Baton Rouge Dentist

Are Affordable Dentists A Safe Choice?

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You often hear you get what you pay for. I know I need to find a dentist, but I really don’t have a lot of money. Would I be foolish to seek out an “affordable dentist”? Are they affordable for a reason?

Jason B. – Florida

Jason,

It all depends on how you go about it. If you’re simply looking for the lowest price, that could end up biting you in the end. There is a difference between a cheap dentist and an affordable dentist.

A cheap dentist cuts corners with materials or tries to run patients through quickly. Both “techniques” are designed to help them make up the income from their bottom of the barrel pricing.

An affordable dentist finds ways to keeps costs down, without compromising patient care. So, how do you tell the difference between the two?

It’s fine to do a search for an affordable dentist. But, the next step would be to read their patient reviews. What do people who’ve already been to their practice say about them? Did they feel rushed? Did they have problems with the work done after a few weeks? Were they thrilled?

If a dentist has slightly higher prices, but great reviews, it will be worth it. Most dentists are willing to work with you on payments anyway.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Finding Affordable Dental Care for My Mother

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My mother is on disability. She really needs some dental care or I’m afraid she’s going to lose her teeth. Unfortunately, her disability doesn’t seem to cover any dental care. Is there an affordable way to get her taken care of?

Sara L. – Idaho

Sara,

It’s lovely to see children stepping up to care for their parents.  Sometimes medicare will cover dental issues, but if she’s new to diability she might be in that limbo period.  Though, sometimes they only cover emergencies, even after they kick in.

Your best bet in finding your mother affordable dental care, is to first do a Google search for the term “affordable dentist“. Then, you can narrow down your choices by checking out their reviews.

Many dentists are cognizant of and compassionate toward the hardships faced by seniors in making ends meet. They often have low and no interest payment plans, so they can get their work done and then pay it off gradually.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

I can’t afford to get my wisdom teeth out?

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I have a rotting wisdom tooth. It was hurting, but the pain has moved from the tooth to my cheek and eye. I just can’t afford to have it removed. Can I remove it myself and then go to the ER for some antibiotics or will the ER just remove it? You don’t have to pay them the same day.

David D. – Pennsylvania

David,

I am being completely serious when I tell you this. You cannot afford NOT to have this wisdom teeth removed. You have a serious infection and it is spreading. It’s already at your eye, guess where it will go next?  Your teeth are too close to your brain to not get this dealt with. It could get life threatening.

Unlike with other infections, antibiotics alone do not solve a tooth infection. The infected tooth has to be removed.

If you go to a dentist and explain your situation, almost all of them will work with you to make this affordable for you. Most of them have payment plans, some with zero interest.

Please don’t put off getting this treated.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Horrible care at a free clinic

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I went to a free clinic to get a dental crown I couldn’t afford. It’s fallen out and now I had to pay a different dentist to put it back in. Will it fall out again?

Serena N. – North Dakota

Serena,

I’m very sorry you had a bad experience. Usually at these free clinics there is good care. It’s generally dentists that have a private clinic and voluteer their time. I’m surprised the quality was poor.

I don’t think you will have to worry about it happening again. Most dentists never have a crown fall out in there entire careers. I’m sure the second dentist did a fine job.

You don’t have to wait for free clinics. There are dentists who work to have affordable care for their patients.

Be aware the cheapest care isn’t always the best idea, as you found out at the clinic. You want a dentist who is willing to work with you, but still has a quality practice.

This blog is brought to you Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can’t afford to fix my chipped tooth

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I fell. I survived—my tooth didn’t. At least, it’s not the same anymore. It was chipped. I went in to see my dentist and he said there was an easy solution. He told me to get two porcelain veneers. He said two because he said it’s hard to match just one tooth. I was excited that I would not have this ugly chipped tooth anymore. Than I saw the price. My jaw almost fell open. Is there no more affordable treatment?

Micah B. – South Dakota

Micah,

Well, your dentist was right about one thing, but wrong about a couple others.

First, yes, it is hard to match just one porcelain veneer. So two would be easier. Actually, the standard is six. However, you don’t even need porcelain veneers.

If you just have a chipped tooth, the standard solution is dental bonding. This is a much more affordable procedure than porcelain veneers.

Your dentist is also ethically obligated to give you all your treatment options. I’m supcicious that he didn’t do this.  Unless there is something about your case I’m not aware of, it sounds like he was just trying to get you to do the most expensive solution.

