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Affordable Dentist

Is it Possible to Save Time AND Money at the Dentist?

ThereI have a large family. It’s nearly impossible for me to pay for everyone to get their dental work done twice a year and afford it without spreading it out throughout the year. What that boils down to is we’re at the dentist EVERY month; more if someone needs a filling or crown. What I’m looking for is a dentist who will let us all come on the same day, but pay it out throughout the six months. Is that possible?

Sandy B.

Dear Sandy,

Yes, that’s possible but it depends on the dentist. Your best bet is to look for someone who calls himself an affordable dentist. They’re generally more willing to work with patients, especially those in your situation.

The other thing to look for if you want your family to all get treatment is to find a dentist who treats both adults and children. There are many general dentists who are happy to treat children.

However, don’t just jump at the first dentist you see who meets these two criteria. Check their reviews. You want to make sure they’re skilled and thoughtful with patients. You don’t want a dentist who is going to cause your children to dread the dentist.

In fact, if you find a great dentist who works with whole families, does great work, and is good with patients, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to afford to go. There’s a medical “credit card” of sorts called Care Credit. The best thing about this is you can set your terms. Depending on your credit, you can even get zero interest payment plans and there’s no penalty for paying it off early.

I hope this helps you get the dental care you need without feeling like you have to live at the dentist’s office.

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

Emergency Dentist

Why Doesn’t My Dentist Consider My Broken Crown an Emergency?

I was flossing my teeth and my temporary crown broke. My dentist has an emergency line. I called him and told him what happened. I wanted to come in right then,, but he said to come in the morning and he’d try to work me in. Why doesn’t he consider it an emergency?

Katie S.

Dear Katie,

If you had some other symptoms, such as pain, swelling, or a fever then it would be a true dental emergency. I wouldn’t be too upset at your dentist. He is having you come in first thing in the morning. They’ll make you a priority. They do understand how important it is and will place a new temporary.

It’s not uncommon for a temporary crown to break. They aren’t as strong as their permanent replacements. Now, if your dentist would have said see you in a week, then I would have said he’s being neglectful. Seeing you first thing in the morning sounds like he cares.

I know you’re worried. It’s scary being the patient and having something not go according to plan. But, just sleeping overnight won’t damage the natural tooth which is there. Your dentist wouldn’t put you at risk.

Just don’t take any unnecessary risks like eating on the damaged tooth.

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

 

 

Pediatric Dentistry

Can You Help Me Understand a Pulpotomy?

My son’s dentist says he needs something called a pulpotomy. I tried to ask him questions about it, but he gets annoyed and feels like I’m questioning him. I know he’s the dentists, but this is my son. I don’t want to just have a procedure done on him without understanding it.

Laura L.

Dear Laura,

I hate to hear that your dentist has you afraid to ask questions. Yes, he’s the dentist, but part of his job is to make sure you understand why he’s recommending certain procedures and gives you all the options. Especially as a pediatric dentist, you’d think he’d understand that. There’s nothing more precious to you than your child. If he can’t understand that, you need another dentist. You’re not stuck having to go to a pediatric dentist if your options are limited. There are general dentists who are great with children. Whoever you go to, I’d love for you to be able to ask as many questions as necessary for you to feel at peace.

Now, onto your question. Think of a pulpotomy as a mini root canal treatment for baby teeth which are infected. It’s usually done on molars which need to last until your son is around twelve years old. Otherwise, if he loses a molar, his teeth will shift causing crowding with his adult teeth. If his molar is infected, it does need a pulpotomy.

The procedure is fairly simple and your son won’t think of it any worse than a normal dental appointment. The pulp is removed from the roots of the tooth. Then it’s daubed with a disinfectant such as formocresol. When that’s completed, the tooth will be sealed. Usually, they’re covered with a stainless steel crown.

If it turns out the tooth has to be removed, make sure the dentist puts a space maintainer in its place so the teeth don’t shift.

I hope this helps you. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need.

