Tag Archives: Phoenix Dentist

Emergency Dentist

Is There Affordable Dentistry for the Unemployed?

My dad was laid off, after 30+ years with the same company. Can you believe that? It’s so annoying. Now he has a toothache he’s hiding, but I’ve noticed. He’s a proud man and won’t accept help from me. I know him enough to know that he’s trying to wait it out until he finds employment again. I’m worried whatever the problem is will grow and spread. Is there a way to get him affordable dentistry?

Abigail L. – Delaware

Abigail,

I love that you’re looking out for your father. I also like he’s a man who likes to stand on his own two feet. However, you’re right. He needs to get this treated. It can blow up into an infection and infections spread. Even in the 21st century, people die from tooth infections. He has a couple of options, though.

First, he could just go to his normal dentist. Even if he’s not what you’d normally consider an “affordable dentist“, if your father’s been a long time patient, he’ll almost certainly work with him on payments.

If your father’s dentist is inflexible and doesn’t do payment plans, it’s perfectly acceptable for him to see another dentist in emergency situations. This definitely qualifies as a dental emergency. Many emergency dentists also have payment plans. They do that because they realize people end up with tooth infections when they avoid the dentist because of cost. They’ll either have in-office payment plans or use Care Credit.

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

Emergency Dentist

Can I Self-Medicate Before Going to the Dentist’s Office?

I’m not a fan of the dentist. But, I’ve got a toothache and need to go. I have a valium prescription. Can I just take one of those before I go in? Also, I don’t have a dentist. Is there a secret passcode to get in quickly?

Stina L. – Georgia

Stina,

We’ll start with the secret passcode. Generally, if you tell a dentist you have a dental emergency they’ll try hard to fit you in. Most dentists are compassionate and got into the field because they want to help people.

Now, if you get that appointment we need to help you with your anxiety. While you can take valium, it will affect what your dentist is able to do. Some medications he’ll need to give you could be contraindicative for valium. I have a solution for you, though.

When you google for emergency dentists, look for one who also does sedation dentistry. This is actually better than valium. Depending on the type of sedation used, it can give you a completely relaxed, pain-free experience.

If, for some reason, you decide to just take the valium instead be sure you let the dentist know you took some, along with any other medication in your system. Even tell him about over-the-counter medication. It’s important you do that. It could save your life.

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

Phoenix Dentist

Think I’m Being Ripped Off By Pediatric Dentist

I’m so frustrated with my pediatric dentist. I’m about to take my daughter to a general dentist if they’ll take her, just to leave this clinic. First, they insisted that my daughter get dental sealants. I didn’t mind that because I see the benefit of getting sealants. What I did mind was them insisting I have her use nitrous oxide to get the procedure. In fact, they refused to do the procedure without it without giving an explanation. Then, after I forked out all that money out of pocket, several sealants fell out sometime between her getting them on and her next check-up six months later. Now they’re insisting I pay to have them done again. Can I just go to a different dentist? Will they make her use nitrous?

Deanna L. – Colorado

Deanna,

Yes, sealants are important for young kids. They have a hard time getting down into those crevices of their molars. Sealants help protect them from decay. I’m not sure about the insistence of nitrous. That sounds like an unnecessary expense. Placing sealants is fast and painless. The dentist just paints them on. I’m also not sure why they fell off so quickly, unless your daughter eats a lot of sticky or hard candy. Ideally, they should have offered to replace them.

To answer your other question, no your daughter doesn’t have to go to a pediatric dentist. General dentists are qualified to treat young children. The trick will be finding one who enjoys it. You want them to be pleasant and fun with your child. One way to know how they really feel about children is to ask when they first want to see children. If they say two or three years old, then you can be sure they enjoy children. If they say 8-10, I’d move on to another dentist.

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

Lumineers

Can I Get a Refund for Broken and Discolored Lumineers?

I had lumineers placed on my top six teeth. Five went on fine, but the sixth one broke as he tried to place it. Then, when the replacement Lumineer came in, it didn’t match the others. Can I just get a refund?

Jenna L. – MIssouri

Jenna,

IF you are otherwise happy with how the rest of the Lumineers look, I might give your dentist a chance to make it right first. If you don’t like the way they look overall, then, yes, I’d ask for a refund and go to a different cosmetic dentist for your smile makeover.

With Lumineers, especially, you often end up with an inexperienced cosmetic dentist doing the work. They’re advertised to general dentists as being an easy cosmetic procedure to place. While they may be easy to place, getting them beautiful is something completely different. That requires more skill.

If you decide to go for a refund and get a different cosmetic dentist. Let me suggest you look at some of their before and after photos. Also, many good cosmetic dentists offer a beautiful smile guarantee. In Dr. Peck’s case, he doesn’t permanently bond on your veneers until you’re completely happy with them.

