If you have chipped, crooked or yellow teeth, you may be considering having cosmetic dentistry done. You should look over your dental insurance plan before making the appointment. There are very few plans that cover cosmetic dentistry, and if they do it is normally not for the full amount. Armed with the information, make an appointment for a regular checkup. While there, discuss what it is you want done, and ask if there is a way the work could be necessary to your oral health and therefore considered general dentistry.
Crooked Teeth
If you have a few crooked teeth, or even a mouthful, your dentist may be able to prove to the insurance company fixing them would benefit your overall dental health. Having teeth crowded together means you are not able to clean them properly. However, tiny food particles and bacteria can get to the places you cannot reach. This can result in tooth decay and the need for fillings, root canals or even tooth extraction and false teeth. Not to mention the fact that infections in your mouth can easily travel to other systems in your body. With all this information, the insurance company may decide it would be less expensive to pay for the braces to fix the teeth than to pay for everything else that can happen.
Crowns, Caps and Bonding
When you have a chipped, broken or crumbling tooth, your dentist will consider either a crown or cap (which are just different terms for the same thing), or bonding. To convince the insurance company the work is being done for more than giving you a pretty smile, the request needs to show that without the work, the tooth will decay further. If the enamel is gone, or there is a chip that breaks the integrity of the enamel, bacteria can easily get inside the tooth to the root and infect your gums and jawbone.
False Teeth
If you have all your teeth removed, insurance companies know they have to pay for false teeth or you cannot properly chew your food to eat. However, if it is just one, or a few teeth, you may need more of a reason than chewing. Having extra space between your teeth will allow the other teeth to move. This can cause misalignment that will keep your upper and lower teeth from meeting properly for chewing. In addition, your jawbone needs the stimulation it receives from having the teeth in place. Without this stimulation, your jaw bone will begin to disintegrate. This will make chewing and speaking more difficult over time. It is important to have even one missing tooth replaced to avoid bone loss.
If you can find no way to have insurance pay for even a portion of the cosmetic dentistry work, talk with the person in the dentist's office who handles the billing. He or she may be able to find a way to help you get the work done without having to have a large amount of cash up front. If you're looking for a cosmetic dentist, visit Artistic Dentistry by Gerard Wasselle, DMD.
Share17 December 2015
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.