any experience with dental implants and good oral surgeons (Austin: insurance, how much)

[jyo]

Does anyone have good experience with a oral surgeon for dental implants in
Austin and how much do they cost??? Do Insurance cover any cost??

[schoenfraun]

depends upon your insurance. My insurance only covers the portion of the implant done by my dentist, who is my primary DDS.

The oral surgeon is considered a specialist, and with a referral from my DDS, my insurance covers 25% of the implant.

So, to explain:

My insurance will cover the crown, or fake tooth, that goes on the implant, as they would any other crown, because my dentist does it.

But the rest is only 25%. Surgery, implant, abutment.

It's going to cost me around $3500 for one tooth. Bleh!

I go to Austin Oral Surgery Associates on Western Trails, near the south Central Market, and I think they've been great. Dr. Theriot takes the time to answer any and all questions.

Advice: get the general anaesthesia, as the local really tested my mettle! A person just shouldn't be awake for that kind of thing! Scary!

[tibbar]

My only experience is seeing what my husband went through with the supposed "best oral surgeon in Austin". He now has a gap with a metal part sticking up through his gums. The "tooth" kept coming loose and wouldn't stay glued on. There was a gap between the tooth and the gums food was always trapped under. It has been a few years and maybe improvements have been made but it was thousands of dollars for nothing.

[FromCalitoSteinerRanch]

We used Dr. Voorhees. It is not cheap, we actually got our first medical write off that year because of the cost. Insurance would not cover, even after two appeals. They said it was cosmetic, even though my spouse was experiencing GI issues because the food was not properly masticated. That is a whole different thread I guess.

Dr. Voorhees has a great chair side manner, and the most satisfaction we got was from a delay he suggested while a new technique came up. He eventually did the "regular" way, but used a new way to graft bone in unique cases. It has been almost three years, and no issues.

Dr. Voorhees (http://www.austinoms.com/oral-surgeon-austin-tx/fred-voorhees-dds.html - broken link)

[woodinvilleguy]

We are using a colleague of Dr. Voorhess name Dr. Cunningham. He is also very good. I think that the practice that they partner with is good all together.

We are still in the process of dealing with insurance for oral surgery. You may want to visit the site ArchWired - A site for adults with orthodontic braces for oral surgery specific forums.