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Archives for December 2013

A Mexican Vacation with Dental Work on the side.

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I need to get a dental implant and the prices in America are way more as compared to Mexico. I’ve looked it up and I can get dental implants done in Mexico for a fraction of the costs. I’ve been really considering having my dental work done in Mexico and wrapping it all into a vacation. But before I do, I wanted to just get an expert opinion on how safe it is. Thanks.

Jackson T., from Atlanta, GA

Jackson,

I say if something looks too good to be true it’s because it usually is. If the prices are that low in Mexico compared to American prices, ask yourself why?

One reason could be that they don’t have to contend with the same government regulations that we do here. In American, we have strict laws about sterilizing the equipment and taking safety precautions that ensure clean water so as to not spread disease.  They have no such regulations, this means you could end up getting an infection from that could cause some serious damage or even death.

And what about the quality of the material? You may be paying less because what’s being placed in your mouth isn’t worth much. If it’s low quality it won’t last and then you’ll wind up spending more money trying to fix shoddy dental work.

Lastly, in America dentists are required to do x-rays before doing an implant. Not so in Mexico. This means that he or she can place a dental implant and if something goes wrong, you’ll have no absolutely no record of what happened to back you up.

So to answer your question, I think the risks far outweigh the rewards here.  If you’re worried about money, see if you can get a dentist to work out a payment plan with you or if dental insurance can cover some of the cost.  I think you should spend the money to have a properly placed implant. But still go to Mexico —  it’s a beautiful place for a vacation!

This blog is sponsored by Buffalo dentist Warren M. Krutchick, DDS.

Do it Yourself Fillings

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Hi,

I think I have a cavity in my tooth because it’s really painful when I eat. I don’t have dental insurance and I would like to avoid spending the money right now, especially so close to Christmas. Just the other day I ran across this “do it yourself” white filling kit. Is this a realistic alternative to going to the dentist?

Thanks,

Marcus, Nashville, TN

 

Hi Marcus,

Sorry about the painful tooth especially this close to Christmas where you’ll need those chompers to devour loads of good food!  I’ve heard of these kits before, and they do work well as a temporary fix to fill in the hole, but it will do nothing for your tooth pain. See, the problem that is causing the pain needs to be addressed and that can only be done by a dentist. There are bacteria living in your tooth and the longer it goes untreated the more damage it causes.

An untreated infected tooth can cause you serious trouble. Infections in the lower teeth can cause swelling so great that it seals your eye shut or closes up your airway. Upper tooth infections can spread into your sinus cavity and leak into your brain resulting in death. Teeth infections are nothing to play around with.

And since you say it’s painful when you eat, it’s more than likely that you already have an infected tooth. Things like sensitivity when chewing, sensitivity to pressure or temperatures, and the tooth-aching on its own are all signs of infection. Once this happens, you have only two options: extraction or root canal. I’m sure you know that root canals are the more expensive of the two options, but if you extract your tooth without having plans to replace it that will cost you more in the long run.

You should know that having a missing tooth can cause bite problems or problems with your other teeth shifting around in your mouth. This is why we’d recommend having a dental implant done or placing a dental bridge. Having a dental implant or dental bridge done later is far more costly than having a root canal with a crown done now.

So my suggestion is you find a dentist sooner rather than later. Try an emergency dentist who is willing to work with you on the costs. There are lots of dentists out there willing to let you pay in installments. You should also check out local dental schools. Because students are in a teaching institution, these schools offer safe dental procedures at a very low cost.

Good Luck!

This blog is sponsored by Buffalo dentist Warren M. Krutchick, DDS.