Tag Archives: Plano female dentist

Sedation Dentistry

Will Dental Insurance Pay for IV Sedation?

I had two consultations with dentists, who agreed I needed two dental implants and three crowns. I am terrified of the dentist and will need sedation for the dental work. One dentist only uses nitrous oxide in the office but would refer me to a specialist for implant surgery. The other dentist uses nitrous oxide and sedation pills. I know more than nitrous oxide is needed regardless of the procedure. I read about IV sedation and that it is stronger than other options. I am willing to switch dentists for more sedation, but I need to schedule consultations after finding dentists who use IV sedation. – Thanks. Paul from Lakeland, FL

Paul,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Lacy’s office. Many anxious patients require sedation to get dental work. We commend you for caring for your oral health and researching your options.

Will Dental Insurance Pay for IV Sedation?

Whether dental insurance provides coverage for IV sedation depends on the plan level and your needs as a patient. Some insurance companies offer benefits toward IV sedation when it is medically necessary based on several factors, including:

  • Dental procedure type
  • Patient’s physical, intellectual, and medical needs
  • Patients for whom alternatives are ineffective
  • Extraordinarily fearful or anxious patients
  • Patients who have experienced dental trauma and require potent sedation options

We recommend contacting your insurance company to find out how much if any, sedation dentistry procedures they cover. Some insurance companies that provide coverage limit the number of hours of IV sedation dentistry for which they will provide benefits. For example, dental insurance may provide benefits for up to one or two hours of sedation, and you would be responsible for the remaining cost.

Your insurance company may ask you to provide a pre-treatment estimate from your dentist to estimate your out-of-pocket costs.

Plano, Texas, female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.

Affordable Dentistry

Can I Trade in My Partial Denture to Save Money on Dental Implants?

My partial denture annoys me, and I wonder if there is somewhere I could trade it in for dental implants and save money. I knew the partial would be uncomfortable, but it’s almost unbearable. It is nearly three years old, but it is almost like new. It is so painful that I only wear it when I leave home. The metal clasps on them keep digging into my gums.

I’ve returned to my dentist three times for adjustments, but the denture still hurts in the same place. I wear the partial for two missing teeth. I wonder if the metal part of the partial denture can be saved or if it has value as a trade-in. What are my options? Also, is there anything I can do to adjust the partial myself without breaking it? Thanks. – Ken from Nashville

Ken,

Dental implants are the most effective way to replace missing teeth, but unfortunately, a three-year-old partial denture would not have trade-in value. You will not find a dentist who will discount dental implants because you have turned in your uncomfortable partial denture. Still, your situation is not hopeless. You have several options:

  • Schedule an appointment for a second opinion to see if a dentist can adjust your partial denture to increase comfort until you can get dental implants.
  • Schedule a consultation with an implant dentist and ask about the dentist’s financial arrangements for making implants affordable for you.
  • Consider a dental bridge as an alternative if dental implants are not within your budget.

Do not try to adjust your partial denture. You can damage it and cause more harm than good. If you alter a partial denture too much, you will not be able to wear it. You will need a new one or be obligated to choose an alternative.

We suggest finding two experienced implant dentists and scheduling consultations with them. You will get more information on how implants can benefit your case, the cost, and how to get them affordably without sacrificing quality and getting cheap implants that do not last.

This post is sponsored by Plano, Texas, female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Sedation Dentistry

My dentist pre-ordered a crown, but my Repeat root canal may fail

My dentist took the crown off an abscessed molar and did a second root canal on the tooth. I had my first root canal in 2013. After the root canal, I had an ongoing infection for six weeks. My dentist referred me to an endodontist who got rid of the infection, but he told me not to wear a crown for a few months. I decided that if the tooth gave me any more problems, I would have sedation and an extraction. My dentist ordered a new crown, which I paid for half in advance. I asked for a refund because the specialist told me not to get a crown for a while, and I want to see if the tooth will last. But my dentist’s office will not refund me. Am I unreasonable? – Lola from SC

Lola,

Your request is polite and reasonable. It is not wise to crown a root canal tooth until you know treatment is successful. And the specialist recommended that you wait, too. Some root canal treatments fail the first time. But this is the second treatment for your tooth. So, the risk of failure increases. And your next appointment may be for sedation and extraction.

Getting a Refund for a Pre-Ordered Crown You May Not Need

Woman's face with her eyes closed while she receives dental work

Your dentist did not necessarily do anything wrong with your root canal procedure. But it is fair for him to be responsible for ordering a crown without knowing the treatment results. Your dentist should be aware of the risks of repeat root canal treatment and be willing to refund you for the crown and all fees.

You can contact your dental office again and ask to speak with your dentist. If that doesn’t work, you can schedule an appointment with your dentist to examine the tooth and use the time to talk about your concerns. Other options are to report the issue to your insurance company or the state dental board or file a case in small claims court. Or a call from an attorney’s office might work, too.

Miranda Lacy, DDS, a Plano, TX female dentist, sponsors this post.