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Archives for February 2019

Conveyor Belt Dental Care

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I’ve been shopping around for affordable dental care. Each place that’s advertised as affordable seem to treat patients like cattle, running us in and out. At one point I wondered if I was on my way to the slaughter house. Is there a way to get an affordable dentist and feel like a person?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Dollar sign hatched out of an egg
Affordable dentistry can be personal

You’re wise to continue seeking treatment. Too many people avoid the dentist altogether because of financial issues. Even with the hardships you’ve undergone finding the right affordable dentist, you will end up saving money in the long run.

As you have experienced, many dentists who advertise as affordable try to make up profits with the sheer volume of patients they get through. Truthfully, that’s not a pleasant experience for either of you. You miss out on personalized care and attention. The dentist misses out on the beauty of getting to know their patients.

Affordable Versus Cheap Dentistry

While the conveyor belt method can be annoying, the cut corners method is downright dangerous. This is where dentists cut corners to make up their profits. They may buy discounted materials which can lead to infection or failure.

Other times, dentists are significantly cheaper because they’re just plain bad at their job and can’t retain patients. They keep their prices super low to draw in new patients.

Think of it this way. One dentist makes a dental crown for $500 but it lasts 5 years. Another makes a crown for $800 but it last 15 years. The more “affordable” crown actually ends up costing you significantly more money.

Finding an Affordable Dentist

Start by looking for dentists in your area with good reputations. Check their services offered, then check their reviews. Are patients satisfied with the service they’ve received?

Once you’ve found a suitable list of dentists, call their office. Ask if they offer payment plans, Care Credit, or cash discounts. These are just some of the ways dentists can help patients.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Silver Crowns in Children

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I have a classroom full of children with silver on their back teeth. Most of them look like crowns and some could be fillings. Why would so many children need crowns? And why do they all seem to be silver?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

children smiling
Healthy Smiles Make Happy Children

It’s obvious you’re a caring teacher and want to understand more about your student’s health. When it comes to why your children have so many restorations, there can be a variety of factors:

  • Genetics plays a huge part. Some patients do everything right and still have decay. They just lost the genetic lottery when it came to teeth.
  • Another factor is socioeconomic. If they didn’t have dental insurance for their children they may only take them when there’s a problem.
  • Lack of sealings: If parents don’t regularly take their children to the dentist, they may not be aware of dental sealings which protect children from getting decay on their molars.

Silver Crowns for Pediatric Patients

There are usually two very good reasons to give children silver crowns instead of a traditional porcelian-fused-to-metal crowns or an all-porcelain crowns.

They are pre-fabricated in set sizes. This means the pediatric dentist can place them in just one appointment. This makes the appointment much easier for the patients.

Often, children need some form of dental sedation to get through more complicated appointments. This way they only need one appointment.

That makes it easier on the parents, both for interruptions to their lives with scheduling and cutting down on costs for a second appointment.

Probably the best way you can help your students is to have a pediatric dentist come visit your class and teach the children about the proper way to brush and floss. Then, keep up with things like free clinic days and dental sealing days and let the parents know about them.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, Al Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.