Can I Get Financial Help for Dental Implants?
Q.
Hi. I am hoping you can advise me about who to approach for financial help for implants. I am 50 years of age, and have in my opinion, looked after my appearance. However, although I have been a business person in the past, I have bipolar disorder, a condition which I am not in control of nor is it any fault of my own. However, after 21 years and many, many different medications and mood stabilizers I found it impossible to work any longer due to the effects of this awful condition. As if this change of life situation was not bad enough, I then noticed my teeth deteriorating, and have recently discovered it is connected to all the medications over the years as I suffer with dry mouth as a result. I have lost 2 teeth near the front since my birthday and found this more than devastating and a worsening impact on my already low moods. I have been looking for a new dentist in my area and although I’ve just registered with one, I have no faith they have the time or compassion to understand how this is making me feel. As I do not socialise much anymore this new situation is making me feel hopeless as I have not even been leaving the house at all. Is there anyone I can get advice from with regards to NHS help for implants, since in theory medication has been the main factor of the deterioration? I now feel at 50 my life is over as I cannot bear to look in the mirror and now isolate from people completely. I hope you can understand this is far more than vanity, and more about taking away any social interactions I am able to have when my mood and anxiety levels are not so low. Thank you.
Hi. I am hoping you can advise me about who to approach for financial help for implants. I am 50 years of age, and have in my opinion, looked after my appearance. However, although I have been a business person in the past, I have bipolar disorder, a condition which I am not in control of nor is it any fault of my own. However, after 21 years and many, many different medications and mood stabilizers I found it impossible to work any longer due to the effects of this awful condition. As if this change of life situation was not bad enough, I then noticed my teeth deteriorating, and have recently discovered it is connected to all the medications over the years as I suffer with dry mouth as a result. I have lost 2 teeth near the front since my birthday and found this more than devastating and a worsening impact on my already low moods. I have been looking for a new dentist in my area and although I’ve just registered with one, I have no faith they have the time or compassion to understand how this is making me feel. As I do not socialise much anymore this new situation is making me feel hopeless as I have not even been leaving the house at all. Is there anyone I can get advice from with regards to NHS help for implants, since in theory medication has been the main factor of the deterioration? I now feel at 50 my life is over as I cannot bear to look in the mirror and now isolate from people completely. I hope you can understand this is far more than vanity, and more about taking away any social interactions I am able to have when my mood and anxiety levels are not so low. Thank you.
A.
Hello, thank you for your question. It’s very difficult to obtain implants on the NHS. As you know, the NHS works on a fixed budget for the whole spectrum of health care and as a result replacement of teeth with implants is quite low on the list of priorities when bridges or dentures (that are covered on the NHS) are available. My advice would be to speak to your NHS dentist to see if they can refer you to a teaching hospital where they might be able to offer you treatment. Alternatively, give a denture a try first and see how it goes, it might not be as bad as you expect.
Hello, thank you for your question. It’s very difficult to obtain implants on the NHS. As you know, the NHS works on a fixed budget for the whole spectrum of health care and as a result replacement of teeth with implants is quite low on the list of priorities when bridges or dentures (that are covered on the NHS) are available. My advice would be to speak to your NHS dentist to see if they can refer you to a teaching hospital where they might be able to offer you treatment. Alternatively, give a denture a try first and see how it goes, it might not be as bad as you expect.
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