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Ask the Dentist: I Need Dentures, But I am Afraid of Going to the Dentist
ASK THE DENTISTI am 23yrs old and I am terrified of the dentist.
I have alot of teeth missing, and too much work to be done on the ones that are left. I want to get dentures. I was wondering what is the price to put me to sleep and pull the remaining teeth out. I do have insurance, but it is a pre-paid dental services and I am not sure if the cover anything or not. I am willing to pay out of pocket but need an to know a ball park range to start saving.
Thank you.
Misti Scott
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Hi, Misti –
Thanks for the note.
http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/sedation-dentistry-t-27.html
I put the link above to have you read about the possibility of having IV sedation when you have your dental treatment. It is a neat way to avoid the most difficult part of dental treatment. Check it out.
The only way that I can tell you what you need and teach you what your options are and the different cost of different options is to have you come in for an exam and consult. Then you can know exactly what the finances need to be, and we can even contact your insurance carrier and help you to know if they will help you with the bill.
Please give us a call and come for an exam and conversation . You will find that it answers many of the questions and concerns that you have.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
Labels: cosmetic removable partial dentures, financial options
What is the starting cost of dental implants. My main concern at the moment is a missing front tooth. I need an idea on how much it will cost since financing is not an option. -Barbara
Hi, Barbara,
The cost will depend upon what is necessary. Depending on what conditions are present, the cost of restoring missing teeth can be more than you expect. In our opinion, you cannot get a true picture of what your needs are, and therefore what your costs will be, over the internet. There is much often more going on than you realize. I assume -- that you are assuming -- you have a simple situation. Some are straightforward and some are complex.. Having an implant plus a crown to restore it can vary approximately from $2500 - $5000 if a single implant is what you need..
Ø Have you already lost a tooth?
Ø Is the spacing right to just restore one tooth? Is the spacing crowded? Is there too much space?
Ø Do you have root canal needs? Have there been root canals done on teeth nearby?
Ø Have you had a fall or a blow?
Ø Have you lost bone in the area you are asking about?
Ø Do you have a tooth that you can tell will be lost?
Ø Do you have periodontal problems with this area and adjacent teeth?
Ø There are certainly times when the bone is OK and adequate, that an implant is a great idea, and there ore other situations in which an alternate treatment would be better for you. Dental implants are terrific, but there are times when they are contra-indicated (lack of bone, esthetic demands).
Ø Do your other front teeth have needs? Matching teeth color can be tricky, and there are times that other fillings need to be replaced or other crowns need to be done at the same time.
Truly the only way that we can understand your needs and give you an estimate of costs for your needs is for you to come into the office and let us take x-rays, photos, study models, etc. Please call and come by for an exam. You will learn what your whole situation is and what your options are. There are always several options.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905
Labels: cosmetic dental implants, cosmetic dental procedures, financial options
Intraoral cameras are fantastic tools used by cosmetic dentists to examine a variety of unhealthy tooth and gum conditions. These cameras are light years ahead of previous dental mirrors that were once used to examine cavities, gum disease, and dental abfraction. They provide us with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy, and they help patients make better decisions for themselves by letting them see what the dentist sees.
Before intraoral cameras were developed, people would try to diagnose themselves whenever they felt pain in their teeth or gums. This did little more than increase anxiety, because even with a bright light and a good mirror, the problems that are visible convey little meaning to people without advanced dental training. For example, if a person saw blood around his or her gums, or what appears to be a crack in his or her teeth, panic ensued. They would go straight to the dentist, who would then employ special mirrors and lights to examine the mouth closely.
The problem with this method was that it does not allow patients to see their own mouths in any amount of detail. If a dentist then recommends a procedure that may involve multiple office visits or finances people feel uncomfortable investing, patients may hesitate before authorizing treatment. There is much to be said about the old saying: seeing is believing. When people confront the unknown, they typically draw back in fear. When the unknown becomes known to them, however, they realize there is really nothing to fear. When patients can see clearly the problems in their own teeth and gums, and have the dentist patiently explain how these problems can be painlessly and cost-effectively fixed, they gain a new confidence, and they find new resources to fund their own health and well-being. If they do not, we have a number of programs that can assist patients in paying for the services we perform.
This has often proven true when we discovered that older, silver-mercury amalgam fillings in teeth are no longer working, or they have fallen out. We immediately recommend cosmetic dental bonding as a replacement for these fillings. However, many people hesitate in this economy to spend the money on this service until they see the actual holes in their teeth and the impending dangers of further decay that will inevitably result if the tooth is neglected. The intraoral camera shows them in full color and high-resolution detail a magnified, completely accurate image of the current condition of each and every tooth with a failed filling. This is normally all it takes to convince people that dental bonding is nothing to put off if a filling falls out.
The optical portion of the intraoral camera resides at the end of a very long, thin shaped and sized much like a pen. The dentist can move it anywhere in the mouth without hurting the patient. The instrument then sends a signal through a digital feed that is interpreted and displayed on large, high-resolution color monitor. Minor fractures can be magnified to great detail. Fillings that are on the verge of falling out can be closely examined. Gum disease can be examined in thorough detail, and its type and severity accurately diagnosed. What is even better about the intraoral camera is that it allows the patient to participate in this examination every step of the way.
This allows the fears of the patient to be calmed when they arise, and it also allows for all options on the table to be discussed from a more informed perspective. Strategies for making procedures comfortable and painless, along with procedures done with advanced technology such as the periodontal laser, can all be considered and explored from both a treatment perspective and the perspective of financial resources. Labels: dental bonding, dental examination, financial options, intraoral camera, payment plans, periodontal disease, tooth fillings
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