Teeth

thennies61
thennies61 Member Posts: 285
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi guys,

Just wondering about teeth.It will bw kinda far off but still thinking about.When the time comes and I go for dentures will my insurance cover it since they were removed during surgery?I do have dental but not sure just how much it will cover.

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    It kinda of depends on the

    insurance company, and it's policies.....I think (eventually) you'll get them paid for.....but they don't like to make it easy.  Maybe call them and ask....take names when you do, tho....

    p

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #3
    phrannie51 said:

    It kinda of depends on the

    insurance company, and it's policies.....I think (eventually) you'll get them paid for.....but they don't like to make it easy.  Maybe call them and ask....take names when you do, tho....

    p

    Been fighting 2 years

    Original insurance carrier was going to pay for implants (United Healthcare)but then company changed insurance carriers (BCBS)and implants were denied. I paid for temporary partial dentures out of pocket. Continuing to fight for coverage for implants under something called transition of care between insurance companies.

    Good Luck 

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #4
    hwt said:

    Been fighting 2 years

    Original insurance carrier was going to pay for implants (United Healthcare)but then company changed insurance carriers (BCBS)and implants were denied. I paid for temporary partial dentures out of pocket. Continuing to fight for coverage for implants under something called transition of care between insurance companies.

    Good Luck 

    I have United Healthcare also

    I have United Healthcare also and was hoping to try and get implants but wasn't sure with radiation and if my jaw bones would get to brittle.Plus I heard if taken out during surgey would make it so you could get them

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #5
    thennies61 said:

    I have United Healthcare also

    I have United Healthcare also and was hoping to try and get implants but wasn't sure with radiation and if my jaw bones would get to brittle.Plus I heard if taken out during surgey would make it so you could get them

    UHC

    I had to undergo hyperbaric pressure chamber treatments in anticipation of getting the implants. If memory serves me right, those tx. were about $30,000 (insurance paid). Not painful, just that I had to go daily for 2 hours. More of an inconvenience than anything. That was to prepare for implants. Before I could get the implants, I had a recurrence which put the implants on the back burner for me.   Implants without the hyperbaric tx were not an option for me.

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #6
    rare event

    There may be some unusual situation you can establish where insurance will cover dental care beyond extraction. The vast reports here are how folks spend $$$ on footing care. HBO is mentioned and covered but this is in conjunction with extraction not implants. I can not recall a single post stating implants were covered. Then again, very few go forward with implants anyway as the potential risks far outweigh the benefit (pretty much cosmetic). Dentures and bridges are what most pursue to fill in the gaping grin. :-)

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #7
    donfoo said:

    rare event

    There may be some unusual situation you can establish where insurance will cover dental care beyond extraction. The vast reports here are how folks spend $$$ on footing care. HBO is mentioned and covered but this is in conjunction with extraction not implants. I can not recall a single post stating implants were covered. Then again, very few go forward with implants anyway as the potential risks far outweigh the benefit (pretty much cosmetic). Dentures and bridges are what most pursue to fill in the gaping grin. :-)

    Thankd donfoo...The more I

    Thankd donfoo...The more I read the more I found that radiation might weaken the jaw bones to much for implants.But dentures or bridges will do to fill in the grin and chew:)

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #8
    thennies61 said:

    Thankd donfoo...The more I

    Thankd donfoo...The more I read the more I found that radiation might weaken the jaw bones to much for implants.But dentures or bridges will do to fill in the grin and chew:)

    Agree

    I would tend to agree and shy away from the risks with implants. My situation is a bit unique since my bite got off when I had my first surgery.  

  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #9
    Take care of the teeth you have

    I would be surprised if dental was covered after RT.  Best thing is to take care of your teeth.  I have not had any major issues since the end of my RT 2.5 years ago.  Had a couple of crowns but that was not the result of RT.  I would prefer to keep my own teeth over false ones anyday.

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #10
    jtl said:

    Take care of the teeth you have

    I would be surprised if dental was covered after RT.  Best thing is to take care of your teeth.  I have not had any major issues since the end of my RT 2.5 years ago.  Had a couple of crowns but that was not the result of RT.  I would prefer to keep my own teeth over false ones anyday.

    dentures

    Jim's dentures were covered at 80% because they were extracted at the radiation oncologist's suggestion.

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #11
    Noellesmom said:

    dentures

    Jim's dentures were covered at 80% because they were extracted at the radiation oncologist's suggestion.

    My surgen wanted to do during

    My surgen wanted to do during the operation and did so took them all...

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #12
    Dentures...............

    If you do have to have dentures you have to make a commitment to wear then and give it time to get used to them. I have had dentures for manny years. I had to have them at 28 so I told myself I was going to learn to wear them. You will see many that just don't or wont wear the bottoms, they are the hadrest to wear. I just had a new set made two months ago. They range in price from $1200 to over $3000 a set. Don't get porcelain, go with the plastic, they are better and will last longer. Just make sure the dentest listens to you. They will make a wax set and ask, how do they feel. If they do not feel completly right say so. Do not beleave him if he says we can fix that later, that is BS. You will have some sore spots that you can fix, but the way they feel and bite, [how they come together] can not be changed unless they remake them. My last pair lasted over 17 years so I need a new pair. It took some time for me to get used to the new ones but there good now. I only take mine out to clean, then they are right back in. I sleep with them in as well. Oh, don't chew gum or ever eat a carmal candy. Carmal will stick so bad it can last for many hours and you can't really open your teeth. I had to pry my teeth apart, that is something you will never forget. Your first ones will have to be relined a few times due to gums shrinking, and you might even get a bone chip from part of a tooth under the gums. Ues a small amount of Fixodent, it will help hold them in and keep anything from getting under them. A grain of salt between your gums and dentures is VERY painfull.  Hope this helps some.

    Bill

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #13
    wmc said:

    Dentures...............

    If you do have to have dentures you have to make a commitment to wear then and give it time to get used to them. I have had dentures for manny years. I had to have them at 28 so I told myself I was going to learn to wear them. You will see many that just don't or wont wear the bottoms, they are the hadrest to wear. I just had a new set made two months ago. They range in price from $1200 to over $3000 a set. Don't get porcelain, go with the plastic, they are better and will last longer. Just make sure the dentest listens to you. They will make a wax set and ask, how do they feel. If they do not feel completly right say so. Do not beleave him if he says we can fix that later, that is BS. You will have some sore spots that you can fix, but the way they feel and bite, [how they come together] can not be changed unless they remake them. My last pair lasted over 17 years so I need a new pair. It took some time for me to get used to the new ones but there good now. I only take mine out to clean, then they are right back in. I sleep with them in as well. Oh, don't chew gum or ever eat a carmal candy. Carmal will stick so bad it can last for many hours and you can't really open your teeth. I had to pry my teeth apart, that is something you will never forget. Your first ones will have to be relined a few times due to gums shrinking, and you might even get a bone chip from part of a tooth under the gums. Ues a small amount of Fixodent, it will help hold them in and keep anything from getting under them. A grain of salt between your gums and dentures is VERY painfull.  Hope this helps some.

    Bill

    Thanks Bill from what my

    Thanks Bill from what my surgen said if I am able the denist will make a set for the bottoms and then he will go in and make a groove for the teeth to set into and he will the sew them in place.He said it will take about a week to heal.And  my tops will would be normal dentures.But all depends on what the denist says and how much damage the radation might of done.From what my surgen the denist is very good at making cutomized dentures for people like us.Also hoping that medical will pick up some since they were removed during surgery plus I have dental ins to help..

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