Dental veneers/ crowns or bonding? How to get insurance to cover?!

[ar8]

Hello! I’ve had undiagnosed gluten sensitivity for most of my adult life. I’m now almost 42 and my teeth look horrid.  My enamel is super thin and I have lots of pitting on the chewing surfaces. My teeth look super yellow and stain easily.  It looks like I just soaked my teeth in coffee- all of the time, even after brushing and whitening strips etc. they make me very self conscious. While I’m glad to have relief from my digestive symptoms I feel discouraged by my teeth and have lots of uncomfortable sensitivity. My dentist claims veneers would cause thousands and wouldn’t be covered as it’s “cosmetic.”  Does anyone have experience with this or how to get insurance to cover this kind of procedure?  At this point it’s cosmetic as well as medical with the degree to which my dentin is exposed and prone to decay:-(

[Scott Adams]

Dental insurance is not good at covering cosmetic things, and they don't even cover implants, at least not that I know of. Have you tried using whitening toothpastes, which can whiten your teeth much less expensively?

[ar8]

41 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

Dental insurance is not good at covering cosmetic things, and they don't even cover implants, at least not that I know of. Have you tried using whitening toothpastes, which can whiten your teeth much less expensively?

I use whitening toothpaste, but it’s not very effective for me(apparently, once your enamel thins, things become hard to whiten because dentin is yellow)

[Scott Adams]

I've seen home whitening kits sold at Walgreens and probably other places. Perhaps you could read review about different ones and see if you can do it on your own and save some money?

[JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam]

Dear ar8,

It is very difficult to whiten thin enamel, it is naturally yellow and would likely be quite sensitive. The answer is to strengthen, and repair your enamel.

Years ago, Trident licensed a gum that made teeth stronger. It had Xylitol, it was on the market for 5 seconds (hyperbole), then it disappeared.

Then there was a big deal about CPP- ACP in MI Paste / Tooth Mousse by GC, the best thing until hydroxy apatite, which didn't do a lot, until a smaller format was created that could be taken-up by the tooth structure, it was Nano-hydroxy apatite. 

Nano-hydroxyapatite was this amazing secret thing only available in Japan. Then Apagard got into the game with m-plus, as did 3M with Clinpro 5000.  " Tri-Calcium Phosphate Exclusively from 3M, ESPE."

Then I kept seeing ads for a Boka Mint toothpaste available only as a subscription and only in the US.  I think the US now has xylitol lollipops that strengthen enamel. Pur gum has Xylitol.

Then I heard about Sensodyne's Repair and Protect, in Europe, the print on the carton reads "Powered by Novamin" in small print below  REPAIR & PROTECT. 

From what I remember, Sensodyne's REPAIR & PROTECT can't reference the "Novamin" in Canada or the United states, so they just call it: DEEP REPAIR, and you can get it at most any grocery or pharmacy.

Here's some links to check my facts. Goodness knows I have gotten something not quite perfect. https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/personal-wellness/article/16405612/chew-gum-build-enamel

 

When a professional in their field tells you it's not possible, or it doesn't exist, consider that most doctors, dentists: 

1. have full schedules caring for patients,

2.  don't always keep up with what's coming down the pipeline. They are not Research Scientists.

If you want to know what Research Scientists are currently testing for painful bone metastases, inoperable brain tumours, prostate cancer, but NOT Breast Cancer, memory loss, vision loss, Parkinsons, or stimulating the re-growth of dental pulp, try Clinical Trials.org

JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam

 

[ar8]

15 hours ago, JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam said:

Dear ar8,

It is very difficult to whiten thin enamel, it is naturally yellow and would likely be quite sensitive. The answer is to strengthen, and repair your enamel.

Years ago, Trident licensed a gum that made teeth stronger. It had Xylitol, it was on the market for 5 seconds (hyperbole), then it disappeared.

