Who You Should Talk To About Dental Bridges Versus Posts

While few people enjoy a visit to the dentist, the simple fact is if you don't take care of your teeth they're not going to last as long as they should. Like your car or lawn, your teeth require a great deal of maintenance and cleaning to keep them in good shape. And like anything else, the more you know about maintaining or preparing your teeth, the better off you are. For instance, if you have a choice between having a dental bridge or a post put in by your dentist, you might want to know exactly what this means so you can make an informed decision. The following are things you should do.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Before you can proceed with either a dental bridge or a post, you need to contact your insurance company and find out what they will cover and what they won't. Not all dental care is going to be covered to the same extent. Your insurance company may be reluctant to pay as much for what it considers a cosmetic procedure. Discuss your situation with them and review just what your options are. Your goal is to get the best possible care at the least possible expense. Of course, in reality you're going to have to balance one against the other.

Talk to Your Dentist

After getting your options from your insurance company, review them with your dentist. Weigh these options carefully before making any decision. It's important to think about the long-term impact this decision will have. For instance, if a post is installed, this addresses only a single tooth. From a financial perspective (if you're paying all the cost) a bridge that affects three teeth might be a more cost-effective choice. Also find out what the longevity of an implant versus a dental bridge is likely to be in your particular case.

Consider the Option of Waiting

If you're having to pay most or all of the expense of either of these choices, you might want to discuss with your dentist what the impact would be of waiting for a while. If there's going to be little harm in giving yourself a few extra months to get together the cash necessary to pay for the procedure, it might be a smart option to put things off for a while. On the other hand, if your dentist, such as someone form Fuller Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, feels that waiting would be a mistake and you agree with him or her, you might have to go with a lower cost option now and consider switching at a later date.