Baton Rouge Dentist

Can I Go Back To This Dentist?

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Hello,

I went to see a cosmetic dentist in my area. I wanted to straighten my teeth and whiten my smile, so he recommended getting porcelain veneers. I was all set to make my first appointment when I got the estimate for my treatment. It was thousands of dollars over my budget! I asked if there was an affordable or alternative option, and they seemed upset with me.

I haven’t been back since. I had my heart set on having him as my dentist, but I don’t think he wants to work with me. What can I do?

Beatrice, from Lexington, Kentucky

 

Hello Beatrice,

Being able to speak honestly with your dentist is important. Since you voiced concerns over payment, your dentist should have mentioned other options. You can straighten and whiten your teeth without veneers. You can try orthodontics, or get a take-home whitening kit. You could start with a couple veneers and get more as you can afford them. Since he refused, he’s not willing to work with you, and isn’t doing what’s best for you. Dentists may be comfortable with certain solutions, but a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude will not get them very far.

You should get a second opinion from another dentist. Being upfront about your cost concerns is best. Hopefully, your next dentist will work within your limits to create the best treatment plan for you.

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

Am I Too Young For Dentures?

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Hi,

As a child, I never learned how to take care of my teeth. I also never went to the pediatric dentist, either – I didn’t see any dentist until I was in my twenties. When I finally went in, it was for a toothache and the dentist found that nearly all my teeth had serious issues. I was quoted an insanely high treatment plan estimate – nearly $10,000, even with insurance! I can’t afford that, but I’ve been going in whenever there’s a problem. Since then, I’ve had multiple teeth pulled, and I don’t see that stopping in the foreseeable future. I asked if I could just get dentures instead, but was told I was too young (I’m in my 30s). Would dentures really be that bad? It’d be nice to have a beautiful smile for once. Am I really too young for dentures?

Thank you,

Bebe, from Versailles, Kentucky.

 

Hi Bebe,

It’s difficult to fix a problem 30+ years in the making, but finding a supportive dentist will be a good start. Your dentist should have taken your concerns into account. Given your background, it’s not so unheard of to get dentures, even at your age. Your dentist should design a treatment plan that that saves any healthy teeth they can, instead of getting all of them extracted at once. This can be done over time and will save you money.

The only issue with dentures is that they will not feel like your natural teeth. While you may be a candidate for a partial or full upper denture, you can also consider implant overdentures, though implants would increase the cost.

Once all your teeth are extracted, the process of resorption will begin; your jaw will begin to break down over time, and this can lead to facial collapse, where the face is shrunken in appearance. Dental implants in the jaw will halt this process. If you get your teeth out now, you will be dealing with bone loss for the next few decades.

Dentures are not bad, but you should definitely save as many teeth as you can, and hold onto your natural teeth as long as possible. In your case, dentures would improve your smile, life, and confidence, but will lead to the issue of bone loss later on. Take your time with this process, and find a dentist you can trust to lead you through this.

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

 

 

Can a Dentist Stop My Husband From Snoring?

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Someone said a dentist can stop you from snoring. Is that right? If so, sign my husband up. I’ve not slept well in weeks.

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

Well, get him to the dentist. In many cases, snoring is caused by sleep apnea. This is when the muscles in the back of your throat relax into your breathing passage. If they only relax part way, he has mild sleep apnea and it often manifests with the vibrating, not so resonant tones of snoring.

However, this condition, if left untreated can get worse. The muscles can relax all the way into the breathing passage, leading to obstructive sleep apnea. Maybe you’ve heard your husband wake up suddenly with a snort and then go straight back to sleep. That could mean he’s stopped breathing momentarily and his body shocked him “awake” to get him breathing again. This can happen hundreds of times a night with a sleep apnea patient.

Even with a full night’s sleep, they wake up completely exhausted. There are other symptoms too, that you can read on our sleep apnea page.

Fortunately, the solution can be quite simple.

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

Are my fillings making me sick?

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I have been getting more and more sick. My doctors can’t figure out what is wrong with me. I’ve been doing some research on almost anything to try to see if I can come up with anything. Through that I learned that amalgam fillings are loaded with mercury. My mouth is full of fillings. Could that be what is making me sick?

Annette- Boston

Annette,

I couldn’t tell you what is making you sick. I can tell you that the American Dental Association has said that amalgam fillings are safe.  I know many patient’s are growing increasingly concerned. If you’re worried, I suggest you contact a mercury-free dentist in your area and ask if they do sanitary removal.

They can take out the fillings and exchange them with composite fillings. You could at least see if that helps you feel better. At the very least, it will give you peace of mind that you at least tried. Plus, composite (white) fillings are better for your teeth.

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