9 year old missing 16 teeth...Where do I start? Insurance coverage? Cost?

[Melanie Mills]

I took my 9 year old to the dentist a few months back and learned that he was missing 16 permanent teeth.  He has 6 permanent teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom.  He has lost 4 teeth on top, and only 2 came in.  With his front two teeth spread far apart and the two that never came in, I took him to the dentist for a cleaning and x rays.  This is when I found out the news.  He has been to the dentist before but I guess they never did get x rays because "his mouth was small" so they waited.  Now I am trying to figure out where to go and what to do.  I have set him up with an orthodontic appointment.  I have learned that we have a lifetime max on our orthodontic coverage which is not going to come close to covering the treatment he will need over his lifetime.  I have been trying to get ahold of a geneticist.  I read that if I can get a diagnosis attached, I may be able to get this paid for through medical rather than dental.  Any advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  Thank you 

[Patricia Lamm]

Where do you live? 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 26, 2016, at 1:29 PM, Melanie Mills <m.mill...@gmail.com> wrote:

I took my 9 year old to the dentist a few months back and learned that he was missing 16 permanent teeth.  He has 6 permanent teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom.  He has lost 4 teeth on top, and only 2 came in.  With his front two teeth spread far apart and the two that never came in, I took him to the dentist for a cleaning and x rays.  This is when I found out the news.  He has been to the dentist before but I guess they never did get x rays because "his mouth was small" so they waited.  Now I am trying to figure out where to go and what to do.  I have set him up with an orthodontic appointment.  I have learned that we have a lifetime max on our orthodontic coverage which is not going to come close to covering the treatment he will need over his lifetime.  I have been trying to get ahold of a geneticist.  I read that if I can get a diagnosis attached, I may be able to get this paid for through medical rather than dental.  Any advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  Thank you 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Melanie Mills]

Missouri

Sent from my iPhone

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/families-with-oligodontia/6NWO2AQ5b_I/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.

[Patricia Roth]

Hello Ladies,

We, like everyone else in this group, are in a similar situation.  I too and trying to find out if medical insurance can be involved.  Unlike Melanie, I like in the DC/Baltimore area.  Any ideas on where to even start looking for this kind of information?

Thanks

Tricia

On Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 12:13:30 AM UTC-4, Melanie Mills wrote:

Missouri

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 26, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Patricia Lamm <trici...@icloud.com> wrote:

Where do you live? 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 26, 2016, at 1:29 PM, Melanie Mills <m.mill...@gmail.com> wrote:

I took my 9 year old to the dentist a few months back and learned that he was missing 16 permanent teeth.  He has 6 permanent teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom.  He has lost 4 teeth on top, and only 2 came in.  With his front two teeth spread far apart and the two that never came in, I took him to the dentist for a cleaning and x rays.  This is when I found out the news.  He has been to the dentist before but I guess they never did get x rays because "his mouth was small" so they waited.  Now I am trying to figure out where to go and what to do.  I have set him up with an orthodontic appointment.  I have learned that we have a lifetime max on our orthodontic coverage which is not going to come close to covering the treatment he will need over his lifetime.  I have been trying to get ahold of a geneticist.  I read that if I can get a diagnosis attached, I may be able to get this paid for through medical rather than dental.  Any advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  Thank you 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-oligodontia+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/families-with-oligodontia/6NWO2AQ5b_I/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to families-with-oligodontia+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Patricia Lamm]

If you live in DC, try the National Health Institute. They should be able to point you in the right direction. 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.

[Patricia Roth]

Thanks.  I will see what I can find out

On Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 1:20 PM, Patricia Lamm <trici...@icloud.com> wrote:

If you live in DC, try the National Health Institute. They should be able to point you in the right direction. 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 27, 2016, at 9:45 AM, Patricia Roth <patrici...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Ladies,

We, like everyone else in this group, are in a similar situation.  I too and trying to find out if medical insurance can be involved.  Unlike Melanie, I like in the DC/Baltimore area.  Any ideas on where to even start looking for this kind of information?

