Monthly Archives: August 2017

Pediatric Dentistry

Is It Normal For Children to Freak Out About Cavities?

My son has always gone to the dentist just fine.  He’s even looked forward to the appointments. This last visit was a disaster. We found out he has a cavity. The dentist offered to fill it right then. That’s when everything fell apart. My son started screaming, went limp, slid out of the chair, and fled the room. Is this normal? I was mortified.

Sadie M.

Dear Sadie,

Pediatric Dentist

There could be a few things factoring into this.  First, it doesn’t sound like your dentist is skilled in working with children. Most children don’t do well when an unexpected medical treatment is suddenly thrust upon them.

He would have been better served if the dentist talked to him for a minute ahead of time to let him know what a cavity means and how easy it is to treat, in terms he could understand.

Talk to him about what he thought was going to happen. He may have heard a false horror story at school about what happens when you have a cavity at the dentist.

Maybe the dentist pulled out the needle for the anesthetic. That long puppy could scare a navy seal.  Dentists who work with children know ways of keeping that out of sight.

Sometimes children just can’t handle the idea of the needle anesthetic. Most pediatric dentists also offer sedation dentistry. This helps relax children. In fact, many of them completely sleep through the entire procedure.

I hope this helps.

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

 

Lumineers

Groupon for Lumineers? Likely a Bad Idea

I’ve become a Groupon addict. We can get things we’ve never been able to afford through this marvelous group innovation. Today I saw a Groupon for Lumineers. The price is fantastic! I’ve always wanted to get my teeth more attractive and this looks like an ideal way to do it. I just wanted to check with a dentist first to get a professional opinion.

Lacey L.

Dear Lacey,

There are a few things to consider before you hit that “Deal” button. First, have you had a consultation to make sure you are a candidate for porcelain veneers? Not everyone is a candidate. If you purchase that deal and it turns out you can’t get them, there are no refunds.

Second, what do you know about the dentist who will do the work? Not all cosmetic dentists are created equal. Lumineers are a bit notorious for being marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. This can lead to a poorly done smile makeover.

You’ll really want to research their ability to give a beautiful smile makeover. Ask to view some of their before and after photos of cases they’ve performed. They should have some type of smile gallery. This is generally examples of their absolute best work, so if you’re not thrilled with what you see, I certainly wouldn’t move forward.

Something else to consider is that Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers. It may be that a different brand would produce better results for your particular smile.

While there are some areas of dentistry where it’s okay to just look for the most affordable dentist, cosmetic work isn’t one of them. You want to find the dentist who can give you the best smile possible. Groupon will limit you to this dentist offering the deal. So, do your due diligence to be sure you won’t end up with a lemon of a smile makeover.

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

Affordable Dentist

Is It Possible to Get Affordable Dentistry with Attentive Care?

I needed to see a dentist but am between jobs. I googled cheap dentists and quite a few names popped up. I picked one close to me and went in hoping for the best.  I didn’t get it. In fact, I felt like I was on a conveyor belt. They rushed me in and out. Hardly asked any questions. I’m not sure if that’s normal, but I felt like a piece of cattle. I still need a couple more things done, but don’t have a ton of money as I’m living off savings right now. Is there a way to get affordable dentistry that still treats you like a human?

Carlton M.

Dear Carlton,

It’s great that you’re making an effort with your dental care even though you’re between jobs. Many people neglect their dental care in your situation, which ends up costing them more money and putting them in an emergency dental situation.

One thing to know is there is a distinct difference between cheap dentistry and affordable dentistry. Cheap dentistry usually means they lower their prices substantially in order to draw in patients. However, they have to make profits somewhere, so either they make it up with booking more patients than can be treated with attentive care or they cut corners by using sub par materials. Neither of those work out well for patients.

There are dentists who chose to be affordable in order to help people in your situation. They won’t have the rock bottom prices but they’ll be reasonable and they’ll be willing to work with you on payments so you can get the treatment you need.

Go ahead and do another search on affordable dentists (not cheap), then check their reviews to be sure the treatment other people received was the quality you deserve.

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