I’m in need of replacing several teeth and my dentist is insisting I get dental implants. What do I do if I can’t afford the procedure? Are there options? Do I just leave the spaces blank?
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
A traditional dental implant compared to a mini implant
It actually makes me angry when I hear about situations like yours. Yes, dental implants are the ideal procedure when you’re talking about replacing several teeth, especially because of the possibility of facial collapse. But, they’re not the only procedure. His job, as your dentist, is to provide you an explanation of all the options available to you, give his recommendations and why, then let you decide. Not everyone is working under the same budget.
Finding Affordable Dental Options
In your situation you have several choices.
- Affordable dental implants. Things like implant overdentures are a great option when you can’t afford the ideal. You’re certainly not the only one facing this, so don’t feel badly about it.
- A Dental Bridge. Depending on how many teeth you’re talking about, this could be a great secondary option, especially if any of the adjacent teeth are in need of a crown anyway.
- A removable partial denture. This would be my least favorite option because your quality of living won’t be as high, but it is still an option. It can often be used as a temporary solution while you work out financing for the ideal.
- Payment Plans. Many dentists work to be affordable, do that by offering payment plans so you can get the care you need, then slowly pay it off. Some do in-house payment plans. Other dentists use Care Credit—a medical credit card that offers low and no interest payment plans.
This is the minimum amount of information your dentist should have provided you. If you’re not getting the whole picture, you might be better served getting your oral healthcare elsewhere.
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