Affordable dentures for special needs adult

My cousin is a special-needs adult, and I am trying to find options for affordable dentures. Although he lives on his own, his hygiene habits are lacking. He takes poor care of himself, his body, and his teeth. I am not sure what his brushing habits are, but I am certain that he never flosses his teeth. Over the years, his immediate family and I have tried to encourage him to brush and floss his teeth, but are efforts are not effective. For the past several years, he has developed several rotten teeth. The solution for his dentist is to simply extract his teeth. I saw my cousin recently and I know that dentures are the next step. As a family, we are planning in advance to find some options to prevent making last-minute decisions. What can be done to help make dentures affordable for him? _ Braxton

Braxton,

There aren’t specific things that you and your family can do to make dentures affordable for your cousin, but you can call several dentists’ offices to ask about the cost. You can also contact your cousin’s dental insurance company to find out how much coverage is provided for the cost of dentures. If coverage is insufficient, you can search for a supplemental policy that will provide more benefits. Additionally, you should be able to find a dentist who offers financing or payment plans to help make treatment affordable.

More importantly, you should seek a dentist who works well with special needs patients. Care needs to be taken to ensure your cousin maintains a higher level of oral health than he currently has, and the right dentist can help. Extra attention needs to be given to ensure dentures are properly cleaned and stored to prevent bacteria growth and infection.

Begin by finding one or two dentists who understand how to care for special needs patients. Verify which insurance plans the dentists accept. Also find out if they submit claims for you, or if payment is expected upfront. After that you can find a suitable insurance plan, or make arrangements for payment plans or financing. The dentist might also have suggestions for managing the cost of your cousin’s care.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.