Maryland Bridge in place. This means that even though he or she chose the wrong replacement, they don’t know how it works. That is a huge warning signal to me that they are in over their head with your case. A bridge is not nearly as advanced a procedure as dental implants. If they can’t get this bridge right I would not hold out much hope for your dental implants.

My recommendation is you switch dentists. Find one with post-doctoral training in dental implants. It will not matter that you are in the middle of your procedure. Your dentist is still under an ethical obligation to provide the new dentist with all the notes and diagnostics related to your case.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Dental Implant Disaster

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Several years ago, I had a full-mouth reconstruction. About a third of the teeth were dental implants, but most were just crowned.  I’ve regretted it ever since. At first, my jaw hurt massively as a result, but the dentist insisted I’d get used to it. Now, the dental implants have started falling out. I’ve got a mouth full of nubbed teeth and I can hardly eat. Every time I try to eat anything other than a liquid diet and my mouth starts to bleed. The office tells me that the dentist is now living overseas and took our records with him. When they say “living overseas”, it turns out that they really mean he skipped the country. I am not the only patient struggling with botched work.  Is there anything I can do?

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

Illustration of a dental implant

I am so sorry this happened to you and the other patients with this charlatan. Unfortunately, if he’s truly fled the country then he probably went somewhere that he is out of reach of the law. The only thing you can do is have the case totally re-done. I know that is not what you were wanting to hear at all and I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you that.

I would make sure that whoever you go to has post-doctoral training in dental implants. A full-mouth reconstruction is quite advanced. As you’ve discovered, if it goes wrong, it goes very wrong. Because you have lost some dental implants, you will need to have some bone grafting done. Otherwise, the new dental implants will not have enough bone there to retain them.

I would explain your situation to whatever dentist you end up with. Dentists are compassionate people and they may allow you to pay this out.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

 

Titanium Versus Zirconia Dental Implants

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I currently have two titanium dental implants already placed. I need another implant. Recently, I read that the titanium ones can cause neurological problems in the long term. Is this correct? If so, should I remove the other implants and get all zirconia? I keep hearing dental implants are the best but maybe it is dangerous to have metal in your body.

Raz

Dear Raz,

Titanium and Zirconia Dental Implants

I would be interested to see where you read that titanium can cause neurological problems. I only know of one “source” and that was a natural news site that had zero data to back up the claim. Just the opinion piece. On the flip side of things, we have decades of data where titanium has been used in the body and is very biocompatible.

Metal is a natural and essential part of our body. Think about how much iron you need in your blood to survive. Of course, not all metals are a good idea. For instance, I completely understand why patients would not want silver amalgam fillings, which contain a majority of mercury. Titanium is different. We know it to be safe.

As to what type of dental implants to get, my opinion is you can do either titanium or zirconia. More dentists use titanium, but that is simply because they have been around longer and we have studies that back up their longevity. Zirconia is a much more recent development, so we do not have data on how long they last. They are strong enough. Even if you get the zirconia implant for your new one, I would not switch out the old ones.

When you take out old dental implants, bone follows with it. That will mean that you will not just be able to replace old implants with new ones. You will have to have a bone grafting procedure done. That is an unnecessary expense and risk for dental implants that are working just fine.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Should I Switch Dentists in the Middle of My Implant Procedure?

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I’ve paid my dentist almost $10,000 dollars already and I am worried he is not up for the remainder of the procedure. The price was to cover extractions of teeth #5 and #7, bone grafting, Maryland Bridges as temporary replacements, dental implants, and crowns for each tooth. Thus far, we’ve done the extractions and bone grafting. He’s provided me with the Maryland Bridges but they keep falling off. This worries me not only because it is super inconvenient to have to constantly have to return to the dentist to have my work or repairs done, but also because I’m concerned he just isn’t up for the remainder of this procedure. What do you think? Am I overreacting and fretting over nothing or is there cause for concern?

DeeDee

Dear DeeDee,

Illustration of a dental implant

There is nothing wrong with you switching dentists in the middle of your dental implant procedure. In fact, your dentist is ethically obligated to provide all the labs and diagnostics to the new dentist. Given what you have said, I am actually going to recommend that you do switch for a couple of reasons.

First, he is using a Maryland bridge as a “temporary” tooth replacement. This is not a temporary replacement because in order for it to stay in properly there is a need to make a small groove in your tooth. Anything that changes the structure of your tooth is not temporary. Instead, he should have suggested something like a dental flipper. These are less expensive and don’t necessitate any changes to the teeth.

Second, he wasn’t able to properly bond the Maryland bridge. That is much less of an advanced procedure than the dental implants you need. You need to look for a dentist with dental implant training and experience. That training needs to be post-doctoral.

One other note, the dental implant crowns can be made any color necessary to match your teeth. You should be aware that whatever color is made is permanent. Once it is bonded on, no changes can be made. If you are considering teeth whitening at some point, then I suggest you do it before having your dental implant crown made. This way it will be the right color for the permanent smile you’d like. If you decide to wait until after the crown is placed and then whiten, you will have to replace the crown for it to match.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.