Monthly Archives: January 2014

Affordable Dentist

Disparity in dental costs

Can you tell me why there is such a disparity in different dental costs? One dentist in my area charges $900 for a dental crown while another charges $2,100. How can there be such a difference in their pricing? I’m trying to save money, but this is such a huge difference, I’m wondering if something is wrong with the first pricing.

Gennifer F., – Hot Springs, AR

Gennifer,

You are wise to realize that the cheapest deal is not always the best deal.  You want an affordable dentist, but not one that cuts corners in important areas.

The difference in pricing is caused from a lot of factors. Sometimes it is a matter of the type and quality of the materials used. There are some materials, like the type of porcelain used  or whether it is all porcelain verses porcelain fused to metal.

Some times dentists cost less because they work hard to keep their fees down, without sacrificing quality.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Lumineers

How Can I Be Sure I Won’t Wind Up With Horse Teeth After Veneers?

I’ve really wanted to get veneers for quite some time. I’m continually self-conscious of my stained and cracked front teeth and that makes me examine the teeth of the people around me more. Sometimes, I look at someone’s smile and it’s gorgeous and natural, but other times, it’s obvious they’ve had work done. This scares me. I’d hate to spend gobs of money, only to wind up with horse teeth. How can I be sure I’ll have natural-looking, beautiful teeth if I have veneers done?

Thanks,

Emma- Franklin, TN

Dear Emma,

Mr. Ed had a great smile, but it’s understandable that you don’t want one to match.  When you invest in cosmetic dentistry, you’re investing in yourself and you deserve to have a smile you are proud of.

You might appreciate Lumineers, which are thinner than traditional veneers and because of this, often look very natural.  However, it’s best not to get your heart set on any one type of treatment.  Instead, choose a great dentist and lean on their cosmetic expertise.  If you go this route, your dentist can help you assess which treatment will best give you the results you want.  Be sure that in your initial consultation, you bring up your concerns about having bulky horse teeth, because each option has benefits and limitations and your dentist will need to know all he can about your ideal smile before you begin.

Mr. Ed is quoted as saying “Never send a man to do a horse’s job,” but with those chompers of his, I also have a feeling he’d agree that you should never choose just any dentist to do cosmetic work as well.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin PEck.

Affordable Dentist

Broken fixture

I had called around to find the least expensive place to get dental implants. I found a dentist who was $1000.00 cheaper than everyone else. But, the fixture broke and now I have a serious infection. I don’t know what to do.  I spent everything I had to get this implant and now I am worse off. Is there any way to fix this?

Liz C. – Mesa, AZ

Liz,

I am really sorry this happened to you. I say this over and over again– there is a big difference between cheap dentistry and affordable dentistry.  Generally when something is significantly less expensive than almost every other place you call, it means they are cutting corners in places that are advantageous to themselves, but not to the patient.

In this case it sounds like he used substandard materials in order to save money on his end. This puts you in a real bind. Unfortunately, this procedure will have to be completely re-done after the infection has healed.  You’ll probably also need some bone grafting in order to ensure their is enough bone support for the new implant.

I realize you don’t have money for this procedure right now. You may have to get a removable partial denture while you save up for the second implant procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.