FInally got approval!

I last posted about my information being submitted for insurance approval on the 7th...well the dr.'s office said it was faxed over to insurance then, but when I called them on Monday, they had no record of a pending request! It then took a couple of days to get in touch with the insurance person at the drs. office to get it submitted again. Meanwhile, I had those appointments for molds and braces already scheduled because I anticipated approval by then.  SO, insurance finally got submitted and then this Monday I called and they gave me the 19th as the date it would be finalized.  I called on the 19th and it was approved! FINALLY! It was only about 8 weeks after my initial consultation with the surgeon! 

I have been a little frustrated with the wait, okay, ALOT frustrated. I have a hard time being so patient!! I am sure everyone feels that too! In the meantime, I had an appointment to get final molds for the braces on the 17th, but since I didn't have approval yet (wasn't going to get started until I had it) and I didn't have my permanent crown yet,( did that yesterday) it was best to wait on the molds until both of those things were done. SO I rescheduled that appointment for the 28th and pushed out the braces appointment till the 4th of January.  That will only be a few days to get accustomed to metal in my mouth before I have to go back to work, but at least I don't have to take time off work as soon as we go back after break! 

Anyway, now I am excited but also so nervous thinking that I am actually committing to this process. Am I crazy?? I don't even want to think about how long ago I had braces when I was a teenager! Too many years!!  But as my husband said (he is so nice!) I shouldn't worry about the braces, that's the easy part, I need to worry about the surgery! Yikes!! See what I have to deal with?!?

I am going to enjoy the holidays brace-free and not feel guilty about eating a few sticky, crunchy foods since once I have braces that kind of stuff will be out!! I will try to post after I get the braces on.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

It's always something

So, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I was getting ready for bed and brushing and flossing and all that good stuff when out pops one of my crowns!! That is not supposed to happen! That is really the last expense I need right now since I am trying to get ready for braces! On Monday, I called my dentist and make an appointment for that Thursday-luckily the tooth wasn't in pain or anything. Once I get there, the dentist takes pictures and x-rays and can see an area of decay. Bummer. So after 3 hours !! in the dentist chair, lots of drilling, 4 molds, etc. it turns out that under the buildup of the tooth for the crown, there was lots of decay-my tooth was "mush" (yeah, the dentist said that!!) and if much more time went on, I probably would have had a horrible toothache! It's all better now, just waiting for the permanent one to be ready. I did have to go back to the dentist again when the temporary crown fell off when I flossed! oops!! They used a stronger cement this time to hold it longer. 

I also called the surgeon's office this week and asked about my insurance approval-it still hasn't been submitted and my consult was at the end of October.  I am a little anxious (and frustrated). When I spoke to the lady on Wednesday, she said that it was in the stack to be done on Friday (today).  I REALLY hope it was done today, but I will call Tuesday or Wednesday of next week to see if it's in the system. Once the medical group gets it, it only takes about a week to get it approved, so that's good. I guess I am more nervous since the surgeon is out of my network. 

In anticipation of getting the approval, I called the orthodontist and  asked about setting up the appointment(s) needed to get my braces on.  She had actually talked to the surgeon the day before, so she said I can make the appointments. My next one will be on the 17th for more impressions (I hope it doesn't pull out the temporary crown!) and possibly spacers if needed, then the 21st to get the permanent crown placed and then finally getting braces on the 27th! Please keep your fingers crossed that I get the approval quickly and without any issues so that I can get this process moving along!