I’d never been to the dentist until recently. I’m 27. My parents never took us. They weren’t selfish or neglectful parents. We were very poor and it truly was a choice between the dentist or food. I’ve gotten a job which has dental insurance. I was very excited for my first dental appointment. I had reasonable expectations and knew I’d need a lot of work. I did. I have chipped teeth, several cavities, and need something called crowns. Plus, one tooth that we may not be able to keep. When I finished my first appointment, he recommended I have a full mouth reconstruction. I liked the idea. It will be great to have a beautiful smile for the first time since I can remember. But, the cost was beyond my ability to pay even with insurance. So, I wondered if there were dentists who did cheaper full mouth reconstructions. Any help you can provide will be appreciated.
Deanna T.
Dear Deanna,
I’m excited for you in your first experiences with dentistry. And, while there are many procedures in which it would be absolutely fine to find the most affordable dentist around, a full mouth reconstruction is not one of them.
It is such an advanced procedure that not many dentists are qualified to do it. If you just base it on cost, you’ll likely end up with a disaster which can even lead to serious health problems.
But, don’t get discouraged. Based on what the dentist told you was wrong with your teeth, I don’t necessarily think a full mouth reconstruction is even what you need. You can still get the beautiful smile you want, but without the high cost and risk of a complete reconstruction.
You mentioned needing dental crowns, but seemed not to understand what they are. What concerns me about that is the dentist you went to is recommending one of the most expensive and advanced procedures around, but hasn’t taken the time to explain what even the basic procedures mean.
A crown is a porcelain prosthetic, shaped like a tooth, which fits over your natural tooth. Your natural tooth will have to be shaved down so the crown can fit over it. They’re often used when the cavity on your tooth is too large for a filling to properly protect it.
What I’d like you to do is get a second opinion by another dentist. It may be you can get significantly less work done and still have a gorgeous, healthy smile. If you’re looking to beautify your smile along with repairing any decay, I’d like to recommend you get your teeth whitened BEFORE you have any crowns made, especially on teeth visible when you smile.
Teeth whitening only works on natural tooth structure, so once the crown is completed the color cannot be changed. You’ll want the dentist to match the crown to your whiter color.
After you’ve taken care of any decay and other degenerative issues, if you still aren’t happy with the appearance of your teeth, you can get porcelain veneers. They can completely change the appearance of your teeth. But you’ll have to have healthy teeth first.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.
