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In our dental office, we specialize in adults with significant dental needs. These are adults who have been told they need multiple dental procedures in a short period of time to save their existing teeth and prevent future issues. 

While these issues did not appear out of nowhere, patients will often feel like their back is against the wall. But how did they get here? 

Like most health issues, dentistry is cumulative. If you are not taking care of your dental health and addressing issues as they come up, they will continue to get worse. We see this a lot with patients who rely on their dental insurance to cover all their dental needs. 

Typically, dental insurance will only cover up to a certain amount per year – usually around $1,500. We see patients who have tried to address their dental issues $1,500 at a time and then find themselves behind and need $25,000 or more in dental work. 

What is a significant dental need? 

When we talk about a significant dental need, we’re talking about complex issues that require multiple dental treatments. Oftentimes, these involve the work of a specialist on top of the general dentist. The more complex the issue becomes, the more specialists we will need to treat the problem. 

This could look something like the following: 

• Level 1: Rebuilding the teeth (general dentist) 
• Level 2: Rebuilding the teeth (general dentist), restoring the gums (periodontist) and addressing bone loss (periodontist)
• Level 3: Rebuilding the teeth (general dentist), restoring the gums (periodontist), addressing bone loss (periodontist) and correcting bite issues (orthodontist) 
• Level 4: Rebuilding the teeth (general dentist), restoring the gums (periodontist), addressing bone loss (periodontist), correcting bite issues (orthodontist) and treating an infection (endodontist) 

Some real-life examples of this might include a patient who has worn down their teeth from mild occlusion, stress or TMJ issues and requires that we rebuild the teeth. Or a patient who has been involved in a traumatic accident and broken many teeth. They may have treated this with a large bridge that is now failing. 

We also see patients who have received lots of dentistry over the years, and they no longer recognize their smile. They may be ready for a total smile makeover, which is a comprehensive treatment. 

How much will treatment cost? 

Based on the level of treatment required, addressing a significant dental need can range anywhere from $10,000 to over $40,000. For the patient who hoped to address these issues $1,500 at a time with insurance – as the issues accumulate, the price also increases. While they hoped to save money by using their insurance, they’ve unfortunately accumulated some very expensive dental work that insurance won’t cover. 

Patients may also be tempted to spread out this work over three to four years. This can also create more issues, because the longer you wait to address a dental issue the worse it will become. In the long run, prioritizing your dental care can save you money. It will also allow us to do more conservative treatments that are more predictable and aesthetic. 

Choosing the Best Dentist: Questions to Ask Before Treatment 

Should you find yourself in need of significant dental work, it’s important that you find a dentist you trust to oversee your treatment plan. This is a significant investment in your health, and you want to make sure you are working with someone who has your best interest in mind. 

With that in mind, below are a few questions we recommend you ask your dentist before committing to their treatment plan.

1. What’s the best treatment option for me? This should be the treatment option that will look the best, feel the best and last the longest. It will also leave the most amount of natural tooth structure. 
2. What are the consequences of not following the treatment plan? While you may be tempted to skip steps in the treatment plan, there are consequences to doing that. Talk to your dentist about what those consequences might look like. 
3. Can the treatment be phased or spread out over time? If a $30,000 treatment isn’t in the budget, ask your dentist how you can phase this out over time. Together, you can prioritize your treatment and better understand the compromise for delaying care. 
4. What materials will be used for the dental restorations? There are many different dental materials available and understanding the advantages and disadvantages to each is important. Discuss with your dentist what materials they suggest using and why. 
5. Who is part of the dental treatment team? Depending on the case, this team could include your dentist, a specialist, and a dental technician at a lab who will create your restoration. The lab is an important part of this team and should be a partner your dentist – and you – trust. 
6. What is the guarantee on the dental work? Should your restoration chip or need to be repaired – who covers that work? In our dental office, we fully cover dental work for two years and then partially cover work for five years. If you’re getting work done out of the country – that cost will likely fall on you. Be sure to have this conversation before you have the work done.  
7. What shade or color will the teeth be? Tooth color is a common question, and it’s something you should agree on with your dentist before your restorations are fabricated. We steer patients away from perfectly white teeth, in favor of a bright, natural looking smile. 
8. How do I know if I will like my smile? In our office, we view temporaries as a trial smile and fabricate them exactly how the final restorations will appear. This allows patients to wear their new smile for a few weeks and try it out. Talk to your dentist and ask them how closely your temporaries will resemble the final restoration. 

Need significant dental work? 

If you need significant dental work, our hope is that this blog will provide you with the education you need to have a thoughtful productive conversation with your dentist. For a more thorough discussion on this topic, please visit our YouTube channel for a video on this topic. 

To schedule a consultation with our experienced team of dentists, call us at 813-689-4226 or schedule an appointment online.