Category Archives: Affordable Dentistry

I need an affordable dentist for porcelain veneers

My question is about being able to get an affordable dentist for porcelain veneers at my age. My parents are not together, but I am on my dad’s dental plan and he has really good insurance. He says I can get veneers and since I have a job, I can pay for what insurance doesn’t cover. I live with my mom and she says I am too young for them and I need to wait a few years. I asked her if she meant that a dentist won’t do them at my age or if she just thinks I am too young for them. I am 17 yrs old. She keeps saying I am just too young. Will a dentist do veneers for a teenager? Thanks. Kyla

Kyla – A conscientious affordable dentist  who is also a cosmetic

Photo of a single porcelain veneers, from affordable Plano TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Porcelain veneers

dentist will let you know that the best time to receive porcelain veneers is when your jawbone growth is complete, which can be around age 17 or 18. Here’s why:

  • If your veneers are placed while you are still growing, the movement of your teeth and jawbone may create space between your gumline and your veneers.
  • Your veneers will no longer look natural.
  • Either you will have to replace the veneers as jaw and teeth develop, or you will have to wait until you are able to receive new veneers.

A review of your family history, an examination, and x-rays from a cosmetic dentist can help determine if your jawbone growth is complete or not. Your parents—particularly your father—will want to consider if he wants to make the investment of porcelain veneers before your jawbone growth is complete.

An Exam and Consultation Are Needed

If you have permission from your parents to proceed with an examination, it will give you more information on the best time to receive porcelain veneers. If your parents approve of your getting veneers, ask for their help in finding a few skilled cosmetic dentists. Here’s why: It will be easy to find an affordable dentist to provide you with porcelain veneers, but only a skilled cosmetic dentist can provide you with veneers that look natural and will last.

Compared to other forms of cosmetic dentistry, veneers are relatively expensive. If you receive them, you want to ensure they are quality veneers and look like your natural teeth. Also, porcelain veneers often require the preparation of your natural teeth. This involves shaving a microscopic amount of tooth enamel from the front of your teeth so the veneers won’t look bulky. We just want to ensure you understand what is involved in receiving veneers, and why it’s so important to find a highly qualified cosmetic dentist to do the work.

Schedule consultations with two or three cosmetic dentists and each dentist what can be done to make veneers affordable for you. Don’t expect a discount, but payment plans and financing can help you meet your budget.

 

This post is sponsored by affordable Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Porcelain veneers from affordable dentist are affecting my speech!

Porcelain veneers shouldn’t look or feel bulky

After spending 2 weeks looking for an affordable dentist for porcelain veneers, I am so disappointed. I am not sure why my speech is affected by the veneers. My dentist allowed me to wear the temporary veneers for over a week. They didn’t give me any problems at all. Now that I have my permanent veneers, my speech is slurred. It’s not every word. Any word that begins with ‘tr’ is a problem. Probably more accurate that slurred is this weird whistling sound and I feel like the veneers hit my upper lip. My confidence in this dentist has gone way down. Am I going to need new veneers? Zayana

Zayana,

We’re sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with porcelain veneers.

Caution When Seeking an Affordable Dentist

When we hear from patients about their bad experiences with an affordable dentist, we often learn that “affordable” for them often meant the cheapest option. While you want dental care that fits your budget, avoid looking for the cheapest cost of any dental treatment. Cheap dental work usually doesn’t last.

When Porcelain Veneers Affect Your Speech

  • Although you lack confidence in your current dentist, you can speak with him or her about the problem you are having with the veneers. Your dentist may immediately know what is causing the problem and offer to have your veneers remade.
  • Not every dentist has the extensive training required to provide porcelain veneers that fit look natural and fit well.
  • Another option is to find an experienced cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and try to identify the source of the problem. If you decide to switch dentists, your current dentist may be willing to assist with the cost of receiving veneers from a new dentist. Your dental records will be transferred accordingly.

A true cosmetic dentist will make dental treatment affordable by working with your budget, completing the work in phases, or offering payment plans or financing. Quality will not be sacrificed.

Getting a second opinion may help you make a final decision on which dentist you want to provide you with veneers that fit correctly.

This post is sponsored by affordable Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

What could an affordable dentist do with my too small teeth if I can’t afford veneers?

I’m wondering what an affordable dentist would do for my small teeth if I can’t afford porcelain veneers. I know that porcelain veneers can work wonders for my teeth. They are too small and look like baby teeth. The thing is that there is no way that I can afford veneers even with a payment plan. I just have a gummy smile and my gums are dark so they just make my little teeth even more noticeable. Is there something other veneers a cosmetic dentist can do? Ismeralda

Ismeralda – An affordable dentist who is also a skilled cosmetic dentist can improve the appearance of your teeth without porcelain veneers.

