Baton Rouge Dentist

Why can’t my son’s dental work all be done in one appointment?

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We had a regular visit with my son’s pediatric dentist today. It was very frustrating. We were told that my son not only has to have several cavities filled, but he also needs to get caps on a couple of teeth. The frustrating part is that the dentist won’t just sedate my son and get it all done in one appointment. I have to bring him back several times over several weeks. Why? Is the dentist just trying to make more money off of me than he’s going to anyway?

James, Hyde Park, MA

Dear James,

Boy at the dentist's office

By stretching the work your son needs to be done over several appointments, it may seem that the dentist is trying to pad his pocketbook. As adults, we are often able to use sedation dentistry to get a lot of work done quickly and in the most comfortable manner. Unfortunately, that’s not always the best scenario with children and your son’s dentist may feel such.

It’s not a standard practice for most pediatric dentists to use sedation on children. Some think that when people are sedated during an appointment, they are asleep. This isn’t true. The medication used for sedation helps a patient be very calm and relaxed, so much so that they may not even remember much about the appointment, but they aren’t asleep. Dentists need their patients to be able to follow simple commands.

Why not use sedation?

Sedation does deal with medication, and with any medication, there may be side effects. Although patients under sedation are closely monitored, it’s not always recommended for children.

Another reason sedation isn’t routinely used is that pediatric dentists are used to treating children. It’s not unusual for their patients to feel scared or nervous, or for their patients to have considerable work to be done. Most likely your pediatric dentist has experienced your son’s same scenario several times and knows from experience how to get the work done in the safest, most comfortable, and reasonable way. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the most convenient way or the cheapest.

Speak to your son’s dentist before the work on his teeth begins and ask questions. He may be willing to work with you to create a treatment plan you are comfortable with or that is affordable. If you are still concerned, you could always get a second opinion for your son’s care.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry a family dentist in Baton Rouge, LA.

How can I get cosmetic work done cheaper?

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Is there such a thing as an affordable dentist? I had braces when I was in junior high, but once I was “done” with my retainer, they went crooked again.  I haven’t been regular with my visits to the dentist since I left home, so I have cavities. I’d like to fix my teeth now and my friend said  I should make sure to see a cosmetic dentist, but they said it was going to be an obscene amount of money to fix my teeth. They also got all bent out of shape when I asked if there was any way to do it cheaper. Are there any affordable dentists?

Katie, Dallas

Dear Katie,

There are affordable dentists, but if you want your teeth done right, be cautious. Cosmetic dentistry is not black and white. It is not an official area of study for dentists, so some who have had a two-hour class about Lumineers may call themselves “cosmetic dentists” in comparison to those who have taken extensive training on porcelain veneers to improve their skills. Because of this additional training, cosmetic dentists do typically charge more than regular dentists.

Some things to consider when looking for an affordable cosmetic dentist:

  • Ask questions. Some good questions to ask are about the dentist’s experience and schooling, and if there are pictures of work he did on other patients you can see.
  • Do your homework. Research the dentists on your woman-pointing-at-smilelist and see what experience other patients have had with them. Sometimes dentists offer free dental exams to understand your needs and to help you assess how comfortable you are with the office before doing any work. You can also call several dentist offices and ask for ballpark figures for the work you want to have done.  Compare the costs to the first dentist you visited. If the numbers for a dentist are significantly lower, that may raise red flags that that dentist isn’t as experienced or may cut corners.
  • Ask for your options. You were wise to ask if there was a cheaper way. Some cosmetic procedures are more costly, but there are often cheaper alternatives to improve your smile. Don’t be afraid to let the dentist know if something is more than you can afford.

With a little work on your part, you will find the right affordable dentist for you.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

I need to find an affordable dentist

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I am writing to see if you can tell me about some kind of agency or something that helps people find affordable dentists. I don’t have dental insurance right now. I found a dentist that does complimentary consultations, but the treatment prices they quoted me were frankly breathtaking. I know I have to have this work done, but I have to locate someone who has more reasonable rates.

I have a broken tooth, and it is really starting to bother me. It has been broken for quite a while, but just recently I’ve noticed swelling, and my face hurts when I wake up in the morning. In the last two days I’ve noticed the pain moving down my jaw, and my ear is bothering me, and my neck.

Can you give me a website or something? I appreciate any pointers.

Jay in Ferrisburg

Dear Jay,

What you describe sounds like an infection in your tooth, and it does indeed need to be treated. If you take antibiotics without first addressing the source of the infection within the tooth, you will make the problem worse. Oral antibiotics cannot reach the source of the infection unless you have a root canal treatment or have the tooth extracted. So even though you have to take care of this within your means, don’t try to cut corners by just taking an antibiotic.

Keep in mind, if you have a root canal treatment on the broken tooth, you may also have to have a porcelain crown placed over the tooth to protect the remaining structure. That will also add significantly to the bottom line.

Search for “affordable dentist” in your area, or just start calling to see who will work with you with payment plans or phased treatments. Some dentists are reluctant to advertise that they are “affordable” because they don’t want to leave the impression that their work is “cheap”. But with some diligence, you will be able to locate a dentist that will work with you.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge dentist.