Take care of your teeth
while you’re working — you can’t count on Medicare.
You’ve got your 401k,
your Social Security start date, and your travel budget lined up. But there’s
something you may have overlooked in your retirement planning — dental
expenses.
Medicare doesn’t
cover dental treatment. Adam S. Harwood,
an endodontist based in New York City, says, “This news often comes
as a shock to retirees when they need to have some expensive work done.”
“The
more dentistry you have had in your life, the more dentistry will be needed in
the future.” –Paul Amato
Many of us in the
50-plus crowd needed a filling or two after every childhood checkup. That adds
up to a lot of potential problems.
“The more dentistry
you have had in your life, the more dentistry will be needed in the future,”
says Paul Amato of LeCuyer and
Amato Dentistry in Seattle, Wash. “The oral environment is harsh,
wet, acidic, and constantly being used, so the dentistry in your mouth will
wear out over time.”
It might make sense
to tackle high-cost treatments while you still have dental insurance.
Ideally, you want to put your dental-care plan in place five to eight years
before you retire, Amato says.
That may seem early,
but many dental insurance plans only cover $1,000 to $1,500 per year, says Emily Letran, a dentist
based in Monrovia, Calif. Just one root canal, crown, or dental implant could
easily hit that limit.
Here’s what you can
do to keep your mouth — and your wallet — healthy before you retire.
Stay on top of your
oral health
About 95 to 99% of
expensive dental problems are preventable, says Sally Cram, a periodontist based in
Washington, DC, and a spokesperson for the American Dental
Association. “Catching things when they’re small, before they become
big problems, is the most cost-effective thing to do,” she says.
Share your thoughts
and challenges with your dentist
Explain that as
you’re getting older you want to prevent big problems in the future. And if you
find that arthritis or other conditions make it hard to brush and floss well,
mention it. It might make sense for you to use an electric toothbrush or a
fluoride rinse, or to schedule cleanings more frequently.
Have your fillings
evaluated
Many people age 50
and up have old fillings, which can chip or break and need replacements, crowns
or root canals for repair. Your dentist might see some fillings that should
last another 10 to 20 years, while others might need replacement.
Watch for signs of
periodontal disease
“Periodontal disease
is an infection in the gums and bone around the teeth. It’s a progressive,
chronic infection caused by bacteria,” Cram says. Periodontal disease can
destroy bone and cause you to lose teeth, which have to be replaced with
implants or bridges. “Those are big, costly things,” Cram says.
A deep cleaning can
stabilize periodontal disease, while a gum graft can protect the tooth and
bone, says Amato.
“If you suffer from
bleeding gums now, chances are, without appropriate treatment, you’ll be facing
procedures like root canals in the not-too-distant future,” Harwood says.
Put together a plan
of care with your dentist
“It’s a good
conversation to have — I think your dentist will welcome that,” Cram
says.
She points out that
you often have choices when you are treating dental problems. For example, you
might want to weigh the pros and cons of a more invasive dental implant vs. a
less invasive but higher maintenance bridge and crowns.
Understand what your
dental insurance covers
“Few of our patients
truly understand how it works and what it covers. Because of this, they don’t
always do a good job taking advantage of their insurance as well as they
should,” says Bobbi Stanley
of Stanley Dentistry in Cary, North Carolina.
Most policies cover
50 to 100% of certain procedures, up to an annual maximum of $1,000 to $1,500.
Some offer more coverage for in-network providers.
Be open with your
dentist about your financial concerns
Your dentist may
offer cash discounts, payment plans, or a membership plan that could include
preventive services along with discounted restorative work. “Many times these
options can be much more beneficial than traditional dental insurance,” says J.R. Demman,
a dentist at The Dentists at Dundee in Omaha, Nebraska.
Look into other
dental insurance options
You can buy dental
insurance, but be prepared to wait before you can have expensive
treatment. “It’s not uncommon to see waiting periods of up to a year for things
like root canals, bridges, and crowns,” says Adam M. Hyers, an insurance
broker with Hyers and Associates in
Columbus, Ohio.
And you can add in
Medicare coverage for dental care. “Most Medicare
Advantage plans include some amount of dental, and there are a few
Medicare supplements that cover dental as well,” Hyers says.
Keep in mind, you’re
not getting any younger
“The older you get,
the more factors your surgeon has to take into account when planning your
surgery. We almost always recommend that patients get those major surgeries
done now instead of later,” Stanley says.
Remember that good
oral health is linked with good overall health
“Keeping your mouth
healthy has the added benefit of keeping your whole body healthy. People with
untreated gum disease and inflammation have higher risk of heart attack,
stroke, diabetes, and kidney problems,” Cram says.
No comments:
Post a Comment