Then there was a big deal about CPP- ACP in MI Paste / Tooth Mousse by GC, the best thing until hydroxy apatite, which didn't do a lot, until a smaller format was created that could be taken-up by the tooth structure, it was Nano-hydroxy apatite. 

Nano-hydroxyapatite was this amazing secret thing only available in Japan. Then Apagard got into the game with m-plus, as did 3M with Clinpro 5000.  " Tri-Calcium Phosphate Exclusively from 3M, ESPE."

Then I kept seeing ads for a Boka Mint toothpaste available only as a subscription and only in the US.  I think the US now has xylitol lollipops that strengthen enamel. Pur gum has Xylitol.

Then I heard about Sensodyne's Repair and Protect, in Europe, the print on the carton reads "Powered by Novamin" in small print below  REPAIR & PROTECT. 

From what I remember, Sensodyne's REPAIR & PROTECT can't reference the "Novamin" in Canada or the United states, so they just call it: DEEP REPAIR, and you can get it at most any grocery or pharmacy.

Here's some links to check my facts. Goodness knows I have gotten something not quite perfect. https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/personal-wellness/article/16405612/chew-gum-build-enamel

 

When a professional in their field tells you it's not possible, or it doesn't exist, consider that most doctors, dentists: 

1. have full schedules caring for patients,

2.  don't always keep up with what's coming down the pipeline. They are not Research Scientists.

If you want to know what Research Scientists are currently testing for painful bone metastases, inoperable brain tumours, prostate cancer, but NOT Breast Cancer, memory loss, vision loss, Parkinsons, or stimulating the re-growth of dental pulp, try Clinical Trials.org

JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam

 

Thanks for this exhaustive amount of information!! great advice. I guess I'll try whitening strips (and then, gum) to see what effects I can muster. Thanks again.

[JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam]

When a professional in their field tells you it's not possible, or it doesn't exist, consider when they were trained, most dentists were trained 15, 10 or at least 5 years ago, and 

1. usually have a full-time schedule caring for patients

2.  don't always keep up with what's coming down the pipeline. They are not Research Scientists

If you want to know what Research Scientists are testing for enamel hardening/repair, or the attempt to stimulate osteoblasts to allow for the repair and growth of dental pulp, (as well as potential treatments for inoperable brain tumours, prostate cancer, but NOT Breast Cancer, memory loss, vision loss, Parkinsons, etc.) I like https://clinicaltrials.gov/

JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam

 

[JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam]

33 minutes ago, ar8 said:

Thanks for this exhaustive amount of information!! great advice. I guess I'll try whitening strips (and then, gum) to see what effects I can muster. Thanks again.

I suggest giving your enamel some time to thicken back up ( dentists are starting to become aware that this IS possible) before trying whitening stips/zoom. 

Steps for repair enamel: use Sensodyne Repair and PROTECT with either "Deep Repair"  or "Powered by novamin" or a toothpaste with Xylitol. Try a health food store.

Chew gum with Xylitol or "Remin".   I like PUR gum, it's available everywhere.

JUSTtheRESULTSpleaseMam

[Beverage]

All my life I've had tons of cavities, also severe sensitivity pain at times due to enamel issues, continuing cavities. I found this toothpaste has helped restore some enamel loss. At my cleanings, a few small spots were found, and I brush with this and then dab on a little at that spot. If i get a super sensitive spot at gums when brushing, I'll dab on a little there. I've been doing that, all small spots found at my cleanings have disappeared. The dentist always argues with me, that it can't be from this toothpaste, but it keeps working. My teeth also look whiter, not super bright white like people using whitening strips, but whiter for me. Now I use Tom's Botanically Bright toothpaste (no fluoride) morning and night, and the Dirty Mouth powder mid day. Worth a try. It seems expensive, but it's not if it works.

[Beverage]

Whoops forgot the link

https://www.amazon.com/Whitening-Toothpaste-Essential-Bentonite-Peppermint/dp/B071CF8FB4/