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

Lumineers

Dentist Won’t Give Me the Color Lumineers I Want

My dentist agreed to give me Lumineers. In fact, he even suggested it when I told him I was interested in remaking my smile. Our disagreement is about the color. I want them very white. But, he insists they need a stain or they won’t look natural. I don’t want to do this until we’re in agreement. Is there some way to convince him? Or is it the Lumineers that are the problem? Do I need a different brand?

Mandy B.

Dear Mandy,

I think you need a different dentist. He doesn’t seem to understand cosmetic dentistry. In dental school, we’re taught that a stain needs to be placed in order to make it look natural. But, let’s be honest, if you wanted your teeth to look natural, why would you get a smile makeover? Cosmetic dentistry is different than general dentistry. The key is to create the smile your patient wants. IF they want a bright, white smile, that’s what they should receive.

To answer your other question, you can achieve brightness with Lumineers or any other brand of porcelain veneers. You’ll probably need to find another dentist in order to accomplish this. Your dentist is too set in the older ways of doing things.

You can do a search for a cosmetic dentist in your area. Then ask to see some of their before and after pictures to see if you like the type of results they get with their cosmetic work. After that, I’d check with their reviews on some sites such as Google or Yelp. This will help you get an idea of they have a friendly chairside manner.

It’s perfectly fine to go to your regular dentist for all your general needs. Then go to someone else for more specialized cosmetic work.

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

Affordable Dentist

Dentist is Humiliating Me Because I’m Broke

I felt like a total failure when I went to the dentist. I hadn’t been able to go for two years, because I don’t have insurance and I have to save up for this kind of thing. It turns out those were two bad years for my teeth. I need five fillings and two crowns. First, the dentist derided me for not coming in sooner. Then, when I told him I couldn’t afford all the work he lectured me and said if I didn’t I would lose all my teeth or die. I was so humiliated because he said all this in front of his staff. But what is a patient supposed to do if they can’t afford something? I can’t produce money out of thin air.

Louis K.

Dear Louis,

That was bad form on the part of your dentist. It was unfair of him to lecture you for something you have no control over. It’s even more unfair that he humiliates you for needing to do this in stages. And, you should know, it is totally fine for you to do this in stages. Not everyone can afford to do all their work at once. You need to find a dentist who is willing to work with you financially.

In the meantime, have this dentist list out the work which needs to be done in order of priority. Which cavities or infections are further along. Do those first, giving yourself time to save up for the other procedures. There are also dentists who work with Care Credit. It’s a medical credit card, which will allow you to have all the work done at once (if you’d like), then pay it out. Often, depending on your credit, you can choose your terms. Some have zero interest.

Your dentist is right about one thing, though not the way he handled it. People do still die from tooth infections. In fact, a father in his thirties passed away this past February from not getting to the dentist in time. Some patients make the mistake of thinking just taking an antibiotic will be enough. It won’t. It will stave off an infection for a while, but because there is no blood stream in a tooth, there’s no way for the medicine to reach it. A dentist has to physically dig out the decayed material. So, while you can put this off for a bit, don’t wait too long. That’s why I asked you to have the dentist list out the work in order of urgency.

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

Affordable Dentist

Are All Dentists Judgmental?

I’ll admit I don’t get to the dentist as often as is recommended. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just I can’t afford it. Not only do I not have dental insurance, so everything must be paid for out of pocket, but I lose income by going. I’m paid by the hour and dentists only seem to be open during normal working hours. I have to miss work to go. Essentially, I’m charged twice if you think about it. Even though I don’t go very often, I do try to go every two years. I rarely have a problem with my teeth, but I get a lecture every single time. I’ve switched dentists every couple of years for that very reason, but no matter who I go to, there’s still that lecture. Why are they so judgmental? Why can’t they seem to understand it’s a sacrifice for many people to get to the dentist?

Avery L.

Dear Avery,

I can understand your frustration. Here you are trying your best, making sacrifices to even get to the dentist and when you do, they treat you like someone who doesn’t take care of things. First, I want you to know that not all dentists will lecture you. In fact, some dentists will just be grateful you came and tell you so. Both sets, judgemental and non-judgmental, likely have the same mindset behind their response. They care and want you to get the proper care for your teeth. They go about it different ways, some more productive than others, but they mean well.

