Baton Rouge Dentist

Archives for October 2014

Teeth whitening didn’t work

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I had my teeth whitened. They looked great for a while, but now the stains are back. Is teeth whitening really some kind of scam?

Dan B. – Florida

Dan,

No. The teeth whitening worked. In fact, the stain removal is permanent. The stains you are seeing on your teeth now are new ones.

The food you eat and the drinks you consume all stain your teeth, especially if you drink things like coffee or eat staining fruits.

Usually your dentist lets you keep your trays. This way you can just get some new gel periodically to do a touch-up.  You shouldn’t need it very often.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Dentist said I need all my teeth crowned

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My dentist told me that I have to have all my teeth crowned because of TMJ. That sounds really expensive. Is there an affordable way to do it or am I destined for bankruptcy?

Danielle M. – Ft. Collins, CO

Danielle,

A full mouth reconstruction is an extremely advanced procedure. If I were in your position, the first thing I would do is get a second opinion. It is possible you need the procedure, but I’d want to be certain before doing anything quite so drastic. What other treatment options has your dentist tried.

Next, if it is determined that this is the right procedure, I wouldn’t be focused on who is the most affordable dentist. Instead, I would definitely be looking at who is the most qualified.  If a full mouth reconstruction isn’t done well, it can lead to serious problems that can mess with your quality of life. Horror stories abound of FMR’s that have caused people to no longer be able to eat solid food.

I know cost is a factor. In those cases, I would go for a no-interest payment plan that will let you pay it off in small amounts. Generally  Care Credit will do that. If not, you’ll have to do the treatment in stages, saving up before each installment.

No matter what the cost, it is imperative you remember skill is very important in this type of situation.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.