Ever since my cancer treatments, my teeth have been an absolute mess and I am ashamed to smile. I want to get porcelain veneers, but they are pretty pricey. I’m on Medicaid, which tells you about how much I earn. Is it possible that Medicaid would cover the porcelain veneers because my problem is medical?
Megan
Dear Megan,
I am so sorry for all you have been through. Cancer does a number on every part of your body, including your teeth. They are basically poisoning you in order to cure you. Unfortunately, Medicaid does not care about the reason your teeth have deteriorated. The big problem with government funded health care is that they will only cover the cheapest option. In their mind, it would be cheaper to remove your teeth and give you dentures than to try and save your teeth as well as make them beautiful with porcelain veneers. I would not recommend their solution. In fact, completely removable dentures cause more problems than they solve.
The first thing I would do is ask your dentist for some fluoride treatments to try to heal some of the damage done. He or she should be willing to do that given your situation. Then, evaluate the situation with any decay. Once the decay is dealt with it is time to get a pretty smile back.
If you really want porcelain veneers, I would save up for them so you can have them done by an excellent cosmetic dentist. In the meantime, teeth whitening is the most affordable way to improve your smile quickly. That alone can make you look years younger. Just make sure you have used that fluoride and your teeth are no longer dealing with the sensitivity that likely developed throughout your cancer treatments.
I wish that government healthcare were better and that they factored in situations such as yours. Unfortunately, they are all about the bottom line.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.