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

Another victim of the new Star Wars movie

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Ever since the new Star Wars movie, it’s been all lightsabers, all the time. My sons are having light saber fights almost 24/7. I was rounding the kitchen when a lightsaber struck me directly in the mouth. One of my front teeth are a little loose. Do I need to see an emergency dentist?

Elaine F. – Birmingham, AL

Elaine,

I guess that’s better than a blaster, unless a storm trooper was behind the gun, because they rarely hit their targets anyway.  You’ll want to go in to have a dentist look at the tooth fairly soon. It’s likely just the ligament was stretched, but you want to make sure there’s not too much trauma.

They can stabilize the tooth while it heals. Most dentists make room in their schedule for last minute emergency appointments for cases like yours.

If your dentist doesn’t accomodate you and you’re concerned, there are dentists who will take non-established patients the same day in the case of emergeny.

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

Need too much work done

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I just switched dentists because I moved out of state. The new dentist said I need a ton of work done. Way more work than I have the money for. Are there more affordable ways of getting a bunch of work done, like a bulk discount I can ask for?  Give me the inside scoop and deals.

Benj. – Milwaukee, WI

Benj,

There isn’t some inside passcode to get significant secret discounts, if that’s what you mean, but there are ways to do this treatment affordably. My suggestion would be phased treatment.

What I would do first is ask your dentist to list what you need in order of priority. Then do one or two treatments at a time, as you can afford it. Combine that with some low (or no) interest payment plans from a medical card, like care credit and you’ll be able to get all the work done in now time.

Also, be sure to talk to your dentist and let him or her know your financial situation. They may have some specific specials or plans unique to that practice which could be helpul.

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

Dentist says extract my teeth and get implants

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I have severe gum disease. My dentist is recommending I remove my teeth and get dental implants instead. I can’t afford that.  I can barely afford a dentist, which is why I have gum disease. Are there any alternatives?

BreeAnne W. – Detriot, MI

BreeAnne,

I want you to get away from this dentist as fast as you can.  Don’t waste another penny or second of your life with this hack.  Thinking about this logically, if your peridontist is so advanced that he can’t save your teeth, what makes you think dental implants will be retained?  You’ll spend tens of thousands of dollars and then lose the implants.

Even if the implants would be fine, I would want to do everything possible to save your natural teeth first.

Your first step is to get to an affordable dentist. Call around. Most dentists aren’t like the fraud you’re currently with.  They care about patients. It’s why they got into their field. Tell them your situation. They’ll work out a way for you to afford treatment.

You’ll want to get this gum disease dealth with as quickly as possible, in order to try to save your teeth.

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

What if I can’t afford the treatment my dentist insists on?

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My dentist said I need dental implants. I just plain can’t afford him.  I told him I would rather get dentures, but he said that would ruin my jawbone and I really need implants.  What do I do if I can’t afford the treatment? I’m not going to sell my house in order to get my teeth fixed.

Ali B. – Tucson, Arizona

Ali,

There are very few things that irritate me more than a dentist who instists on the ideal treatment regardless of the financial circumstances of their patients. It’s not only inconsiderate, it’s unethical.   Your dentist is ethically bound to tell you all the legitimate treatment options.

Yes, it is not ideal.  Yes, it will affect your jawbone. But, sometimes patients need affordable dental options . This may be the best treatment for you right now.  Then, if things change, you can upgrade later.

If your dentist has trouble understanding that, I suggest you look for a more affordable dentist.

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

Can’t afford to fix my mouth

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My parents never took me to the dentist. They’ve never really bothered me, but I was alway embarrassed that I’d never gone. I’ve gotten my first real job and one of the first things I did is take my first trip to the dentist. I was in for the shock of a lifetime. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but most of my teeth need either crowns or replacing. There is no way I can afford this kind of dental care.  I’m so afraid I’m going to be a toothless granny before I’m even thirty years old. Is there any affordable solution?

Whitney M. – Ohio

Whitney,

While there is an affordable solution I will tell you about, before you go any further I think you need to get a second opinion. If your teeth weren’t bothering you, I find it hard to believe you will need that much work. It’s not impossible, but I just don’t find it very likely.

If it turns out there is a lot of work that needs to be done, there is a way to get affordable dentistry. One way is to do phased treatment. The dentist can list out the work that needs to be done in the order of urgency.  Then you get the most urgent work done and slowly save up to do the rest.

This will enable you to eventually get everything done at a rate you can afford to do.  But, like I said before. I would get a second opinion first.

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