Metal Mouth Message Board

Dental HMO = Dental Health Maintenance Organization In a nutshell, US health/dental insurance policies are either PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) where you can go to any provider you want who accepts your policy. Or they are HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) when the insurance company limi...

You gave a great description, but I was left with one overarching question: What is/was your primary goal in undertaking this journey? "I'm afraid that after all this time and money (everything has been out-of-pocket for me and the plan is almost paid off), I'm going to end up looking pretty mu...

Yup, know that one intimately. Assuming you want to give a polite reply (believe me, I have thought of a few that aren't), the answer of: "it was recommended by my dentist/orthodontist because of structural concerns with my jaw/bite/occlusion/appropriate word" Most people don't feel the ne...

Chrisd- Maybe I missed it - what kind of MD are you? When you alluded to 'not getting comments' about your braces, was that from your colleagues or long-term patients (if you are in a patient-contact field such as peds or ob, as opposed to pathology for example)? I would be surprised if new patients...

Welcome- One thing I've always wondered when parents of little ones get braces. Did your daughter notice something different with mommy's teeth? Was she scared or curious, or just accepted the braces and moved on. I've always thought it would be fun to write a book by interviewing children on their ...

Hotwire- Though I did not take action against a dental HMO, I took a complaint about Aetna and a "very prestigious hospital" (need to remain nameless) to my state's Health Services Cost Review Commission contending price fixing. The end result - the hospital owned up to their "error&q...

I know I could give a better estimate if I knew a little more about what country, or what part of the coutry (i.e. if in US, metro Atlanta or even whether you are north/east/south/west) you are in. I got quite a few estimates and never, ever found any under $4,000 and one was as high as $7,700. I am...

Though I have never been a smoker, I have heard (and read studies) on how quitting smoking, in an of itself, takes an incredible commitment to changing your life. You have the courage to make two huge, healthy changes in your life (quitting smoking, braces). I hope May 15th is a day to celebrate bot...

OK, in the spirit of the braces never happening, I hope you had a great year whether in family, work, spiritually, or just in life, and that you just coincidentally stopped to think about the past year today (yesterday, tomorrow, wherever in the world you are). I hope you had a happy and healthy yea...

Welcome- I know what you mean about having a small mouth. For any dental or orthodontic procedure I ask them just to start with the pediatric size (like for impressions or the dreaded cheek retractor) and inevitably that is the size that fits. Knowing to suggest they start pediatric has actually hel...

Good point, swellen , I wonder if they can make an Essix "extra thick". My concern is that I will need retention at night and a Hawley won't protect my teeth from my never-ending grinding. I know they make "night guards" but somehow the idea of a night guard over a Hawley doesn't...

When you posed the question about your teeth being straight, my thought was, "sure her/his teeth will be straight, but they don't strike me as evenly shaped or levelled." They look straight to my completely untrained eye, but straight is not the only goal in ortho.

I had to have a first molar removed and both the dentist and ortho said I should get an implant (no wisdom teeth so not an option). How far "up" is your wisdom tooth and would an implant be a less invasive solution if ultimately they are going to remove it. I have been told I need to get t...

The tradeoff of one week versus knowing you'll be comfortable and confident at your event is well worth it. If you've gotten used to an expander, the braces probably won't be as much of a "shock" as those of us who haven't had metal in our mouth for 30 years! Enjoy your freedom, and hope t...

KJNELLAMORE Here's another suggestion. The web site: www.dentalplans.com is like a "clearinghouse" for dental insurances/plans. I am sure some are better than others, and whether they are discount plans vs. insurance (which actually doesn't matter that much in dental) but there are some &...