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Archives for July 2014

Is pain and swelling a dental emergency or can it wait?

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I am trying to determine if my son’s injury is a dental emergency or if we can wait another day until our normal dentist can get us in? He took a hockey puck to the mouth, you gotta love teenage boys. Anyway, I can’t tell if he is playing tough, but there is some definite facial swelling and discomfort. I can’t tell whether his teeth are messed up? Do you think we can wait or do I need to call an emergency dentist somewhere else in town?

– Becky in California

Becky,

Boys will be boys – isn’t that the truth. If he isn’t normally a complainer and is continuing to mention discomfort, it would probably be wise to treat it like a real dental emergency. If the tooth is chipped or damaged in anyway, the sooner your get in is better than later.

It sounds like you have contacted your regular dentist, but it is questionable if you have made it clear of the urgency in the situation. It would be good to call them again and explain that you are dealing with a dental emergency and you are unsure of the status of your son’s teeth. If they can’t accommodate you, then it would be good to get him in elsewhere today. If you tell them that and they can’t fit you in, find another emergency dentist in your area.

If there is any kind of infection that has begun, the treatment needs to be done right away. Or if you see someone else and determine that a small dose of antibiotic will hold him over until you can get in with your regular dentist, then it is worth it. At least you will know.

This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry.

Is this an affordable quote for dental implants?

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I have been putting off getting dental implants for over a year because I couldn’t afford them. But I simply can’t stand the fact that everywhere I go, I hide my face out of embarrassment. I finally moved forward with getting a quote. I need three and the dentist gave me a total of $5K. Do you know if I can get them more affordable? That is a lot of money!

– Barry in Texas

Barry,

It is always good to do your research and that especially holds true when it comes to dental implants. But it is imperative that you do not have a deal chasing mindset with this kind of treatment. Cheaper isn’t always better, as you’ve heard – that couldn’t be more true with dental implants.

All dental implants require two separate stages, including the surgical placement of the post and then the restorative phase where the porcelain crown is permanently placed. It’s difficult to give prices because there are many factors involved. But generally speaking, $1,000 would be a very low fee for each component. Therefore, you are looking at closer to $6,000 for replacing three teeth. A higher end of the spectrum would be more like $2,500 per component for a grand total of $15K. So your $5K price quote sounds like a sweet deal.

Yet, you cannot decide purely based on price. Far too many patients have fallen into this trap when searching out affordable dental implants and ended up with loose or infected implants, implants that fell out, or a hole host of other problems. This is because implant dentistry isn’t a regulated area of dentistry. So any dentist can claim to do implants. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have had any advanced training. And to do dental implants well, a dentist must undergo extensive training beyond dental school. So although they are expensive, be very careful not to be lured in by price alone.

Also, for that price, be sure to get a detailed breakdown of the services proposed. Is it for three full dental implants? Or are there any incorporation of a dental bridge or partial denture included? A good implant dentist will take the time to thoroughly explain all your options and answer every question before moving forward. Proceed with caution! The cost of a failed dental implant is far too great in the long-run, not only for your pocket book, but your quality of life.

– This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry.