Tooth & Gums
Dec. 12th, 2007 12:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dalthauserYesterday I had gum surgery again. All went well, and I'm always "rewarded" with a prescription of 15-20 Vicodin - which I milk as long as I can (what is it about that drug - I take one and everything is just peachy for a short while..... amazing). I wish I could figure out what I could do to get that same feeling on my own. Seriously.
My doctor asked if I would be interested in participating in an implant study he is doing for a company. I could get an implant complete for about $1,100 (I'm assuming this is a good deal) all I'd have to do is come in for followups for a five year period. I would love to do that as my missing tooth bothers me a great deal. I just can't justify that kind of expense purely for vanity. If I spent the money, there is a chance the implant could fail - then I'd have no tooth and out $1k plus. As it is I spend an average of $500 a year on my mouth - and this is WITH dental insurance (I've had periodontal issues for the past 15 years).
My doctor asked if I would be interested in participating in an implant study he is doing for a company. I could get an implant complete for about $1,100 (I'm assuming this is a good deal) all I'd have to do is come in for followups for a five year period. I would love to do that as my missing tooth bothers me a great deal. I just can't justify that kind of expense purely for vanity. If I spent the money, there is a chance the implant could fail - then I'd have no tooth and out $1k plus. As it is I spend an average of $500 a year on my mouth - and this is WITH dental insurance (I've had periodontal issues for the past 15 years).
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-12-12 08:04 pm (UTC)I agree. It's ridiculous that core dental care (outside of aesthetic) is not part of medical. Especially Periodontal care since they've proven that the disease has a direct affect on heart disease. We can't even use out Medical Flex spending on dental care items which is a crock since it's our freaking money... :-)
I haven't had a filling in years - my mouth is a temple since my first perio appointment when the doc told me what I was up against. I brush, floss, use the proxa brush, waterpick, medicated rinse..... daily. I still have a resistance problem. The infection gets cleared out and it creeps right back. It wasn't until I got my latest doc that things have begun to even out. He has me on Doxycycline 2x a day "until further notice" (which is probably forever or as long as I have my teeth).