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Archives for June 2019

Will teeth whitening trays work instead of orthodontics?

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Last summer I did an at-home teeth whitening procedure from a cosmetic dentist. The trays still fit really well and feel just like they did last year. I am supposed to wear a retainer at night to keep my teeth from shifting after orthodontics. Do you think that I could use the teeth whitening trays instead of the retainer?

I seem to have lost it and I cannot afford a new one right now. I really don’t want my teeth to shift out of place. Even if this is a temporary solution, it would help me out. What do you think?

-Shannon in Indiana

Shannon,

Unfortunately, teeth whitening trays cannot be used instead of a retainer. It sounds like they feel like they fit well. But, they aren’t constructed with the same material as a retainer. Teeth whitening trays are intentionally made of pliable material so they are comfortable to wear while you sleep. And a retainer is made of a firm, hard plastic and metal in some cases, so they are strong enough to keep your teeth positioned correctly. It just isn’t a feasible option to use the whitening trays as an orthodontic appliance.

woman smiling with bracesWithout knowing more information about your orthodontic treatments, it is unclear how long it will take before your teeth begin to start shifting. If it has been quite awhile since you finished your orthodontics, there is less of a risk of immediate shifting because the teeth are likely anchored in place. However, this is very difficult to predict and there is a chance that they may shift. So, it’s probably not worth it to hold off for too long.

Your face and mouth are always changing and shifting, depending on how old you are. After the age of 18, the shifting tends to slow down, but it can last well into your young adult years. This is why orthodontic patients are instructed to wear a retainer to ensure the teeth don’t move. Every case is different though. Some people experience immediate shifting without a retainer and others may not experience any movement.

You need to get back in soon with your orthodontist and discuss your options. It is possible that he or she would work with you on a payment plan of some sort. But, it isn’t wise to wait for any length of time without wearing your retainer at night. It is ideal to have a new retainer made as soon as possible.

Thank you for your question. Dr. Currie, DMD is a cosmetic dentist in York, PA who also does orthodontics.

Is Greece a good place for dental implants?

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diagram of a dollar symbol inside a cracked eggI am trying to help my uncle find a way to get affordable dental implants. I’ve heard of people saving a lot of money to go to Mexico to get dental implants. But, it doesn’t sound like they have the same standards we have in the U.S. So, it didn’t sound worth it. Then, I was reading an article online the other day and it was talking about Greece being a good option for all-on-4 dental implants. Do you know anything about that? The article mentioned savings as big as 70% over what we pay here. Maybe it’s too good to be true. But, with the money saved, I could take my uncle on an amazing vacation too!

-Pete in South Carolina

Pete,

Unfortunately, Greece is well known for having really high standards in medical or dental care. It is likely very comparable to receiving dental care in Mexico. The article may have mentioned the popularity of dental care in Greece for those living in Britain. This is because of the long waiting lists in Britain and probably lower prices. However, the quality of care cannot be compared to what is done here in the U.S.

All-on-4 dental implants is a pretty major surgery with multiple visits to the implant dentist. In order for this procedure to be successful, the dentist must have a high skill level. Also, the number of cases that the dentist has done is important too. Sure, the dentist may have been trained in all-on-4’s, but how many cases has he or she done and at what success rate. These are all questions to consider with any implant dentistry. It will be difficult to get a true feel of the dentist without having a consult in person with your uncle.

Here are some things to consider before traveling out of the country for dental implants.

  • Recover time is imperative for all-on-4 dental implants. Seeing the sights will not be feasible right after the work is done, nor will a long flight back home.
  • If there are any complications, it will be a long, costly trip to return for follow-up care.
  • If it doesn’t go well, you will end up paying what you saved originally on care in the U.S. to start completely over.
  • How can you confirm that the dentist has the proper training and credentials if you won’t be meeting them in advance.
  • If the procedure fails, you will likely have no leverage to have the work corrected.

The bottom line is that traveling for such extensive dental work is never a good idea, especially when it takes you out of the country. Follow-up care and visits are not an option. Whether it is Mexico or Greece, there are too many unknowns.

You will be better served to have a consultation with multiple dentists in your area and be upfront with them about your uncle’s budget limitations. There are low or no finance payment options available and some dentists will phase the treatment out of over time to help patients to make dental implants more affordable.

Thank you for your question. Donald H. Currie is a dentist located in York, PA that does everything from general family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, to reconstructive and dental implants.Please reach out if you have any other questions we could assist you with.