Affordable Dentist Options for Small Teeth

  • Dental bonding – Dental bonding can be used to lengthen your teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist has the tools and shades of dental composite needed to provide seamless results. Your dentist will roughen the surface of your teeth, apply and shape the bonding, and harden and polish it. Bonding needs to be replaced about every five years.
  • Gum contouring – Since you have a gummy smile, your gumline can be trimmed to decrease the amount of gum tissue and lengthen the amount of tooth structure that shows when you smile. This is a painless, brief procedure that is done with a laser. After gum contouring, you can expect a little swelling as the gum tissue heals, but it’s a minor procedure that can be completed in a single visit.
  • Porcelain crowns– Crowns (often called “caps”) require reduction of your natural tooth structure because they are placed over your teeth. Crowns are customized to match the characteristics of your natural teeth, including shape and color. An artistic cosmetic dentist can design crowns that look completely natural.

Don’t insist on finding the most affordable dentist. Schedule consultations with two or three cosmetic dentists to ask questions and discuss your treatment options. Choose a trained cosmetic dentist who can produce good results and who provides payment options.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Need affordable dentist to get marijuana stains off my bonding and teeth

I’m looking for an affordable dentist who can help me keep my teeth in shape. I smoke medicinal marijuana and I’m guessing that it’s going to be this way for the foreseeable future. In the past I’ve been proud of my smile and white teeth, but the marijuana is staining them pretty bad. Is it possible to find a dentist who is willing to work with me and keep my teeth in good shape? There is dental bonding on 3 of my front teeth and it’s already getting yellow. Who knows how often I’m going to need it touched up, but I don’t want maintaining it to be too expensive. Thanks for your advice. – Roxana

Roxana  – Yes, you can find an affordable dentist who will help you keep teeth stains under control and help you maintain good oral health. As you search for the right dentist, keep in mind that affordability doesn’t always mean you’ll get quality results. So make quality the priority, and avoid insisting on the lowest fees.

In addition to marijuana, coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco smoke will discolor your dental bonding and your natural teeth. A cosmetic dentist will work with you preserve your bonding. Usually bonding lasts three to eight years.

It’s important that you find and retain a dentist and hygienist who know how to care for cosmetic bonding without damaging it by using the wrong dental cleaning and polishing tools.

Help Your Affordable Dentist Preserve Your Bonding

There are some things you can do to preserve your dental bonding so it won’t need to be replaced so frequently.

  • Regularly floss between your teeth.
  • Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste.
  • Regularly visit your dentist for cleanings.
  • Rinse your mouth thoroughly after you smoke.
  • Limit coffee, tea, and red wine.
  • Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Don’t bite hard objects with your teeth, and avoid using them to open packages.

Make it a priority to find a cosmetic dentist who has an artistic eye and understands how to use different shades of composite to restore your teeth and get natural results. Speak with the affordable dentist about how you can maintain a healthy smile and stay within your budget.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Can an Affordable Dentist Help My Gummy Smile?

I’m wondering if it’s safe to find an affordable dentist to do something about my gummy smile. My gums are so long that they make my teeth look tiny like baby teeth. I’m sure there is something that can be done to make my teeth look longer or make my gums look shorter. The problem is my budget. Is this something an affordable dentist can help me with? Thanks – Bev

Bev – You can find an affordable dentist who offers financing or payment plans so the dental treatment will work with our budget.

What Will an Affordable Dentist Do for a Gummy Smile?

Excessive gum tissue can dominate teeth and make them look smaller than they actually are.

Gingivectomy

A gingivectomy (commonly referred to as a gum lift) is a surgical procedure used by dentists to remove gum tissue around your teeth.

Gingivoplasty

Gingivoplasty is the process of shaping gum tissue around your teeth. A gum lift can remove excess gum tissue and lengthen the look of your teeth. The contouring, or shaping, of the gum tissue enhances the look of your gums around your teeth.

What Should You Expect?

  • The procedures can be performed using electrosurgical tools, lasers or dental burs.
  • Depending on the amount of gum tissue to be removed, the gum lift procedure can take several minutes to over an hour.
  • Gum contouring is usually completed in several minutes.
  • Healing time varies from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how extensive the procedure is.

Gum tissue can be removed and shaped for more than cosmetic reasons. Excessive gum tissue around the teeth can make it more difficult to keep teeth and gums free from plaque-producing food debris. Inadequate cleaning can lead to gum disease. So it’s a good idea to get an examination and learn about your treatment options.

Schedule consultations with at least two experienced cosmetic dentists, and compare your options. Don’t pick a dentist just because he or she is the most affordable. Take time to do some research to learn about the dentist’s training and experience—particularly with gum contouring. Ask the dentist how many cases like your he or she has completed.