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

Affordable Dentist

Affordable Root Canal Now

I fear I’m developing an emergency situation and need a root canal right away. I’ve had a cavity that I haven’t dealt with simply because of finances. I predicted I’d have enough money in two more paychecks. But, this morning I woke up with a swollen face. I fear it’s worse than I thought. Is there any way to deal with this in an affordable way quickly or am I stuck waiting for another month?

Laura O. – Illinois

Laura,

You’re in a bit of a pickle. I don’t want you to think I’m insensitive to your situation because I’m not. Before discussing your options, I wanted to make sure you understood how serious this is. It seems like you have some idea based on what you’ve written above. I just want to make sure you know that people still die from tooth infections. The good news is they rarely die from it when they get timely treatment. There is hope.

There are dentists who, not only strive to be affordable dentists, but will work with you on payments. Most dentists have payment plan uptions either in-office or through Care Credit. Let them know what’s going on and I’m sure you’ll find a dentist willing to work you.

Worst case scenario, you can go to your primary care physician and get some antibiotics. IT will not cure your infection. but it will buy you some time. Just don’t take too much time.

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

Affordable Dentist

Errors and Overcharges From an “Affordable Dentist”

I recently visited a doctor who advertised as an “affordable dentist.” One of my premolars became a problem suddenly. I was in agony and my whole face was swollen. I knew I couldn’t wait until I had more money and see my regular office, so I looked up the name of an affordable dentist online and scheduled right away. I thought I was lucky because he was charging hundreds less for the root canal, but my experience was horrific. He went through the process of doing the root canal and spent nearly two hours doing it. I was almost in tears because he kept jerking my head around and my mouth was open for practically the whole time. Then, he tells me that he wants to prepare the tooth for a crown then and there. He said that the decay was bad and he wanted to get at least that much squared away. I agreed to it, thinking the guy was looking out for me. When he was removing the cavity, I felt it give way and he muttered something and left the room. A few minutes later, another assistant came in and told me my tooth would need to be extracted.

I thought I was lucky because he was charging hundreds less for the root canal, but my experience was horrific. He was rough, made me keep my mouth open for two straight hours while he yanked and grabbed violently.  I was almost in tears.  Then, he tells me that he wants to prepare the tooth for a crown then and there. He said that the decay was bad and he wanted to get at least that much squared away. I agreed to it, thinking the guy was looking out for me. When he was removing the cavity, I felt it give way and he muttered something and left the room. A few minutes later, another assistant came in and told me my tooth would need to be extracted.

I agreed to the extraction and the doctor came back and did it. I wasn’t thinking and just left afterward, only to get a bill about a week later for the root canal and the extraction. I called the office and the lady said the doctor deserved to be paid for his time. Clearly, he was no affordable dentist, but can they actually do this? Is there a law or a rule that protects me here? This wasn’t my fault and I shouldn’t pay for both. I don’t think I should pay at all after facing such horrendous treatment. What now?

Scarlett – Washington

Scarlett,

It sounds like he was a little sketchy on the ethics in billing –. Certainly inconsiderate. I understand your frustration. You went to an affordable dentist because you needed the affordable part. This seems like a stab in the back.

My advice would be to first get a copy of your x-ray, so if you need a second opinion on whether he missed something you can get it. Then, talk with their office manager. Tell her it is fair for you to pay for the extraction. .

If that’s not enough, try talking to the dentist directly. Show your x-rays to your current dentist. He should be able to tell you if the other dentist ignored something obvious.

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

Emergency Dentist

Will An Emergency Dentist Treat a Painful Canker Sore?

I’m wondering if I need to schedule my husband an appointment with an emergency dentist. He has been in agony over a canker sore for the past several days. He’s not one to complain, but when he didn’t eat dinner last night I started to worry and I asked to look. The spot looks really angry and is about the size of a kernel of corn. It’s red and raised with white on the top. Also, this isn’t the first one he’s had. He had another one a couple months back, but it was nowhere near this bad.  Would an emergency dentist help him with this, do we need to see a regular doctor, or should we give it more time to see what it does?

Thanks,

Marie – Michigan

Dear Marie,

There may be no need to see an emergency dentist just yet, especially if you haven’t tried any treatments at home. Most of the time, these spots clear up in 10-14 days on their own. It’s just a matter of managing it until you get to that point.

There are several products you can try to see if they give him some relief. An oral anesthetic from the dental aisle of just about any grocery or drug store is a good place to start. You’ll also find products aimed at covering it and protecting it. These tend to come in either a tube or as little gel-like pads that adhere to the tissue. Covers are difficult to keep on, but they can add temporary protection from temperature changes and maybe long enough to eat a meal if he’s careful. If it’s looking like it might be becoming infected, a topical antiseptic should also be applied. Some of the patches and gels already have an antiseptic in them. You can also buy a product made especially for killing germs or do a rinse with a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water. Listerine is also a good choice. Although it’s not intended to treat canker sores, some people report pain relief from using it as well.

