Have a question.

At the time of my surgery back in August 2008 I opted for the obturator rather than doing the jaw replacement and flap ...

They made me the temporary one and I came out of surgery with it in place.

Well, it is now 2012 and I still have the temp one. Which was only to be for 6 months and they would then construct the new permanent one ...

Well, life happened - it got busy, mom had just passed away, we moved 3 times and then a fourth time to a new state, started new jobs and well you know ... life happened

But now that things have settled down, this thing is driving me Nuts!!! It is so misaligned now my speech is not as it should be, food and drink get by it constantly etc ... and now the prong like things in front of it are rubbing and pushing against my tooth in front that has a veneer on it and it feels like it is about to displace it ... so i am really wanting to get the permanent started

but

when i looked up here in the phoenix az area who to go to for making a new obturator it listed dentists who specialize in it. i went in to one and they told me my dental will cover part of it but i need to pay $4500 cash before they will start it.

if medical would cover it, then i would be at 90-100% but they said it has to be dental

in WA when I had the work done on it at the UW where i had my surgery, everything was covered ... but now i am facing this...

anyone know a way to get medical to pay it or what everyone normally does for this?

i didn't dream of it being a problem.

we have good insurance - aetna

Thanks for any advice ... i want it fixed / remade before it breaks something or breaks itself - i have taken good care of it but it is starting to show signs of wear - heck it is 4 yrs old and was spose to be for 6 months LOL

thanks so much!

Im sure someone with an obturator will be along to help you with this question. Sorry I am not familiar with the billing of this. I would guess it should be covered by insurance just like any other durable medical equipment or dentures.

Thanks my dear Not sure how many opt to do the obturator route but thought it was worth asking in case someone has ran on to this before

You might have to fight with the medical insurance company to get them to pay for the obturator (I did -- had to write letters, had to get the prosthodontist to write letters), but it should be covered under medical. It's not dental -- it's cancer-related, and therefore medical! Good luck -- fight hard. Don't give up. The final obturator will be a big improvement over the temporary one!

what is this obturator?? five years and 15 surgeries later i am at the end of the yellow brick road and they made me dentures!! Really? i don't have a tongue, how am i to use dentures... i cry every day .. my eyes open and i remember that and become depressed.. i was fine .. well, i was functioning at least. i am about to graduate college, wanna work, wanna find love, get my life back that has been paused. in todays technology you would think there would be some sort of prosthetic tongue.. or device to work with my flap... we're soooo.... close..... i was researching the web for info about alternate methods... when i found this web sight today. I haven't left here since!!! it is a blessing that i found ya'll!! after years of handling it.. thinking i was alone; i discover I am not--jc

If you end up with an opening between your oral cavity and your sinus from a maxillary surgery on your palate, there are few great surgical or grafting solutions to close it. So an obturator is a prosthetic solution which is usually a combination plastic and silicone piece, that is removable for cleaning, that fits in the roof of your mouth to close things up and reduce debris getting where it shouldn't, infections, and so much more. It also makes nasal breathing so much easier for people with this kind of situation. If you don't have any upper/maxillary teeth left (or not many) the obturator can actually be on the underside (tissue side) of an upper denture, giving your mouth when you smile or open it, a more natural appearance.

ritabrenke - get your oncology doctors to write a letter to your medical insurance company about your need for the obturator. This is definitely a medical need, though it is often made buy a dental prosthodontist. That prosthodontist that you talked to knows this. Dental professionals do not like to deal with medical insurance companies, and fill out all the forms, but at the end of the day this should be commonplace for a maxillofacial prosthodontist. If you saw a regular prosthodontist, look for another one that specializes in maxillofacial work. You will have way less issues with him taking your medical insurance. Another issue is that you may (I am guessing) have moved to someplace outside your coverage area, which creates a hole 'nuther bag of worms.

Also re geting the "final one" , this takes time. Your mouth is healing and going through many physical changes in shape as this takes place - particularly in the first year. That all has to settle down before you get the final appliance. Even that one will have to be remade (or at least the tissue side of it relined) every few years to stay nice and tight and sealed when you are wearing it.

I have an obturator but here in the uk it is free on the nhs. I have had three in the past year the temp one then a more solid one and now one that fits the hole and pushes my nose up a bit!
Sorry I can't help with your question but just wanted to let you know you are not alone!

I am in Mesa AZ, so kind of your area. I had surgery and received an obturator a week and a half ago. You may have resolved your problem by now, but the CCC treating me referred me to a dental college in my area (AT Still) which has two specialists in this type of problem. My initial one is working well and I am going for a check and some adjustment tomorrow.