Question by confused: Embarrassed by missing tooth?
Yesterday when I had my wisdom teeth removed, they also had to remove a molar which had had a bad root canal done. It is 1 from the back molar. You can't see it when I smile, but if I laugh or open my mouth really big, you can sure see the gap. I've looked into getting an implant, but they are so expensive...around $ 2,500. I have dental insurance through my job which covers $ 1,250/yr. But does dental ins cover implants, since that is considered a "cosmetic" surgery? I just feel so humiliated now that I have a missing tooth and am worried that everyone will give me a hard time for it. Stupid to worry about what others think of me, I know, but I can't help it, before this bad root canal was done, I had such pretty teeth!
Best answer:
Answer by Ashley
man i feel bad for you!! that really sucks!
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Cosmetic Dentistry Offers A Smile Makeover
Cosmetic dentistry comprises of dental procedures that are aimed at improving the overall aesthetics of your smile. A beautiful smile enhances the self-confidence and the personality of an individual. With the increasing media focus on 'smile' and recent popular TV shows such as 'Extreme Makeover', wearing a stunning smile has suddenly become almost everybody's covet. Further, the growing awareness towards dental health has many people flock to dental clinics where advanced dental care procedures are readily available.
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Unlike traditional dentistry that is more concerned about oral hygiene and oral diseases, cosmetic dentistry largely emphasizes on improving the appearance of mouth, teeth and smile of a person. The traditional process of diagnosing, treating and preventing oral diseases is a limited area of concern in the science of dentistry, where as cosmetic dentistry widens its scope of dental care with the advantage of giving a make-over to facial appearance. For instance, dental filling is a common procedure to treat and make-up decayed teeth. Earlier, gold, amalam or some other materials were being used to fill the decayed area that left visible mark on the teeth. However, the cosmetic dentistry has replaced the filling materials with porcelain or some other material that closely match the color of the teeth.
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The Fields of Cosmetic Dentistry:
Teeth Whitening: The most commonly practiced area of cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening. Reasons such as food, drink (coffee, tea, etc), smoking, or poor oral hygiene often lead to stained teeth. Bleaching is one of the common procedures to restore original teeth color and enhance the appearance of smile.
Bonding: Bonding is the procedure of repairing chipped or broken teeth with the use of cosmetic dentistry. Enamel with dental composite material is applied on the surface of the tooth, shaped and polished to make the crack or chip invisible.
Dental Fillings: Although dental filling is a traditional procedure, cosmetic dentistry of dental filling involves the new method of filling the decayed tooth with porcelain and other composite resin materials so that it wouldn't leave any visible mark on the tooth.
Dental Implants: A tooth loss can be compensated with artificial tooth root replacements. It is otherwise known as dental implants. Missing teeth lead the face to collapse, and with dental implant, cosmetic surgery help to restore youthful appearance of the face.
Dental Veneers: Dental veneer is recommended when there are gaps between the teeth or in case there is a failure in the teeth whitening process.
Cosmetic dentistry is now available with non-surgical facelift procedures for facial rejuvenation. However, it is important to take the advice of cosmetic dentists before considering cosmetic dentistry for smile enhancement.
Art Gib is a freelance writer for SanFranCosmeticDentistry.com (http://www.sanfrancosmeticdentistry.com), a San Francisco cosmetic dentistry website.
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If ya lose a tooth, it's gonna come back
go to the dentist explain insurance, get half work done end of year the rest beginning of new year....good luck
Check with your insurance company; I wouldn't think a missing tooth is cosmetic. A missing tooth will cause problems with all your other teeth. Good luck.
Well, your healthy now, and thats what matters. I was embarressed when I got a tooth removed, but don't assume people are going to make fun of you. When you laugh and open your mouth, people don't go up to you with small flashlights and look inside your mouth. It isn't a big deal, people won't notice, and it just takes time to get used to.
Don't waste your money for the back of your mouth!
It'll be worth it
Those who pay higher insurance premium are covered for dental implants up to certain amount. But those who have not opted for coverage, it is termed as cosmetic. Check up with your insurance where do you stand. To improve the functional aspect of your mouth, opt for dental implant if you can afford. Or chew on one side and be on soft and crushed diet and leave the nuts for the nuts! When you need two or more implants travel abroad and save. You may search for affordable dental treatment and tourism in India or Thailand or Dubai and proceed to enjoy.
Agree with the above complicated explaination of insurance (but not the travel overseas part).
Most dental insurance companies can offer implants to be covered, but their job didn't select for implants to be covered. However, more and more this is changing. Some insurance companies will provide a set amount for a bridge vs. an implant so the patient can choose the one they want.
However dental insurance isn't meant to decide your treatment, only to help you pay for your treatment. When dental insurance was started in the 1960s they gave $ 1-2,000 which at that time would pay for a whole mouth of work. The trick was that it didn't go up with inflation so now it just pays a portion of the treatment people actually need. However, many people still have that mindset that if the insurance won't pay then I don't really need it, letting insurance company clerks who don't want to give out money dictate their health care needs.
It's natural to feel worried about what others might think of you but that's not the reason to consider having that tooth replaced. By missing a back tooth it could cause some long term problems like jaw joint problems over time, or the shifting of other teeth etc. It's not just a cosmetic thing.
However if having that tooth replaced will make you feel more confident and not as worried, this is something good to consider saving for. There is a true story of a woman who cleaned offices and she would work at night and never really smile because she was so ashamed of her teeth. She wouldn't go out during the day because she was embarrassed. She lost most of her teeth in her early 20's. She heard about dental implants and replaced her teeth and it changed the way she felt about herself and if you just look at her before and after pictures she looks like a totally different woman. Replacing one back tooth may not be a big life changing thing in your life, but if it affects the way you live your life, it is something worthwhile to consider.
I wouldn't worry about 1 missing all the way in back. I had quite a few missing including a couple in front the whole time I was in high school(next to my 2 front teeth)and nobody really cared. I had really bad teeth and we didn't have insurance either. Finally got rid of the rest and I'm a lot better off.