It sounds to me like you want dental care, but you need an affordable dentist. There are dentists who work to keep their fees down. They may even work with your schedule, so you don’t lose income. Explain your work situation. It may not be that they hold regular Saturday or evening hours, but would be willing to meet with you twice a year at less than peak times so you don’t lose income to get your teeth cleaned. They wouldn’t want you to advertise they’re doing that, but would be willing to help.

Another option is to consider using a program such as Care Credit. It’s a medical “credit card” of sorts. It allows you to go ahead with treatment and then slowly pay out the bill for the services you receive. Depending on what type of credit you have, you may even be able to get zero interest payments.

Something patients don’t generally consider is how much going to the dentist regularly saves them money, health, and time. If you get your teeth cleaned regularly you’re less likely to develop a cavity. If you do happen to develop one anyway, they’re often caught so early that a simple, small filling will be enough. When things are left to progress without early intervention you end up with a more invasive (and costly) procedure, such as a root canal treatment, or worse, an extraction and the need to get a tooth replacement.

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

Emergency Dentist

Please Tell My Boyfriend He Needs An Emergency Dentist

My boyfriend is in so much pain he can’t eat. He still has his wisdom teeth at 24. The gums are swollen. He insists it happens periodically and goes away. It looks like one of his gums has a flap in it. That could be the problem but I think a dentist needs to look at it. I don’t know how to convince him to go.

Liz B. – Montana

Liz,

You may not be able to convince him, but you’re right, he needs to be seen. “Normal” pain for wisdom teeth would be aching in the arches. That happens because the other teeth are being pushed. However, even if it was normal pain, if it’s recurring it’s a good idea to remove the wisdom teeth. If he was under the care of a general dentist they’d have told him that.

Your boyfriend’s pain is not normal. In fact, it’s dangerous. This could blow up into an infection quickly. It likely already is one, given that he’s in so much pain he can’t eat. This infection needs to be dealt with. If he doesn’t already have a dentist he needs to be seen by an emergency dentist. People still die from tooth infections. They can blow up quickly and then it’s too late. Just this past February, there was a news story about a 26-year-old father of two, in California, who died because the infection from his tooth spread to his lungs. People often underestimate how essential proper dental care is.

That gum flap you described could be a big part of the problem. It may be opening just enough for food to get trapped in there. If so, bacteria will thrive and spread, causing an infection. It’s likely they’ll recommend their removal.

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

Pediatric Dentistry

Bummed My Son’s White Filling Keeps Falling Out

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been going to a pediatric dentist for my son. I wanted a white filling for him. The dentist understood that and gave him one. Or, at least he tried. He’s given him three and all of them have fallen out. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think it’s the pediatric dentist. He’s a respected dentist. He knows what he’s doing. Can you help me know what’s going on? I don’t want to give him a mercury filled filling.

Christina – New Jersey

Christina,

I understand your feelings about mercury-free fillings. Many patients are opting for them. Some patients even insist on them. With children it’s tricky. The process is completely different than with ye old silver amalgam fillings. Composite fillings work almost like a glue. The surface is etched and then the composite is bonded to it. As you can imagine, even a tiny bit of moisture missed in during this bonding process will destroy the bond, which is why a lot of dentists prefer to use amalgam when they’re working on back teeth or helping wiggly children. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Without an examination it’s impossible to tell what the actual culprit is. But, moisture is the likely bad guy. With adults, you can usually work around this and take steps to keep the tooth dry during the procedure. Doctors generally use a mixture of cotton rolls, air, and dental dams to isolate the area they’re working on. Kids, especially little ones, have the tendency to fight this kind of stuff. They’ll move around in the chair, push their tongue into the preparation, and they aren’t typically fond of dental dams. So, when you get to the point where a parent really wants the white filling and the child can’t cooperate enough to keep it dry, sedation during the procedure becomes the next solution.

Dental sedation is not like surgical sedation. He will be conscious, but completely relaxed and very sleepy. It will help him stay still and cooperative during the procedure and is perfectly safe.

If you want to, you can get a second opinion from another pediatric dentist to determine if moisture is the actual issue. Then make a decision from there.

