Baton Rouge Dentist

Archives for November 2020

Looking for a dentist to bring out the best in a Snap-On Smile

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After my online research about getting an affordable smile makeover, I know that I cannot afford cosmetic dentistry. So, I looked at other options and learned about a Snap-on Smile. It’s clear that this isn’t the best option, but anything will look better than my teeth.

Many dentists online criticize the Snap-on Smile, but when you don’t have money for porcelain veneers, there are no good alternatives. The shape of my teeth is irregular, and they look mismatched. Based on everything I read, I hope to find a dentist who can adjust the Snap-On Smile to make it look better and not so bulky.

Is it possible to find a dentist with reasonable fees to flatten the Snap-On Smile teeth, especially near the gumline and deepen the grooves between the teeth so it looks more natural? And does any dentist have the tools to do this, or should I look for a Snap-On Smile dentist? I was hoping for a dentist with an artistic eye who won’t make the appliance look worse. I know that my regular dentist is not willing to do this. I already asked, and she refuses. Thanks for your help. Elysia from TN

Elysia,

Our priority is to protect patients’ oral health, so we must be upfront about your expectations from a Snap-On Smile. It will not give you the smile makeover you’re hoping for. The appliance is not designed to do that.

Reasons a Snap-On Smile Won’t Give You a Smile Makeover

As you read during your research, many dentists criticize the Snap-On Smile. And it’s because they or their peers have used it with disappointing results. Any honest dentist will tell you that a Snap-On Smile will give you an acceptable smile—not an attractive smile. Although the smile might look natural from a distance, when you’re close enough to talk to anyone, it will be easy to tell that your smile is not real.

  • Tooth color – The teeth have a uniform flat whiteness with no variation in color like natural teeth.
  • Tooth shape – The shape of the teeth in a Snap-On Smile does not look real. Think of artificial flowers that look artificial. You understand their purpose to provide decoration, but you know they are fake. It’s the same with this oral appliance.
  • Limitations of the appliance – Although you feel confident about helping a dentist get the smile just the way you want, the appliance’s limitations will not allow it. And an artistic dentist will not want to be involved in helping you create a cosmetic dentistry nightmare.

A Snap-On Smile is designed to be a quick way to make a lousy smile look half-way decent. It won’t last if you wear it every day.

Dental Bonding – An Affordable Alternative to Porcelain Veneers

Before-and-after dental bonding photos
A dentist with cosmetic dentistry training can use dental bonding to reshape teeth and fill small gaps

Your comments suggest that you found no solution between porcelain veneers and a Snap-On Smile. Were you able to find information on cosmetic dental bonding? An artistic dentist can apply dental bonding to your teeth to conceal chips, reshape your teeth, and fill small gaps.

Cosmetic dentists know how to blend composite to match your natural tooth color, translucence, and gloss. Although bonding doesn’t last as long as porcelain veneers, it is a fraction of the cost.

We recommend looking for a cosmetic dentist, scheduling a consultation, and discussing your treatment options. You can also ask about the dentist’s financial options for making treatment affordable.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge sponsors this post

Need wisdom teeth removed but I don’t have dental insurance

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In January, a corner of my bottom right wisdom tooth broke. It eventually fell off, and gradually, little bits of the tooth are falling off. About two months ago, the wisdom tooth started to hurt, and I knew it was trouble. The pain was so bad that I made an emergency appointment with a nearby dentist. She gave me an injection to numb the pain and said that I need an x-ray and probably need a referral to an oral surgeon to remove all my wisdom teeth. I’m nervous about my wisdom teeth now, but I cannot afford oral surgery. Not much is left of the tooth, and it looks like the pulp is dissolving. I don’t have dental insurance. I will start a new job in January, and I hope to make it until then. But the job doesn’t offer dental insurance. Will the broken wisdom tooth eventually fall out? Konnor from Albany, GA

 

Konnor,

A decayed and broken wisdom tooth will continue to decay and fall out. But you’re at risk of a tooth infection that can spread to your jawbone and create a pus-filled abscess. The dentist you saw for the emergency appointment was right. It’s best for an oral surgeon or a dentist skilled in extractions to remove the tooth.

We are not sure what you mean about the tooth pulp dissolving. But if the pulp was exposed and infected, it’s dead. And if the pulp is dead, the tissue and nerves inside it are dead too, and you should not feel any sensitivity or pain in your tooth.

No Insurance and a Broken Wisdom Tooth?

Man frowning and holding the side of his face; for Baton Rouge emergency dentistry from Dr. Ryan Perry.
Don’t ignore tooth pain or swelling. Schedule an emergency dental appointment.

If you don’t have dental insurance and your wisdom tooth is badly broken, your next step depends on whether you feel any pain or sensitivity. Keep in mind that these suggestions apply to wisdom teeth only. They do not apply to other teeth, including first or second molars.

  • Pain, sensitivity, or swelling – When you feel pain or sensitivity in a tooth or see swelling, it is a dental emergency that you need to take care of right away. A lingering infection will get worse, spread into your jawbone, affect other teeth, and eventually get into your bloodstream. Even if you don’t have dental insurance, you can find a dentist or oral surgeon who offers payment plans. Your oral health isn’t worth the delay.
  • No pain, sensitivity, or swelling – Eventually, your tooth will decay on its own and fall out. But if you can see a dentist for extraction before it falls out, please do so. If you begin to feel pain or have swelling, see a dentist right away. Don’t mask the problem with over-the-counter pain relievers. And please don’t let anxiety keep you from getting the tooth removed. Most dentists offer some form of sedation to help you relax.

Another option

The ideal solution is for you to get the tooth removed. If you live in an area where there is a dental clinic or a dental school, they might be willing to remove your tooth at a reduced rate or no cost at all. You can call a few local family dentists’ offices to ask if they know about a clinic in your area.

 

Best wishes.

Ryan Perry, DDS, a family dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, sponsors this post.