Thanks

Tricia

On Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 12:13:30 AM UTC-4, Melanie Mills wrote:

Missouri

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 26, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Patricia Lamm <trici...@icloud.com> wrote:

Where do you live? 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 26, 2016, at 1:29 PM, Melanie Mills <m.mill...@gmail.com> wrote:

I took my 9 year old to the dentist a few months back and learned that he was missing 16 permanent teeth.  He has 6 permanent teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom.  He has lost 4 teeth on top, and only 2 came in.  With his front two teeth spread far apart and the two that never came in, I took him to the dentist for a cleaning and x rays.  This is when I found out the news.  He has been to the dentist before but I guess they never did get x rays because "his mouth was small" so they waited.  Now I am trying to figure out where to go and what to do.  I have set him up with an orthodontic appointment.  I have learned that we have a lifetime max on our orthodontic coverage which is not going to come close to covering the treatment he will need over his lifetime.  I have been trying to get ahold of a geneticist.  I read that if I can get a diagnosis attached, I may be able to get this paid for through medical rather than dental.  Any advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  Thank you 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/families-with-oligodontia/6NWO2AQ5b_I/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/families-with-oligodontia/6NWO2AQ5b_I/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to families-with-olig...@googlegroups.com.

[Denise Banderman]

Melanie, 

I am also in Missouri.  Have you had any luck getting anything done.  Both our dentist and an orthodontist told us it was just waiting until he was old enough for implants in his early 20s.  He is currently 8.  And like your son, mine only has 2 of his 4 front teeth.  He is missing 9 total, most molars.

[Patricia Lamm]

Search my prior posts on early treatment and join Hypodontia Support Group on Facebook. 

Tricia Lamm

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 20, 2017, at 4:11 PM, Denise Banderman <denise.b...@californiak12.org> wrote:

Melanie, 

I am also in Missouri.  Have you had any luck getting anything done.  Both our dentist and an orthodontist told us it was just waiting until he was old enough for implants in his early 20s.  He is currently 8.  And like your son, mine only has 2 of his 4 front teeth.  He is missing 9 total, most molars.

On Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 3:29:54 PM UTC-5, Melanie Mills wrote:

I took my 9 year old to the dentist a few months back and learned that he was missing 16 permanent teeth.  He has 6 permanent teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom.  He has lost 4 teeth on top, and only 2 came in.  With his front two teeth spread far apart and the two that never came in, I took him to the dentist for a cleaning and x rays.  This is when I found out the news.  He has been to the dentist before but I guess they never did get x rays because "his mouth was small" so they waited.  Now I am trying to figure out where to go and what to do.  I have set him up with an orthodontic appointment.  I have learned that we have a lifetime max on our orthodontic coverage which is not going to come close to covering the treatment he will need over his lifetime.  I have been trying to get ahold of a geneticist.  I read that if I can get a diagnosis attached, I may be able to get this paid for through medical rather than dental.  Any advice anyone can offer would be extremely helpful.  Thank you 

--

[Liza Katz]

Hi Melanie and Denise, 

I'm in Massachusetts and my 13 year old is missing 10 permanent teeth as well as all of her wisdom teeth. We discovered this when she was 5 and her two bottom middle teeth didn't come in. Since then, we have worked together with her dentist, an orthodontist, and a prosthodontist. The prosthodontist has been equated to our quarterback in this process, in that he will develop the game plan and then guide the others. We check in with him annually so he can track spacing, new teeth and overall feelings about everything. It's been a great team approach! 

She has had one round of braces so far to bring her front teeth together to give her a decent smile and the option is there if she feels self-conscious at any point about her smile there are temporary solutions for that. Otherwise, we are also on the wait and see plan. I advocated strongly early on with the dentist and the orthodontist about how overwhelming this all is and the ortho gave us a decent deal on that first round of braces, gave us a free invisiline type of mouth guard in addition to her retainer (and even replaced it once!) to keep her teeth in place. 

I also spent a number of years lobbying with a group of parents here in MA to pass legislation that would mandate medical coverage for this and similar dental conditions. Unfortunately it never resulted in anything :( 

If you haven't seen a prosthodontist yet, I strongly recommend getting a referral. That will be the person that ultimately does the implants and so is an important person in the process, even at the early stage. Ultimately, if what the ortho does on their own doesn't set the stage that the prostho would want, it could get messy and costly. 

I hope this is helpful. It is overwhelming and sad and scary, but we have managed to make peace with it and my middle-school girl is doing okay, which is saying alot ;) 

Good luck!

~Liza

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Families with Oligodontia" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to families-with-oligodontia+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Dave Hill]

Hi Liza,

Just found out my son has the same issue, and we are also in Mass.  Who did you use for the different dental specialists?  It sounds like you are happy with them.  I want my son to be seen by people who have done this before and not be someone's experiment.

Thanks,

Dave