Baton Rouge Dentist

Price differences in dental implants

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I’ve been pricing dental implants. For the most part, dentists are about the same price. However, there are two dentists who are significantly less expensive than the others. I mean thousands of dollars difference.  Is there a reason not to go to these more affordable dentists.

Hannah L. – Minnesota

Hannah,

That’s hard to answer, but I would be cautious about anything that much less of a price.  There is a difference between affordable dental implants and cheap dental implants.  It could be as simple as this being a dentist new to implants and he’s lowered his prices to draw in business and experience.  This is a complicated procedure, so you’ll have to weigh how you feel about his or her experience.

Some dentists, however, are a little more unethical about it. The purposefully use cheap implant materials, to keep their cost down. That can cause serious complications, including infections and loss of jawbone.

I’d verify what kind of training the dentists have and go from there. Talk to him or her about why they are so much less expensive.  There are safe ways to get this procedure done affordably.

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

Tooth knocked out

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I got my tooth knocked out. What do I do if I don’t have a dentist?

Madeline K. – Ft. Worth, TX

Madeline,

You need to get to a dentist right away if you want any chance of saving that tooth. Generally, you have, at most, thirty minutes. I understand that you don’t have a dentist of your own, but there are dentists who treat non-patients in emerency situations. You can do a google search for an emergency dentist in his area.

You’ll also need to keep the tooth moist. Carefully, wrap it in a wet paper towel or put it in a small glass of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as you can.

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

Nuclear Teeth

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I want to whiten my teeth, but a couple of my friends have already done it and I think their teeth are too white. In fact, they almost look like they’ve survived a nuclear explosion and are radioactive. Is there avoid that “news anchor” white?

Tracy B. – Colorado

Tracy,

Tracy,

You are in complete control of how much whitening your teeth get. I’d suggest you get at home teeth whitening. That gives you more control.  You’ll simply wear the trays with the gel in it until you reach the level of whitening you are comfortable with.

There is nothing that will make your teeth go nuclear unless you decide to, so you should be just fine.

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

Affordable Full Mouth Reconstruction

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My dentist told me I need a full mouth reconstruction. To be honest it doesn’t surprise me. My teeth are terrible. However, the price he quoted is not doable. Is there any way to do this affordably?

Jana E. – St. Louis

Jana,

Generally, a full mouth reconstruction consists in getting porclelain crowns, dental implants, or a mixuture of both. It can be pretty pricey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to do have affordable dentistry.

Talk to your dentist about the situation. You can use different procedures, or staggar your treatment to fit with your budgetary restrictions. There are any number of ways to do this in a way that you can afford.

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

My dentist refuses treatment unless I quit smoking.

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I want to get dental implants, but my detnist is refusing me treatment because I smoke. Is that legal? I found another dentist who’s willing to give them to me. He’s way more affordable, but I wanted to check out whether I should be concerned about the other dentist first. He seemed a little too eager.

Benjamin S. – Chicago

Benjamin,

Your dentist is under no legal obligation to give you dental implants. There is a really good reason he is asking you to quit smoking. Dental Implants are a difficult procedure even under the best of circumstances, and they fail often. When you add smoking the the mix, it significantly increases the chances of failure.

The toxins from the cigarettes restrict the blood flow in your gums. That is going to make it hard for you to heal and could lead to the implants falling out.

What you’re asking your dentist to do is equivalent of asking a contractor to build a house on quicksand.

That alone should make you wonder why that other dentist is so eager. I’m guessing he’s so affordable because he cuts corners. So, he’s not likely to care if they fail. He’s just after the money.

There are ways to get quality affordable dental implants if that is what you’re looking for,  and I’m sure you could find a skilled dentist who is willing. But,  what is the point if you’re not going to give the procedure its best chance?

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

Store bought dental cement

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I had a crown fall out. I am out of town and wondered if a store bought white dental cement would work for my crown?

Joan A. – Missouri

Joan,

I’m sure it would cement your crown. The problem would lie in making sure your crown was properly placed before it was cemented. If you get it even a smidge too high it will cause you significant pain. If it is turn in the wrong direction even a smidge, it will likely throw off your bite.

Your best bet is to get it put back on my a dentist. You could do a search for an emergency dentist. They’ll see non-patients in cases like yours. Many of them will get you in the same day.

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

Teeth whitening didn’t work

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I had my teeth whitened. They looked great for a while, but now the stains are back. Is teeth whitening really some kind of scam?

Dan B. – Florida

Dan,

No. The teeth whitening worked. In fact, the stain removal is permanent. The stains you are seeing on your teeth now are new ones.

The food you eat and the drinks you consume all stain your teeth, especially if you drink things like coffee or eat staining fruits.

Usually your dentist lets you keep your trays. This way you can just get some new gel periodically to do a touch-up.  You shouldn’t need it very often.

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

Dentist said I need all my teeth crowned

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My dentist told me that I have to have all my teeth crowned because of TMJ. That sounds really expensive. Is there an affordable way to do it or am I destined for bankruptcy?

Danielle M. – Ft. Collins, CO

Danielle,

A full mouth reconstruction is an extremely advanced procedure. If I were in your position, the first thing I would do is get a second opinion. It is possible you need the procedure, but I’d want to be certain before doing anything quite so drastic. What other treatment options has your dentist tried.

Next, if it is determined that this is the right procedure, I wouldn’t be focused on who is the most affordable dentist. Instead, I would definitely be looking at who is the most qualified.  If a full mouth reconstruction isn’t done well, it can lead to serious problems that can mess with your quality of life. Horror stories abound of FMR’s that have caused people to no longer be able to eat solid food.

I know cost is a factor. In those cases, I would go for a no-interest payment plan that will let you pay it off in small amounts. Generally  Care Credit will do that. If not, you’ll have to do the treatment in stages, saving up before each installment.

No matter what the cost, it is imperative you remember skill is very important in this type of situation.

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

 

Can’t afford implants; can’t live with dentures

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At at my daughter’s birthday party. It was a huge deal. All her colleagues from work were there. We’re wishing her happy birthday and singing to her, when my dentures fall into the punch bowl.  It was one of the more humiliating episodes of my life. I can’t keep living with these dentures, but when I priced dental implants the cost was higher than I expected. Is there something in between?

Maureen L. – Indiana

Maureen,

What a horrible thing to have happen.  I am sure you never want to repeat the experience. There is a middle ground between dental implants and dentures.  Have you looked into mini implants or implant overdentures? They are just two affordable dental implant options.

You want to be careful not just to call around for the cheapest dentist. You could end up with a horror story of misplaced implants or other dental implant failure. Sometimes the cheapest dentists are the ones who cut corners in places that are unfair, if not dangerous, to the patient.

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

Can ER treat a dental emergency?

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I’m in a lot of pain. I’m pretty sure it is some kind of tooth infection, but I don’t have a dentist. Is it OK for me to go to the ER for a dental emergency?

Sandy J. – Ohio

Sandy,

Most ER’s do not treat dental issues.  They may or may not give you some kind of pain killer, but that will be about it.  So, you’ll end up paying a small fortune for ibuprofen or something similar.

If it is a tooth infection, just getting an antibiotic will not help. The infectious tissue has to be physically removed. There are emergency dentists that will see non-patients in emergency cases such as yours.

Don’t put this off. The infection will continue to spread and you will be putting your health at risk.

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