Several opinions-collapsed arch, jaw, bite. Osteoporosis Implants

I have an idea. It’s very unorthodox but I remember in the dental practice where I worked, we occasionally had patients who absolutely could not afford a full porcelain crown, but we needed to preserve their teeth.
So as a stop-gap measure, we’d make a temporary crown to help save a deteriorated tooth. We removed all the decay from from the tooth and basically prep it as though it was getting ready for a crown. But, we’d place a temporary plastic crown or construct a resin crown to go over the prepared tooth and used permanent adhesive. That was for front teeth. Molars, we used stainless steel crowns. Again, this was a temporary fix to buy time… As long as the patients didn’t open bottles, eat corn on the cob or chew taffy it lasted a really long time. Then when the money was available, we constructed the new, permanent crown.

So, I’m wondering if your dentist would consider this option for you! It’s not unreasonable to request this.
You need to save those two front teeth on the bottom but can’t afford to right now. See if he’d clean out the decay and place a more ‘permanent’ type of temporary cap on for you now. That way those teeth wouldn’t deteriorate any further. Then, keep up with regular cleanings so the rest of your teeth remain strong and stable
Hold out for your Medicare in November. Your health insurance rate should drop and often a dental supplemental policy can be added. Or with the difference in premium cost you may have more discretionary money available. It’s worth a try. Then you may be able to afford the new permanent crowns.
Since you’ll be eligible in November, I’d suggest calling or going to see a Medicare insurance agent in your area soon. Where I live, there are several of these insurance companies who help retirees get their Medicare set up. My husband and I used this service. The guy knew his stuff and there was absolutely NO charge for this service. That way you can find out what your benefits will be in the future and this can help give you a plan going forward. I don’t want to see you frightened for the future.
What do you think?

@tmtm4 I have been talking to the insurance reps recently too, and there is no fee for this. You will pay the same amount for Medigap insurance plans as if you had called the companies yourself. An agent will get information about your health issues, prescriptions, and find plans and rates that would apply to you. One concern for me was that my Traditional Medicare and Medigap plans need to be portable and will work in another state. It is really confusing and the plans called "Medicare Advantage" are not traditional Medicare, and your choices will be limited to their networks of providers, and may not work in other states. Make sure to ask these questions when you speak with an agent. I am a Mayo Clinic patient and live in another state, so I wanted to make sure my insurance would work there after retirement if I need further care. I also will be getting a Delta Dental plan because my husband is retiring, so I will loose his employer's spouse provided benefits. The best plan for Delta Dental gives an annual benefit amount of $2500 and pays at 50% if your dentist is out of network with them. They pay at a higher rate if you use one of their in network dentists. Chose the best dentist for you in or out of network because you have a complex condition. If you go to the Delta dental website, so can view the plan details and they spell out specifically what is covered. They did have some coverage for implants, but there is also a waiting period of I think 6 months if major work is to be done. The agent recommended the best Delta Dental plan with the $2500 benefit. The agent can also tell you what your costs will be for payments and deductibles, and it will ease your mind. Lori makes a great recommendation!

You must be proactive in your personal oral care to mitigate further disease as well as more frequent checkups. I know I got myself in some trouble with dental decay because of my limited mobility with a broken ankle, and I didn't brush or floss as soon as I should have because I couldn't walk and was in pain and struggling to get around the house. Since I have just had a procedure to removed some diseased bone near an implant, I now look at myself as the fire department rushing to put out a fire. The sooner I get the brush, floss and water pic going, the sooner I put out that fire and keep it from spreading. If I wait until I'm too tired at the end of the day and have been snoozing on the couch, the more difficult it is to do the job. You will need to be your own volunteer fire department and put out the fire ASAP!

Go ahead and make the call about insurance. Knowledge is power. You also have a 6 month window around your 65th birthday to do this in order the receive the lowest rates for Medicare Part B and Part D (prescription drugs).

