August 2014 - West Seneca Dentist | Embury Family Dentistry

I need some help!

According to my dentist, I’ll need to have some extensive dental work done. She mentioned me needing a root canal, a crown put on, and a dental implant. The estimate she gave me is way more than I expected this all to cost, and since I have no dental insurance there’s no way I can afford it. But after doing some research, I’ve found a place in India that can perform all of my services for much, much less. My plan is to take a nice vacation and get the dental work I need done at the same time. So, I’m in need of some advice on how to proceed. I need to know some idea of what to expect.

Thanks,

Maureen T., San Diego, CA

Hi Maureen,

We see this question a lot. It’s very tempting to want to travel overseas in order to take advantage of lower prices, especially since the prices are normally a fraction of what they are here in the US for the same dental procedures. But less expensive doesn’t always translate to great deals. Many times you’re taking a gamble on what you’re getting because other countries don’t have to adhere to the same regulations as dentists must in the US. Sterilization of instruments and the cleanliness of the exam rooms are paramount to avoiding infections. And if something goes wrong over there, you cannot force an American dentist to correct the work if you decide that’s now what you want to do.

Try, instead, to see if you can get a local dentist to work with you. Many times payment plans are an option for patients, meaning that you won’t have to pay all the costs up front. You don’t want to risk possibly receiving substandard care that will just end up costing you more money. Think about how much it will cost you if you have to repeat getting a root canal, crown and/or dental implants done.

Hope this helps!

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

Hi there–

I am not regular with getting dental cleanings like I should be, but I typically don’t have any issues with my teeth. After three years of not being seen, I finally did go last week. I tried a new dental office and the cleaning felt incredible tough on my teeth. My gums were bleeding a little afterward, and I think there’s a small gap between two of my teeth that wasn’t there before. Normally I seek out gentle dentists, so maybe I am just not used to what a regular teeth cleaning feels like. But is it possible that my teeth could have been chipped away at by a rough dental cleaning?

Thank you,

Catherine, S., Louisburg, NC

Hi Catherine,

It’s unfortunate that you finally decide to go back to the dentist after such a long time away and your experience was like this. But something tells me that this cleaning might have felt more aggressive than normal because, after years of neglect, your teeth probably needed it.

Three years worth of plaque and tartar buildup had to be removed from your teeth, so even with a gentle dentist, this was going to be quite an undertaking. But this isn’t to say that all cleanings need to be rough. If ever you are feeling any pain or discomfort during a cleaning, you should always let the hygienist know. Most times a topical anesthetic can be applied to help with your pain.

So, is it possible that your teeth could have been “chipped away at by a rough dental cleaning”? I supposed anything is possible, but it’s more likely that what you thought was a closed gap, in fact, wasn’t. I suspect you had a lot of plague between your teeth that needed to be “chipped away at”. Once your teeth were cleaned, your space was restored.

Hope this helps!

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

Help, Traveling Abroad for Affordable Dental Treatment

Could my teeth have been harmed during a routine cleaning?

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