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Affordable Dentistry

Affordable Dentist Cost a Fortune

I don’t have insurance and I needed to have a crown and two fillings done. I shopped around for an affordable dentist and picked the one offering the best rate- they’re all dentists right? Well, I go in and everything’s a hassle. The office staff is rude, the doctor spends almost no time with me, but he does agree to do the work right then and there. I give him the go ahead and he’s rough. Very clearly in a hurry. He finishes up and tells me to come back in two weeks. I stop by the front office to settle my bill and it doesn’t match what they told me over the phone. Every single item is higher and they tell me it’s because there was more work to be done. I was mad. What’s the point in a quote if they don’t stand by it? I paid what they told me to over the phone, but they say the rest is due at my next visit. It turns out this “affordable dentist” was the second most expensive on my list. Am I stuck paying the bill? What recourse do I have?

-Jeff

Dear Jeff,

It sounds like you ran into a whole lot of communication errors, but not every affordable dentist operates this way.

Quotes are particularly difficult to give over the phone- so much so that many offices refuse to give them. It is normal for treatment to be broken down by individual procedures. For instance, a basic crown is one fee, but if the tooth has to be built up to receive the crown there is another. There are also different codes for a tooth that only needs a filling on one side of it, versus two, three, or more. The logic for this is simple; it takes more time and more skill to do more procedures. In calling on the phone, the office can’t possibly know how many surfaces of your tooth need treatment. While it would have been prudent of them to explain this when you asked, and especially before you began treatment, it likely comes down to a breakdown in communication.

The amount an affordable dentist charges will likely come down to several factors, including his skill level, the average rates of the region, and the quality of the materials he uses. It is tough to select an office only based on cost, because those who offer significantly lower rates tend to be using extreme cost-cutting measures to make it work. Generally, it’s a far better idea to look for an office with a good reputation, and then find out what they do to help make care fit within their patient’s budgets. Some will offer payment plans, financing, and other options, so you’re never sacrificing quality of care to get a lower rate.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Matt Roper.

Affordable Dentistry

What if I can’t afford wisdom tooth removal?

I’ve been having trouble with my wisdom teeth. I think they need to be removed, but I just can’t afford it. Can I just get an antibiotic from my doctor?  My face is starting to swell, so I’m getting worried.

Jack K. – Orlando, FL

Jack,

You have reason to be worried. It sounds like you’ve got an infected wisdom tooth and it is spreading. Our mouths are dreadfully close to our brains. you certainly don’t want it spreading there!

Though antibiotics help, they will only help if the infection is physically removed. Your teeth are different from other parts of your body. The infection has to be removed.

There are affordable ways to deal with this and it does have to be dealt with, for your own safety.

Talk to your dentist. I’m sure he or she will be willing to work with you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Should a dental crown fall off?

I got a dental crown. It fell out while my my dentist was on vacation. I got in touch with them and he said that is normal and to wait until he’s back in a couple of weeks. Is it really normal for this to happen?

Holly S. – Staten Island, NY

Holly,

No, this is not normal and I can’t believe your dentist would suggest it is. I’m not saying your not telling the truth. I just am amazed at your dentist’s incompetence.

Dental crowns don’t just fall out if they’re properly bonded on. In fact, most dentist never have a single dental crown fall out in their entire careers.

That feeling is compounded by the fact that your dentist is telling you to wait on him two weeks. In that amount of time, your teeth will likely shift and your crown will no longer fit. You’ll have to have an entirely new crown made.

My suggestion would be that you bypass your dentist and go see an emergency dentist. They’ll see you quickly, even if you’re not an established patient. They can bond your crown on.

I honestly think you need to look for a different dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Matt Roper.

CEREC crowns

An “Unusual” Question About CEREC Crowns

I’m a big believer in the “Their are no stupid questions” philosophy.  Though, if you’ve ever read Yahoo Answers, you’ve likely realized sometimes you have to be very charitable to keep that philosophy.  One of my favorites was someone asking how Lindsey Lohan was cloned for the Parent Trap.  Well, I’ve recently had a question in that ilk.  I received a question wondering why their dentist’s printer will print out cerec crowns, but when they try to print out a CEREC crown on their printer they only get a picture of one.

Now, maybe this is a joke. But, just in case it isn’t I will answer the question.

Your dentist doesn’t print out a CEREC crown on a printer. Instead that use a very sophisticated piece of machinary (The CAD/CAM System) that can cost up to $80,000. This machine mills your crown out of a block of porcelain.

Your printer simply reproduces pixels of color on a sheet of paper. There’s no way to get a crown out of that. Even if you had a 3D printer, which is capable of printing actual objects and not just pictures, it would print in plastic, not porcelain.

