Medical insurance for dental problems - Dental Health Message Board

norwaymonkey · 01-07-2006, 05:16 PM

Hi there,
Is there a point in which a dental problem could be considered a medical problem so medical insurance would cover the costs? For instance, I had nine teeth pulled a couple years ago due to dental work I had done 20 plus years ago that had gone wrong. They are all molars which everyone knows are used for the primary chewing. Well, I have a difficult time chewing my food and because of that I get an upset stomach everytime I eat. I am real limited as to what I can eat also. Well, because if this difficulty to eat do you think some dentist may be able to consider it a necessity that I need bridges or implants and my medical should cover or at least help cover the cost. My dentist gave me an estimate of around $20,000 for the work I need to have my bite and eating abitlites returned to normal. I am unable to qualify for the dental loan and certainly dont have that kind of money lying around. As of right now they consider it cosmetic which it is anything but. No one sees those theeth so I would not care if they used tic-tacs, I just want to be able to eat.
Thx in advance for the help...

wintersun · 01-07-2006, 08:16 PM

A girlfriend told me once, If you have missing teeth, I don't care how much you chew, it is impossible to eat properly. I never thought about it before, but suppose she's right. I have constant stomache problems, also. I wonder IF this can be a medical diagnosis?? What does your doc say? Considering how much relation there is to teeth and physical health, my question is---WHY NOT??
WHY don't the dentists and docs get together?? Not EVERYTHING is cosmetic, ya know, and THEY know that, too- so what's the problem???

soliloquy · 01-07-2006, 08:24 PM

You are so right about teeth being important to your overall health. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't see it that way. Medical insurance won't cover anything but damage to "sound, natural teeth" say from an accident. Your doctor and your dentist cannot do a thing about this. It's the policy of the insurance companies.