@tmtm4 I have been talking to the insurance reps recently too, and there is no fee for this. You will pay the same amount for Medigap insurance plans as if you had called the companies yourself. An agent will get information about your health issues, prescriptions, and find plans and rates that would apply to you. One concern for me was that my Traditional Medicare and Medigap plans need to be portable and will work in another state. It is really confusing and the plans called "Medicare Advantage" are not traditional Medicare, and your choices will be limited to their networks of providers, and may not work in other states. Make sure to ask these questions when you speak with an agent. I am a Mayo Clinic patient and live in another state, so I wanted to make sure my insurance would work there after retirement if I need further care. I also will be getting a Delta Dental plan because my husband is retiring, so I will loose his employer's spouse provided benefits. The best plan for Delta Dental gives an annual benefit amount of $2500 and pays at 50% if your dentist is out of network with them. They pay at a higher rate if you use one of their in network dentists. Chose the best dentist for you in or out of network because you have a complex condition. If you go to the Delta dental website, so can view the plan details and they spell out specifically what is covered. They did have some coverage for implants, but there is also a waiting period of I think 6 months if major work is to be done. The agent recommended the best Delta Dental plan with the $2500 benefit. The agent can also tell you what your costs will be for payments and deductibles, and it will ease your mind. Lori makes a great recommendation!

You must be proactive in your personal oral care to mitigate further disease as well as more frequent checkups. I know I got myself in some trouble with dental decay because of my limited mobility with a broken ankle, and I didn't brush or floss as soon as I should have because I couldn't walk and was in pain and struggling to get around the house. Since I have just had a procedure to removed some diseased bone near an implant, I now look at myself as the fire department rushing to put out a fire. The sooner I get the brush, floss and water pic going, the sooner I put out that fire and keep it from spreading. If I wait until I'm too tired at the end of the day and have been snoozing on the couch, the more difficult it is to do the job. You will need to be your own volunteer fire department and put out the fire ASAP!

Go ahead and make the call about insurance. Knowledge is power. You also have a 6 month window around your 65th birthday to do this in order the receive the lowest rates for Medicare Part B and Part D (prescription drugs).

Just FYI, Medicare Advantage programs do not, necessarily, limit the client to a network. Some do, and are analogous to HMOs. But others are not though have a lower co-pay for PCP and specialists 'in network.' The Medicare Advantage program I'm in includes Cleveland Clinic, Mayo and Sloan-Kettering and other top facilities as 'in network' which was very reassuring last year when I needed one of them.

I pay a $0.00 premium. Had I agreed to an HMO model, the provider, I'd have $0.00 and the program would have paid me $75/month. A friend took that option but I'm not a fan of HMO restrictions.

A long phone call to Medicare led to a very-helpful Medicare representative answering all of my questions and her asking the right questions to help us understand what would be my best option.

One important thing to remember is that, under Medicare regs, one can only change Medicare supplements or Advantage programs during the annual Open Enrollment period, with a few exceptions. So it's important to make a list of one's current doctors and hospital-of-choice and make sure that the coverage includes them. And double-check with the doctors and hospital as these things can change without notice.*

There are a zillion companies offering Medicare supplements and 'advantage' models and the quality varies from excellent to dangerously poor. And, unlike many other commercial transactions, the cost is not necessarily indicative of quality. [A friend has health care aides. We've been able to get 3 of them far better, and cheaper, care by shopping around. It's a strange marketplace, I think relying on peoples' confusion and mis-info.]

I had a convoluted, and ridiculously expensive, path to current good dental health and stability. I empathize with how tricky it can get to avoid one problem while addressing another. And how getting the basics under control first are critical. Kudos to Lori and you both for thoughtful, helpful problem-solving in @tmtm4's situation.

*Some programs are called insurance. E.g., one of the United Healthcare plans offered by AARP. One can pick up, or drop, Medicare insurance at any time during the year without waiting for the Open Enrollment period.

Hi will you take certain kinds of medicines f o r having osteoporosis and if you take the medicine you have a lot of problems with your jaws and bleeding you you're doing the right thing with the dentist I have to go to a specialist too also I have two Harrington rods in my spine I got them when I was 17 I was paralyzed on the left side from a car accident they really helped me out a lot cuz I can walk and everything now but at 58 it's causing me a lot of problems and I have bone spurs and have a lot of pain on my left side but I just try to forget about it I'm waiting to have surgery again so I feel for you I really do cuz I know how you feel it all gets better you got to be positive and exercise if you can sorry about that if you need anything just let me know Debbie.