Your best bet is to continue going to your dentist for your dental crown needs.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Am I a Baby or is Toothache an Emergency?

I feel like such a baby. My tooth really hurts. Like excruciating hurts. My dentist just said to schedule an appointment, but I can’t take this. Am I a baby or is this more of a see me now kind of thing?

Beth C. – New Hampshire

Beth,

If you’re in that much pain, your dentist needs to see you. If he’s unwilling to see you, which is what it sounds like, you need another dentist.

There is a solution.  My suggestions would be to see an emergency dentist. They’ll see you the same day, in most cases. They can get you out of pain , while you schedule a follow up appointment with your dentist or with a different dentist (which would be my suggestion).

Just don’t put it off out of frustration. You want to  make sure this is dealt with because it is likely a tooth infection.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sedation Dentistry

Scared of Sedation Because of News Stories

I finally talked myself into going to the dentist by using sedation (It will be my first time in sixteen years) and now I keep seeing all these news stories about patients being sexually assaulted.  Now I’m afraid to go.

Cyndy M. – New Jersey

Cyndy,

I understand you’re frightened. These type of stories are very scary.  Though it may not mean much to you now, I will tell you that these type cases are very rare. Most dentists ( and their staff) went into the field in orderto help people. They have no interest in doing harm.

Sedation is a great way to get your dental care done, pain free, especially  if you have dental anxiety. Generally, dentists have someone else in the room with them during sedation for their own protection. That way they can’t be accused of anything.

However, one thing you can do to put your mind at ease is to bring a friend.  Talk to the dentist about your concern. They’ll likely be able to accomdate your friend to be there with you.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Affordable Dentistry

Can’t afford to clean my teeth

I’m a young adult, fresh out of college. I need to get my teeth cleaned, but when I called to get a price it was outrageous. Then, I called to get insurance, but it was too much money and every month. I asked my mom to pay for it, but she said I should plan and save up.  How in the world am I supposed to get my teeth cleaned?

Marcus G. – Little Rock, AR

Marcus,

Life is hard for adults, isn’t it? Some dentists are more expensive than others, so I hope you didn’t just hear one really expensive price and give up.  There are more affordable ways to get dental care as well.

Even though you can’t afford the insurance, some dentists have their own in-office plans. These tend to be much more affordable and the fee is annual instead of monthly.

You’ll also get discounts on cleanings and other services in most of them.

Also, don’t hate me, but I agree with your mother.  If you put aside a little every month, you’ll have the money for a cleaning in no time. You don’t want to get in the habit of being dependent on other people to provide for your basic need.

It’s a horrible cycle that few people get out of.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Tooth Cracked

I bit into something and my tooth cracked. I’ve never even heard of such a thing.  What do I do?

Bronwyn P. – Georgia

Bronwyn,

This happens more frequently than you think.  You need to be seen fairly quickly to take care of this and hopefully save your tooth.

If you don’t already have a dentist you need to see an emergency dentist. They’re willing to take non-established patients, often even the same day.

There is an underlying problem that has caused your tooth to crack that will need to be addressed. Your body is interconnected. What affects your teeth will eventually affect your whole body. Be sure not to neglect this.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Affordable Dentistry

Why do some dentists have their own insurance plans?

I was pricing dental insurance and noticed some dentists have their own plans.  I have trouble affording my dental care and the dentist I want to go to isn’t on any of the plans.  I noticed some dentists have their own plans. Why are they not just part of the regular dental plans?

Abbey S. – Maryland

Abbey,

One of the problems with dental insurance plans is they often try to dictate what work the dentist can do.  They want to only cover the lowest cost treatment. While low cost is great, Sometimes a patient wants the best treatment.

Dentists want to give their patients the best dental care possible. Sometimes, to do that and keep the dentistry affordable they start their own care plan.

You pay a minimal fee, but get discounts on all your care. It enables the dentist to do quality work, while giving patients the discounts they typically get with insurance.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

How can I treat full mouth pain?

I woke up with horrible pain radiating around my entire mouth. It’s pulsating up into my head too.  I have a huge audition today. One that can change my life. I can’t afford this pain, especially in my mouth and jaw.  I need some kind of remedy. Will an emergency dentist help?

LeeAnne S. – Florida

LeeAnne,

A lot of it depends on what kind of dental health you’ve had up until now.  If you’ve had poor dental health, then an emergency dentist might find something that is causing the problem.

If, however, you’ve had great dental health up until this point, then it is likely the stress of your audition is the cause of the pain.  In your anxiety, it’s possible that you’ve been clenching your jaw all night. This would cause the type of pain you’re experiencing.

If that is the case, you can take some anti-inflammatories to help you get through your audition.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.