Covers are difficult to keep on, but they can add temporary protection from temperature changes and maybe long enough to eat a meal if he’s careful. If it’s looking like it might be becoming infected, a topical antiseptic should also be applied. Some of the patches and gels already have an antiseptic in them. You can also buy a product made especially for killing germs or do a rinse with a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water. Listerine is also a good choice. Although it’s not intended to treat canker sores, some people report pain relief from using it as well.

True canker sores can be caused by a lot of things, such as biting one’s cheek, friction from a dental appliance, injury, stress, and even allergies. Plus, there are other things that masquerade as if they were canker sores, such as oral cancer or viruses. If your husband has a lot of them, he may want to see a physician or dentist to have an evaluation done. It’s also a good idea to schedule a checkup if this doesn’t clear up within two weeks of the onset or if the pain gets worse, but it doesn’t have to be with the emergency dentist unless the pain is bad.

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

Pediatric Dentistry

Must I Stop Seeing a Pediatric Dentist When I Turn 18?

I love my pediatric dentist. I’ve been seeing her since I was five years old. I love her. The office is great. The staff is nice. Everything is good there. She has seen me through a lot. We talk about everything. I also have some anxiety issues and she has always been good with me about it. The problem is, I’m turning 18 in a few months.  Are they going to kick me out of the office and make me see a regular dentist? If they let me stay, should I feel weird about it?

Jessi – Georgia

Dear Jessi,

Typically, they do see kids, but they also take care of adults who have special needs and those who can be better served by the fun and relaxed atmosphere only a pediatric dentist can provide. However, every pediatric dentist has his or her own guidelines, but many of them are glad to continue seeing people until they’re ready to move on, even after they are officially a legal adult.

At this stage, you probably still have another year of high school anyway, so it makes sense to keep with what you have going for the time being, especially because you’ve got such a good relationship with her.

The only real concern is if you need to have serious dental work done. If you wind up needing a root canal, crowns, periodontal care, or something along those lines, your dentist may not be able to do them. It wouldn’t be because she “can’t.” She has the same training and schooling as any other dentist, but with additional training in working with kids. However,  kids don’t often need those kinds of services, and so she might not be set up to perform them or she might perform them so infrequently that she’d refer you to someone else.

This may not even be a concern that you have to face, though, as long as your oral health remains good for your remaining years with her.

In all likelihood, they’ll be glad to see you for quite some time, but you may want to call ahead and see what their policy is just to be sure. No, you shouldn’t feel weird about it at all. You’ve found a great dentist that you’re comfortable with and it sounds like she treats you well. That’s worth hanging onto and she’d probably be glad to know how much she’s touched your life.

You may also tell her how you’re feeling. She may know who the perfect dentist will be for you when you’re ready.  It will be much easier to see a new dentist before there’s a serious issue than after.

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

Lumineers

Two of My Lumineers are Changing Color

I got six Lumineers. I was happy with them, but two of them seemed a little darker than the others. The dentist assured me they were fine  and the difference in their appearance was just a matter of the lighting in his office. However, even at home they look darker and seem to be getting darker every day. There is a bluish tint to them. What do I do?

Elisabeth T. – Missouri

Elisabeth,

Based on what you’ve said, and bear in mind that I haven’t examined you, it sounds like there is not a good seal on two of the Lumineers. That would allow food and drink to seep underneath which is not only causing the stained appearance, but will lead to decay.

Talk to your dentist and give him a chance to make it right. If he seems unwilling, you can always get a second opinion. Pressure from a peer’s opinion saying that it is improperly sealed may persuade him to make it right.

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

Affordable Dentist

What If I Can’t Afford to Fix My Wisdom Teeth?

I need some help. I have a rotting and decaying wisdom tooth, that is causing severe throbbing and pain. Now the surrounding teeth are starting to decay; some already have holes in them. I’ve started to get pressure just to the side and below of my eyebrow, right along my left cheek bone closer to my ear. Should I rush to the ER or just get antibiotics and have it handled by a dentist when I can afford it?

Eric – Tennessee

Eric,
A very bad idea to try to get by or to try to just take some antibiotics. In fact, it won’t work.  An infected tooth is different than an infection in your body. The antibiotics only get to your blood stream, which won’t reach the inside of your tooth. The infection will just blow up again.

Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections. I wouldn’t trifle with an infected wisdom tooth. It’s swelling around your eye now. What if this infection spreads to your brain? What will you do then?

There are affordable dentists that would be willing to work with you. Do an internet search then tell them your circumstances., I’m willing to bet more than one of them will be willing to work with you.

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