Dental School Update - Plans of action
I had my initial screening exam with the Special Needs (SN) department at the ASDOH clinic yesterday morning. Scheduled at nine, I didn't get to see anyone until after ten because they were short students that day - I didn't have a student at all, just the department nurse and the dental doctor (don't know which degree). However, even short staffed, my screening in SN took much less time than it would have through the general clinic; one visit of a few hours instead of the two multi-hour visits the school usually schedules. The full-mouth x-rays usually take about an hour and a half to complete, but my time spent was just seconds using a special machine in the SN department that moved around my head. The mold casting* was as disgusting as I remember from orthodontics in the 80's, though. The cost, $69, was the same for me as the school's general clinic would have been, a substantial over going to a dentist. The doc was totally no-nonsense in her approach, but I like that in a doc - I'm not there to socialize, dammit, that's what the clubs are for!
The longest part of the visit was waiting for the software to print out my options for a plan of action. My initial idea to remove all of the top and get a full plate is one of those offered, is the fastest track to a beautiful smile, and is the least expensive; however, due to my "complex medical issues", it is the worst of the options for me. The doc says there is a worry about bone loss** occurring quicker due to my health problems. She suggests that I have a few removed (the one's that only exist below the gum line) and repair the front ones, using them to anchor a partial plate. This option is about $1000 more expensive and takes longer to achieve. The other variable tried was if I can get Medicare/Medicaid to pick up the cost of the extractions, because they are medically necessary. The doctor did suggest that I could also go the route of implants, but we both know that $2000 a tooth is much out of my price range so it wasn't much discussed and we didn't bother the slow software for that plan of action.
Before I make my final decision, I need to make some calls to my insurance providers (which always takes a lot more time than one hopes) and compare my options. I'm a little overwhelmed at trying to figure out how to afford this at this time. I barely received more than $700 a month; being sick doesn't pay well. As much as I hate the kind of attention that goes with it, I've actually considered making a fund-raiser site for my teeth! However, if the extractions are covered by insurance, I could probably pay the rest if I start making monthly payments to the school once my increase (due to now receiving Medicaid) kicks in on my disbursement. I've been living all this time without that (almost) hundred, I guess I can do it for a few more years. Going without will be worth it in order to smile again.
* For me, there has always been the lightest scent of fish-wharf and b.o. in the bubble-gum and plastic tasting paste used. Blech. I think I used to smoke just to kill an over-sensitive sense of smell.
** Apparently, your teeth roots hold the bone in place - no teeth, the bone starts to go away. If someone is much older, it's not usually an issue because they'll die before the loss is a huge problem.
The longest part of the visit was waiting for the software to print out my options for a plan of action. My initial idea to remove all of the top and get a full plate is one of those offered, is the fastest track to a beautiful smile, and is the least expensive; however, due to my "complex medical issues", it is the worst of the options for me. The doc says there is a worry about bone loss** occurring quicker due to my health problems. She suggests that I have a few removed (the one's that only exist below the gum line) and repair the front ones, using them to anchor a partial plate. This option is about $1000 more expensive and takes longer to achieve. The other variable tried was if I can get Medicare/Medicaid to pick up the cost of the extractions, because they are medically necessary. The doctor did suggest that I could also go the route of implants, but we both know that $2000 a tooth is much out of my price range so it wasn't much discussed and we didn't bother the slow software for that plan of action.
Before I make my final decision, I need to make some calls to my insurance providers (which always takes a lot more time than one hopes) and compare my options. I'm a little overwhelmed at trying to figure out how to afford this at this time. I barely received more than $700 a month; being sick doesn't pay well. As much as I hate the kind of attention that goes with it, I've actually considered making a fund-raiser site for my teeth! However, if the extractions are covered by insurance, I could probably pay the rest if I start making monthly payments to the school once my increase (due to now receiving Medicaid) kicks in on my disbursement. I've been living all this time without that (almost) hundred, I guess I can do it for a few more years. Going without will be worth it in order to smile again.
* For me, there has always been the lightest scent of fish-wharf and b.o. in the bubble-gum and plastic tasting paste used. Blech. I think I used to smoke just to kill an over-sensitive sense of smell.
** Apparently, your teeth roots hold the bone in place - no teeth, the bone starts to go away. If someone is much older, it's not usually an issue because they'll die before the loss is a huge problem.