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

Lumineers

My Dentist Is Trying to Force Lumineers on Me

I am feeling really pressured by my dentist. I told him I wanted to deal with my tooth gap, but don’t want braces. I’m too old for a mouth full of metal. He keeps insisting I get Lumineers. Six of them! That’s incredibly expensive. The tooth gap is only between my two front teeth. Is that really my only solution?

Lisa W. – Indiana

Lisa,

Wow! Dr. Peck does Lumineers, but just for smile makeovers. There are much less invasive and less costly solutions for something as simple as a tooth gap. First, though, let’s address braces. I certainly understand you not wanting a mouth full of metal, especially as an adult. I don’t know if you’re aware, but dental technology has improved significantly. We now have much better options available for orthodontics. Invisalign, for instance, can straighten your teeth with aligners people can’t see, even at a conversational distance. They can also do it in half the time of traditional braces.

But, if you’ve got your heart set against any form of orthodontics you still have another option. In fact, the typical solution for a tooth gap is to use dental bonding. Bonding uses the composite resin, like what you’d get in a white filling. This will not close the gap, like orthodontics, but it will fill it in so it looks closed. You’ll need to be certain to go to a cosmetic dentist, so you’re sure they know how to match the material to your tooth. You want it to be seamless.

While Lumineers are a massive overtreatment for what you’re trying to do, there is an exception. If there are other things about your smile you want to change, Lumineers can do anything you want. They can make your teeth longer or wider. They can change the color of your teeth. They can even change the shape. It truly can re-make the entire character of your smile.

If you get either of the last two options, their color is permanent, so if you’re not happy with the current brightness and color of your smile, now is the time to change that. Get your teeth whitened, then your dentist can match your bonding or Lumineers to the new spectacular color of your teeth.

Never let a dentist pressure you into a procedure, especially a cosmetic procedure. Lumineers are pricey. They can be worth it for what they’re designed to do, but using them for a simple tooth gap is an overtreatment. It sounds to me like your dentist is just try to make a quick buck at your expense.

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

Affordable Dentist

Am I Being Ripped Off By My Affordable Dentist?

I intentionally chose an affordable dentist out of a directory because I do not have dental insurance. I’m a little behind on my regular checkups, so I expected to run into some snags, but I was totally unprepared for the total bill. First off, they charged me for a more expensive “deep” cleaning and for some kind or rinse or medication that was applied during it. On top of this, they hit me for two different kinds of x-rays, and then they recommended I get a fluoride treatment and come back in a few weeks for a follow-up visit with the hygienist, which also has a charge. I’m already out a few hundred bucks, and this doesn’t even include the fillings I need to have done. Does this sound right coming from an “affordable dentist?”

Celia

Dear Celia,

Affordable dentist can mean a different thing from one dentist to another. There isn’t an objective, standard fee for anything where someone who’s below that is considered more affordable. He could just mean he finds the most affordable solutions to your case. Or maybe he’s slightly lower than other dentists in the area.

However, you’re more concerned with the specific procedures. Most of these are fairly common if it’s been a while since you’ve gone to the dentist. The two types of x-rays are standard care. One is a panoramic, only done every few years. The other, the bitewings, are annual. These help the dentist detect decay between your teeth.

If it’s been a while since your last cleaning, a deep cleaning may have been necessary. If your gums were inflamed and you had a lot of build-up, the hygienist probably did what’s known as a full mouth debridement. IF a patient has gum disease, they also often do scaling and root planing. In either case, a follow-up appointment is fairly typical. The reason for that is to be certain your situation is improving. They’re trying to forestall anything serious happening and keep you out of an emergency dentistry situation.

The cleaning solution and the fluoride aren’t always necessary. But, with gum disease, killing all the bacteria with a medicated rinse is helpful. Some offices charge for this service and some do not. The fluoride was likely recommended to help prevent decay, though it’s sometimes offered to adults with sensitive teeth, too.

Many offices that advertise as affordable will almost always have some form of payment plan available. I’d talk to the office and see what they had to offer. Ask them also to give some details on your prognosis and what to expect for future care.

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