I have an upper denture that I hate. I haven’t had it that long but the plate makes me gag every single time. I can’t even wear them. This has made it almost impossible for me to eat and I’ve been losing way too much weight. This has had a negative impact on my health. Is there any way medical insurance will pay for me to have dental implants placed?
Marta
Dear Marta,
I understand where you are coming from. Not being able to eat affects your health so why won’t the medical insurance cover it? Unfortunately, medical insurance won’t cover anything dental. Even with an accident, they usually have a dental exclusion clause.
You aren’t alone in not liking your dentures. A lot of people have a gag reflex with the dental plate. It also can get food underneath it which can exacerbate the problem.
The good news is, you don’t have to pay for everything at once. Usually, when it comes to any type of dental implants, including implant-supported dentures, the payments are done in two stages. The first half is paid at the time of the surgery to place the dental implants. Then, there is a healing period when you are both healing from the surgery and to give the bone time to integrate with the implants themselves. This is an important step known as osseointegration. Without it, the implants will come loose and fall out.
When that is completed, it is time for the second half of the procedure. If you were getting a single dental implant, then you’d have a porcelain crown placed. In your case, you’ll have upper dentures anchored to the implants. That is when the second payment will be made.
Having the payments broken up like that can make things more affordable.
Giving Yourself a Treat
There is always a way to make lemons out of lemonade. Having new dentures made to anchor to implants gives you a chance to remake your smile. You may want to consider having teeth whitening done on your lower arch, so your dentures can be made to match a more youthful color.
This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentist Drs. Drake and Wallace.