My teeth are bad. I am very cavity prone and always have been. So I have had a ton of dental work done, several fillings, a couple crowns, and a dental bridge. Well, one of the teeth that kept my dental bridge together broke off. The root was removed and part of the bridge was filed down. After that, the dentist was recommending getting two dental implants. I was kind of shocked about missing a tooth so I just went ahead with the dentist’s recommendation and got it scheduled. Well, now that the final cost is sinking in, I just don’t know how I’m going to afford it? Maybe I’m being cheap, but dental implants are much more expensive than I anticipated. I don’t know how to tell my dentist that I really can’t afford them. Do I have other options? Any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.
-Jen in Nevada
Jen,
Dental implants are becoming the standard of care to replace missing teeth. They look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. But, they do come with a large expense. The dentist recommended the treatment that is the best, most ideal treatment. That said, there are other more affordable options.
It is possible you may only require one dental implant that would be used to support the dental bridge. Or it is possible that cantilever bridge would suffice? This is when the dental bridge is only secured on one side. The new dental implant would need to be extremely strong and done by a very experienced implant dentist that has had success with this type of unique treatment plan. Or possibly, a partial denture would work for you. A partial is much less expensive than dental implants. It may possibly be a nice option, until you are able to finance or save up for dental implants.
The truth of the matter is you should not have any hesitation being open and upfront in discussing your options with your dentist. Be honest and explain what your budget constraints look like. You should never feel pressured or persuaded into any type of treatment. And if you do at all, you may need to begin seeking a second opinion. Don’t feel embarrassed about your finances, we all have limitations and selecting the right treatment plan for each patient should always be top priority. Good luck!
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS