Tag Archives: Phoenix Affordable Dentist

Affordable Dentist

Free dentistry at dental schools?

I’ve heard that you can get free dentistry at dental schools. Is that true? How do you find them?

Mark A. – Little Rock, AR

Mark,

Many dental schools will do cleanings and check ups at a significantly discounted price.  Not all of them will do any other type of dental work, so you may find that while you can get your teeth cleaned at their clinic, if they discover a problem, you will still need to see a professional dental clinic. That doesn’t mean it has to cost you a fortune.

There are affordable dentists out there who do quality work.  Some advertise as affordable dentists and some don’t, but are willing to work with you financially if you speak with them ahead of time.  Communication with your dentist is the key.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentists Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Need a dentist I can afford

I’ve never gone to a dentist. I’ve never really had problems with my teeth either, but now that I’m an adult i’d like to go.  I just finished college. I have a job, but it doesn’t provide dental and I’ve go loads of student loans.  I don’t know where to start in finding a dentist. I don’t even know how much it is supposed to be.

Daniel – Ft. Smith, AR

Daniel,

Congratulations for graduating college AND getting a job.  Those are two things that rarely happen together these days.  It’s scary getting started on adult life, but it is great that you are taking your oral health seriously. Don’t worry, there are affordable dentists.

To find out the norm for pricing in your area, I would call about 5 or 6 dentists at random and ask their prices for cleanings, filling, and crowns. That sampling should give you a reasonable range of what to expect.

After that, see what kind of reviews the ones that are closest to you get. Check to see if the ones you’re interested in have payment options that work with your budget. Their website should give you some indication of how they handle payments.

When you’ve done your legwork, you’re ready to schedule an appointment with your first choice and see how you like him or her.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix dentist Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

 

Affordable Dentist

How can I get dental implants when poor?

What do you do if you really want dental implants but don’t have the money?

Stacey A. – Oklahoma

Stacey,

It’s one thing to want a pleasurable item you can’t afford. It’s fairly easy to live with that. But, when you can’t afford something that would be best for your health, that is very hard to take.

You do have options. Many dentists find ways to give affordable dental care in situations like yours. One option, depending on the number of implants you need, would be phased treatment.

You could get one or two implants, while using a temporary treatment for your other teeth until you can save up more.

Many dentists have payment plans that would let you spread out the cost.  Some have zero interest.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentists Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

 

Affordable Dentist

Is there affordable teeth whitening?

I want to whiten my teeth because I need another job and my smile makes me look old. It’s kind of pricey. There are over the counter whitestrips that are A LOT cheaper. Do they really work?

Yvette M. – Alabama

Yvette,

Over the counter whitestrips will work, but not the same way that professional teeth whitening will. First, the whitening gel is considerable weaker than what you’ll get at a dentist’s office.

While they may seem more affordable, they will actually end up costing you more money. You’ll have to do many, many boxes in order to get the same results.

Your best bet is to find a dentist who will let you pay out your teeth whitening.

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

Affordable Dentist

I don’t get free dentistry with Obamacare

I thought i’d get free dentistry when I got my obamacare, but I didn’t. Is there some kind of special application for that?

Maurice I. – Benton, AR

Maurice,

Obamacare is designed for medical care, though not even that is free. Most people are having to pay a lot more than they did before Obamacare in order to subsidize the low income applicants. You need to understand that nothing is free, not even your medical care. Someone is paying for it.

That being said, there are some ways to get more affordable dental care. You can get cleanings at a dental school for a lot less money than other clinics because students are doing the work. In many of them, however, if you need any dental work done, such as crowns or root canals, you will have to go to a licensed dentist.

There are dentists who work hard to keep their prices affordable and even offer payment plans that are low and no interest. Call around. Let them know your financial situation and they’ll let you know if they’re able to work with you.

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

Affordable Dentist

My dentist doesn’t understand I can’t afford his recommendation

I have a chip on my tooth. I’ve not really had money to fix it, but I’ve been offered a great PR job on the condition I fix my tooth. It’s a reasonable request as I’ll be in front of a camera a lot. It will be worth, it, but I just don’t have the money to do an expensive treatment yet. My dentist wants me to get a Lumineer to fix it, but that is way over my budget. Isn’t there any other option?

Brooke S.- Oregon

Brooke,

I get frustrated when I hear about scenarios like yours. A dentist has an ethical responsibility to give patients all their options, not just the ones that make them the most money.

Dentist’s need to understand that not everybody works on the same type of budget and might need more affordable options for their dental treatment.

You do have another option. It’s possible your dentist doesn’t know how to do it and that isn’t why he mentioned it, but he had a repsonsibility to let you know about the option regardless. Have you looked into dental bodning? It uses composite material to repair your chip.  It doesn’t last as long as a porcelain veneer (Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers), but it is considerably less expensive.

It’s a least an option that will allow you to get your new job and then you can save up for the cadillac of repairs.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentists Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Affordable Dentist

More affordable dentistry in Mexico

I cannot afford some of the dental work my dentist says I’ll need. It is way more affordable if I go across the border to Mexico. I was hoping you can give me some hints on ways to make sure it is a positive experience.

Hannah S. – Little Rock, AR

Hannah,

There is no way to ensure a positive experience in Mexico. I know it may seem like it is more affordable, but I want to give you some things to think about before you make a final decision.  There are some very good reasons that costs are higher in the United States.  You think about whether or not these are worth the extra cost.

First, in the U.S. we have laws about sterilization of dental equipment and cleanliness of the office. You will find no such laws on the books in Mexico.  While there are plenty of dentists who would voluntarily keep things clean and sterile, it is not something I would like to wonder about when I’m about to get a procedure done.

Secondly, dentists in Mexico do not have to have malpractice insurance. You might initially think that is great and just makes things more affordable for everyone all around, but ask yourslef what recourse you would have if something went wrong.

That insurance actually helps protect you too. There is a system in place in Mexico for filing complaints through the government. However, most foreigners would find the system confusing and you’d have to know all the rules and regulations. Plus, the while their government will mediate, they will not force a dentist to correct his work or refund your money, so you’ll be left holding the bag.

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

Pediatric Dentistry

Teeth Grinding in Children

Q. Lately I’ve noticed my 3 year old grinds his teeth. He grinds mostly when he’s asleep, but sometimes while he’s awake too. He doesn’t seem to be bothered, but the sound of his teeth crunching goes right through me! Is this a habit I should try to break or get help for? What kind of damage can it cause?

A. I know it’s troublesome for parents to hear, but some teeth grinding in toddlers is normal. This is a habit that usually starts at about 3 ½ and goes through age 6. Experts aren’t exactly sure why toddlers grind their teeth. Many things from anxiety to pain from earaches and teething, and even malocclusion of teeth are said to be a possible contributing factor. However disconcerting, your child will likely outgrow it.  Sometimes incorporating an extra soothing bedtime routine or administering a dose of Tylenol if you know they are teething can help eliminate some issues that may be contributing. Make sure you have your child checked though if he or she are complaining of face or jaw pain. Whatever the cause, it’s likely not doing any damage to their teeth. A vast majority of kids just stop on their own, so as quickly as you noticed it, it can be gone!

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.