Tag Archives: Root Canal

Is It Really Worth It to Go to The Dentist When the Economy is so Bad?

The economy where we live is really bad. My husband’s been out of work for two years now.  We’re trying to save money anywhere we can. In a bad economy, is it really necessary to go to the dentist twice a year?

Laura L. – Miami

Laura,

I completely understand the dilemma you’re in. The economy in Louisiana has been hit hard. We’re watching people lose homes they’ve lived in for years.

You’re asking if it’s OK to cut back to one check-up a year. I’m going to give you a very non-committal answer. It really depends. Before you roll your eyes, I’ll explain further.

Some people have naturally healthy teeth. They go their whole lives without a cavity. Feel free to hate those people as much as I hate people with a high metabolism.  If you’re one of the people with naturally healthy teeth that never has any issue, then temporarily cutting back to once a year, may not do any harm.

But, if you’re one of the people with a normal mouth, it’s a gamble. IF you don’t go in regularly, you risk costing yourself a lot more money. Regular check-ups can prevent cavities. It can also catch them early enough where you might only need a tiny filling. Put it off, you’ll end up paying for a root canal and dental crown.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Are CEREC crowns a good option?

I travel a lot, and time to get any kind of appointment taken care of is in short supply. I recently had an emergency root canal done on an infected tooth (one of my first premolars) while I was on the road, and the dentist said I would probably need a porcelain crown. I am home at most for a day during the business week, and my dentist does not work weekends at all.

I called their office to see what we could work out, and they said that they have new equipment that lets them place crowns in just a single visit, called CEREC crowns. They said this would probably work for me, but they want to examine me before making the appointment to place the crown. That is OK, as I don’t want them to race into anything and try to place something they shouldn’t just to get it done.

My concern is that I have been reading about CEREC crowns on the Internet, and some of the sites are talking about them not looking as realistic as the other kinds of porcelain crowns. I am in sales, and my appearance is critical. I can’t have an obviously sub-standard repair on a tooth making me look cut-rate. My customers are upscale professionals in an appearance oriented industry. All I really want to know is if CEREC crowns can be made to look as realistic as any other kind of porcelain crowns.

William in Charlotte, NC

Dear William,

It is reassuring to hear that your dentist will not race ahead with the crown appointment before taking a good look at your situation. CEREC crown placement does not work for everyone.

The first premolar is visible when you smile, so you are correct in stating that a sub-standard job at matching your other teeth would be noticeable. Your question as to whether or not a CEREC crown could be made to look realistic earns a qualified answer: it depends on the skill level of the dentist using the equipment.

You state that the dentist’s office “just” got the equipment, which may indicate that your dentist is not yet very experienced with obtaining optimal results. Ask about your dentist’s training and credentials, and pay particular attention to his or her professional affiliations. Membership or better yet accreditation with the American Association of Cosmetic Dentists  (AACD) is a very promising sign that your dentist places a high value on aesthetics. It is also a good idea to ask to see some before and after pictures of actual crowns that your dentist has placed. If he cannot produce any, this could mean that he simply lacks experience with the equipment, and you might be better off with a traditional porcelain crown.

You don’t say that the affected tooth has started to darken, so you have time to make decisions. Best of luck.

This blog post provided as a courtesy of the office of Lafayette Lousiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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