Tag Archives: affordable dentistry

Crest 3D Advanced White Toothpaste Gunk

I don’t quite know how to explain this but will do my best. I’ve been wanting to whiten my teeth but thought I would just try the whitening toothpaste first to see what type of results I can get. It’s leaving this weird white gunk on the inside of my lips about ten minutes after I use it that makes it look like my skin is ready to peel off. Is this common and part of the process?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

teeth whitening trays
Professional teeth whitening trays

Most whitening toothpaste that you purchase over the counter does not whiten your teeth the way that professional teeth whitening does. Your dentist would provide you with a gel that will penetrate the tooth and oxidize it from the inside out. Whitening toothpaste uses abrasives that scratch the surface of your teeth and scrub the surface stains off. While this can remove the stains temporarily it does damage your enamel which will cause it to pick up more stains at a faster rate.

I think the reason for the peeling skin you are experiencing is sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient found in this toothpaste. It has been known to produce side effects such as inflammation, skin irritation, and sloughing of oral tissues. I would stop using this because you are obviously having a reaction to it.

If you want to try a whitening toothpaste, I recommend you use Supersmile Toothpaste. This uses a protein pellicle to remove surface stains and will not damage your teeth. Bear in mind, that it will only remove surface stains, which is all that a toothpaste can do.

If you have years of stains on your teeth, you are better off with professional teeth whitening. Though it costs a little more, the results are massively better than anything else you’d get with an over the counter product, including something like whitestrips. If cost is the main issue, talk to your dentist and he or she may be willing to work with you on payment options.

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

Are CEREC Crowns Reliable?

I need to get my first crown. I’ve been doing some research and think I want to go the CEREC route. However, I need to be sure they’re reliable. I work in a field where my smile is important. I have a few friends that have crowns and they all have had problems with them falling out at one time or another. Most of them said it was the temps that fall, which is why I’m thinking a CEREC. However, one of my friends even has his regular crowns fall out. Plus, they don’t look that great. I do wonder if this has more to do with his dentist. He doesn’t have much money, so I’m not sure he’s going to the best dentist.

Ben H. – Ft. Worth, TX

Ben,

You’ve brought up a few important concepts. First, is bonding. The biggest factor in a crowns ability to say is it being designed to fit properly.  A well-designed dental crown will stay in without any bonding agent.  Of course, that wouldn’t hold if you were eating something sticky which could pull down from an unbonded tooth. However, once it’s bonded you should be able to eat what you want.

Yes, temporary crowns do have a tendency to fall out. That’s because they’re designed to be removed easily to make way for the permanent crown.

CEREC crowns are bonded in immediately, so you’ll not have to deal with a temporary crown. They’re also milled by a computer, which does sometimes increase the accuracy. Though, a traditional crown can be equally well made.

Your comment about your friend’s experience and a less expensive dentist is interesting. People sometimes mistake cheap dentistry for affordable dentistry. You can have an affordable dentist who still uses quality materials, but works to keep his prices lower in other ways. Or, maybe he or she has interest free payment plans. A cheap dentist, on the other hand, will advertise their low prices to draw people in, but uses cheaper materials to keep his profit margin up. Or, it could just be a matter of him not being a very skilled dentist.

As to the appearance of the crown, that also depends on the skill of the dentist. Some dentists are more artistic than others. I’d recommend asking to see before and after pictures of their work to get an idea what type of results they can deliver.

Also, because you mentioned appearance being important to your job, if you’re going to get your teeth whitened, do it before getting the crown made. You won’t be able to change the color of the crown once it’s done. So make sure your teeth are the color you want.

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

My dentist made me cry

I had the worst dental appointment.  I need to have several teeth removed.  My dentist said I need to have dental implants put in, but I just can’t afford it. My dentist essentially told me that if I cared about my teeth I’d get the implants because they are the best treatment. He made me feel stupid. He also hinted that I wouldn’t look as attractive. I’ll be honest, when I got home I broke down and cried. What woman wants to be less attractive? I just can’t afford it.

Cyndy- Bartlett, TN

Cyndy,

I’m having trouble  not getting angry at your dentist and I’ve not even met him. Let me just say to get it out before we discuss your case, that I believe he is being unethical and manipulative.

I really hope, but am doubting, that your dentist gave you all your options. Yes, dental implants are the ideal solution, but they’re the only option.  The last thing your dentist should be doing is making you feel guilty about needing a more affordable dental option. He certainly shouldn’t be making comments about your appearance.

If he was any good at his job, he could make your smile beautiful no matter what procedure you chose.

You could also look into dental bridges or removable partial dentures as very viable options to dental implants. If you feel like you can communicate with your dentist, I’d discuss those options with him. However, I would be more inclined to tell you to find a less manipulative dentist.

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

A more affordable treatment

I am looking for ways to make my dental care more affordable and I was wondering if dental bonding will save me money over porcelain veneers?

My teeth are very yellow even though I brush my teeth after every meal. It seems that you can see through the ends of my two front teeth. I’m unhappy with my smile but I don’t want it to look fake.

After the research I’ve done, I don’t think I want to have porcelain veneers done. They seem like they may not look natural and they are extremely expensive. I guess I’m wondering if simply whitening my teeth will work or if tooth bonding is a better choice for me. Or maybe I should get the bleaching done first and then the bonding? I don’t want to spend a lot of money and then have my teeth turn yellow again either. Can you explain how bonding works and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

– Tanya from Florida

Tanya,

After hearing your case, I don’t think dental bonding is the alternative that is right for you just because you are looking to save money on porcelain veneers. Teeth whitening sounds like the best solution from what you have described. This is because good dental bonding will end up costing almost as much as veneers and it won’t last as long. In fact it would probably only last about one-tenth as long as veneers.

Teeth bleaching will take care of the yellow color of your teeth and they will not return to their original color. Your teeth will pick up stains as time passes, but you can always do some touch up bleaching to keep your white new smile.

This post is sponsored by Glibert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Related link: affordable dentistry

I can’t afford all the work I need done

I grew up with a difficult childhood and dental care wasn’t a regular part of my life until after high school. At 27 years old my teeth show it. My dental flipper just broke and I already have over $2o,000 in work that needs to be done. I simply can’t afford it. But I really wish there was a way to improve things. My dentist won’t work with me. I wish the crowns and bridges could somehow be reduced but he won’t budge on fees.

Do you have any recommendations or ideas? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

– Linda from Wisconsin

Linda,

I’m not aware of any special resources or an extremely affordable dentist that would provide discounts. But I do have some recommendations that you may find helpful.

Without knowing exactly what services you require it is difficult to make specific treatment recommendations. Although, from what you have described it seems as if you should be able to phase your treatment out over time. This will allow you to pay as you go which will make your dentistry more affordable.

If decay is a big issue and you have several teeth that need to be extracted, then you may be able to treat things economically. If the dentist removes the decay then the tooth can be filled as cost-effective as possible. Or if it’s a crown you need, the dentist can build up the area without actually placing the crown. Both of these options will help and will hopefully be less expensive.

Or temporary fillings can be placed to help with the decay. This isn’t a long-term strategy but the material used for these fillings contains fluoride. This will be a good base for a crown and the fluoride will help resist future decay.

As for teeth that need to be removed, a partial denture is much less expensive than dental implants or bridges.

If your dentist won’t work with you then make some calls and hopefully you can find one that will. Just be honest and upfront about your financial situation. I would explain that you have a lot of work to be done and you need to phase it out over time. Also, some dentists offer complimentary consultations where you can go in and discuss specifics and hopefully come up with a personalized plan that works for you.

Best of luck.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Related link: affordable dental implants