Baton Rouge Dentist

Are redo dental implants more affordable?

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I have already had dental implants once. I’m now learning that I need to have them redone and am wondering if any of the expenses carry over to the second attempt. To give some background, I am learning that my original implants didn’t take and now my dentist is saying I need to have them redone and is expecting me to pay full-price for the procedure.

Is this advisable?

Thanks,

Mandi

Dear Mandi,

I’m not sure what your timeline looks like, as you didn’t mention how long ago you received your original implants. It usually takes six to 12 months for them to fully integrate with the bone. I’m wondering if you’re still within this time frame. While poor placement, infections, or some medical conditions can cause problems with the healing, it is rare for them to not take at all.

If your implants have in fact failed, the first step is to determine the root cause. Hopefully your dentist has already discussed this with you. However, if this discussion has yet to take place, try to find out the cause prior to any work being done.

In regards to the second procedure being more affordable, some sort of discount or comped work would be advisable. It’s unclear if your implant failure could have been predicted, or prevented. If it indeed could have been prevented, you should not have to pay a dime. If this is the case, request a refund and find a more skilled dentist. It would also be a good idea to get a second opinion before moving forward.

This article was provided by affordable dental implant provider, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can I whiten my teeth if I have fillings?

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Hello! I am a woman in my early fifties and am interested in whitening my teeth. However, I have a filling on one of my front teeth that is not the exact same color as my teeth. I am concerned that the filling will not whiten like my natural teeth. Will this be the case? If so, do I have any other options?

Thank you,

Karen

Dear Karen,

You are correct. The filling will not whiten. You can address this by first whitening your teeth. Then, after a couple of weeks have passed, have your filling resurfaced to match your whiter teeth. It is crucial that you wait a couple of weeks before doing this in order for the whiter tooth color to settle after bleaching. If you resurface too early, you’ll chance running into the same problem with the colors.

If you have any tooth decay, you will need to have this addressed with a dentist prior to whitening, then redo the fillings at a later date.

“Affordable Dentist” Rip-off

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I had the side of my face swell up. I knew this was likely some kind of dental emergency, but couldn’t afford to go to my dentist. He’s sort of high end, because, for most part, I believe you get what you pay for. I decided I needed an affordable dentist for this, which I was sure would be a simple procedure that any general dentist could do. Worst case scenario, I’d need a root canal. I was so mistaken. He looked at the tooth and did decide it needed a root canal. He was doing the procedure. I’ve had root canals before, so I know what to expect. This guy was awful. He jerked by face everywhere, grumbled under his breath, and even said a few words I wouldn’t think would be appropriate in a profesional setting. Then there was a crack and he cursed and stormed out of the room. He comes back and says the tooth has to be extracted. I agreed. Then I get a bill and he’d charged me for both procedures, including his botched one. I tried talking to the office about it, but they said I shouldn’t expect him to work for free. Do I have any recourse?

Kerri L. – South Carolina

Kerri,

This is a tricky situation. While he does deserve to be paid for his job, it’s bad form to charge for a botched procedure, especially for a dentist who advertises as an “affordable dentist“. Those patients generally don’t have a lot of discretionary money to begin with. There are three possible options you can do to deal with the billing.

First, I’d try calling and speaking directly to the dentist, instead of the billing department. It’s possible the dentist will admit he shouldn’t have charged you for the root canal treatment gone wrong.

If that doesn’t work, you can bring your x-rays to your regular dentist. Of course, that will require explaining why you went to another dentist. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can always go to a completely different dentist for a second opinion. Some dentists even do free dental exams. IF the dentist says you were misdiagnosed, there’s a good chance you can get your money back.

Barring that, you can try the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Whether you will get any money back will mostly depend on the skill of their dispute resolution specialist.

I’m sorry you’ve had this experience. If you find yourself in another bind, you may just talk to your dentist about the situation. He (or she) would likely allow you to work out a payment plan, especially because you’re an established patient.

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

Think I’m Being Nickel and Dime’d to Death by My “Affordable Dentist”

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I intentionally chose an affordable dentist out of a directory because I do not have dental insurance. I’m a little behind on my regular checkups, so I expected to run into some snags, but I was totally unprepared for the total bill. First off, they charged me for a more expensive “deep” cleaning and for some kind or rinse or medication that was applied during it. On top of this, they hit me for two different kinds of x-rays, and then they recommended I get a fluoride treatment and come back in a few weeks for a follow-up visit with the hygienist, which also has a charge. I’m already out a few hundred bucks, and this doesn’t even include the fillings I need to have done. Does this sound right coming from an “affordable dentist?”

Javi – New Jersey

Dear Javi,

An affordable dentist is usually one who either has lower prices or works with you to find the most affordable treatment in your budget. Sometimes, when you’ve been away from the dentist for a long time, it is a little pricey at first. This is actually designed to save you money in the long run. If they can get your smile healthy, it will keep you from need expensive repairs or from losing your teeth.

As for the things you were charged for, a deep cleaning is fairly common when it has been a while since your last cleaning. If your gums were inflamed and you had a lot of buildup, the hygienist probably did what’s known as a full mouth debridement. If you had periodontal disease, you may have received scaling and root planing. In either case, a follow-up appointment is fairly typical. They want to see if your oral health improves or whether you may need additional treatment. Sometimes, a deep cleaning can be enough to set you on the path to good oral health, but if you’ve been struggling for a while, you may need more help. You will have to talk to the hygienist or someone in the office to find out what kind of cleaning was done and why they felt it was necessary, but nothing seems out of order with that.

As far as the x-rays go, those sound standard as well, as even an affordable dentist needs them to make a full diagnosis. It’s typical to have a panoramic, which shows your whole mouth and jaw, taken every few years. Bite wings, a set of four, let the dentist see between your teeth and catch decay. Those are often done on an annual basis.

The cleaning solution and the fluoride are personal choices. Because you’ve been struggling with either gingivitis or periodontal disease, killing all the bacteria with a medicated rinse is helpful. Some offices charge for this service and some do not. The fluoride was likely recommended to help prevent decay, though it’s sometimes offered to adults with sensitive teeth, too.

Going forward, it might be best for you to have a discussion with the office staff before a visit, so you know what to expect in terms of procedures and costs. You can also pick up a good dental plan from a reputable company for a yearly cost that’s on par with the costs of your regular checkups, and usually covers them entirely. It won’t help you with the visit you’ve already had, but it can help turn any dentist into an affordable dentist in the future.

Almost all affordable dentists have payment plan options so that should help.

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

Is There An Affordable Way To Re-do Porcelain Veneers?

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I’m hoping you can help me figure out how to find an affordable dentist to re-do my porcelain veneers. I’ve been ashamed of my smile since childhood. I called around to get the best deal after I got my first real job, but to be honest, it doesn’t look natural. In fact, it looks almost wooden, which is worse than my old smile.  I need to get it redone, but I’ll need to find an affordable dentist to do it.

Mary P. – West Virginia

Mary,

You’re definitely going about this the wrong way. There are quite a few procedures where finding the most affordable dentist is feasible. Cosmetic dentistry, such as porcelain veneers, isn’t one of them. In fact, you’re almost guaranteeing yourself bad results, which is what you have now.

In all honesty, if you want a beautiful smile, you’re going to have to change the way you approach it. When you consult with the dentist, I want you to ask to see their smile gallery. That is a group of before and after pictures of cosmetic work.  Ideally, you’ll want to see full face and close-ups.

Be certain that they’re showing you actual photos of their work.  Some less scrupulous cosmetic dentists will just show stock photos and pass them off as their own.

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

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.