This post is sponsored by affordable Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Went to an affordable dentist for a root canal and ended up with a tooth extraction

This past June I selected an affordable dentist to take care of a horrible toothache that was literally making me sick. My face was swollen, I was nauseated, and nothing worked to get rid of a constant headache caused by the tooth. I first called my regular dentist but I couldn’t afford the out of pocket costs to get them to take care of the tooth. So I opted for a dentist with lower fees. I checked out his website and a saw several decent patient reviews.

After my first appointment, I was scheduled for a root canal 2 days later. The pain during and after the procedure was horrible. I told the dentist that my tooth hurt worse than before the root canal. He told me it was because he had to go so deeply into the tooth to remove the decay. 2 weeks later, my tooth was still hurting badly. It was only slightly better than before. I went back to the dentist and he told me that the root canal didn’t take and he needed to do another one. During the procedure, I heard my tooth crack. The dentist grunted and his assistant sighed. Then he told me that the tooth needed to be extracted. What else could I do but agree to the extraction? I wish I had let my regular dentist do the work and now I’m too embarrassed to go back there.

Since that appointment, I’ve been going back and forth with the dentist’s office about the bills for the second root canal and the tooth extraction. I think they are crazy. I’ve been talking to my dental insurance company about the bills, and I’m starting to think that I might need a consumer protection attorney. Why should I be responsible for both procedures? What can I do to get this dental office to back off and be reasonable? Eddie

Eddie,

We agree that you shouldn’t be billed for a second root canal treatment, as well as the tooth extraction. Without examining your dental x-rays, it’s difficult to say whether or not the cracked tooth and extraction could have been avoided.

The issue is probably not worth the time, expense, and anxiety of legal proceedings. We have a few suggestions:

  • Ask to speak directly with the dentist. Let him know why you think you shouldn’t be billed for both procedures. Stay calm and speak respectfully.
  • If you have found a new dentist, ask him or her to contact your previous dentist and ask for a reasonable solution.
  • Ask for help from your local dental board or the Better Business Bureau.
  • Without filing a legal claim, ask a consumer protection attorney to contact the dental office and find out if they are willing to negotiate on the bill.

Try to resolve the issue before the dental office submits it to a collection agency.

If you haven’t already found a reliable, affordable dentist, you should do so to discuss the options for replacing the tooth that was extracted. It should be replaced to prevent other teeth from shifting and to prevent bone shrinkage at the extraction site.

 

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Need an affordable dentist to change the color of my denture teeth

I’ve been looking for an affordable dentist within 100 miles of my house to change the color of my denture teeth. I’ve been searching online but can’t find any websites that show a dentist who is doing this kind of work. I got my dentures from a denture center. They advertise for affordable dentures, but the nickeled and dimed me out of $900. After all of my appointments and their “pampering” I went in to get the dentures. They are the wrong color. It’s a weird color that almost looks like the teeth have a pink tone. I think I was in the dental office 2 hours talking about the color of the denture teeth. In the end they told me I signed off and approved everything so there wasn’t much that could be done. They could give me new denture teeth but I would have to pay for the new teeth. I don’t want new denture teeth. I just want the color changed. After spending $900 I don’t have much money to left to spend on new dentures or even to change the color of the teeth. That’s why I’m looking for an affordable dentist. How can I find one? – Ashton

Ashton – We’re sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with dentures. It’s understandable that you need the assistance of an affordable dentist. Unfortunately your denture teeth are colorfast, so the color cannot be changed in any way. So, what can you do now?

Options for Affordable Dentistry

  • The good news is that you can find a cosmetic dentist to provide you with quality dentures. He or she likely offers ways to make dental care affordable for you. Dentists frequently offer financing or payment plans to help you spread out the cost of care over time.
  • Although this is a huge disappointment, your smile can affect your confidence and your sense of well-being and happiness. Take some time to consider if you can accept the color of your current dentures, or if and when you want to receive new dentures.
  • Make an informed decision by visiting two or three experienced cosmetic dentists to discuss your options, the cost, and how they can provide you with affordable dental care.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How can I find an affordable dentist to replace 8 porcelain veneers?

How can I find an affordable dentist to replace 8 porcelain veneers I receive May of last year? Within 3 months of getting the veneers, one of them fell off. My dentist bonded it back on. Since that time 2 more veneers fell off. When I was brushing my teeth last Wednesday, I noticed that one of the veneers that my dentist bonded back on is now loose. This is ridiculous and I want to switch to another dentist to get my veneers completely redone. If I could go back to my natural teeth I would do so. I feel stuck and ripped off by my dentist. Of course I didn’t budget for porcelain veneer mistakes, so now I need to find an affordable dentist to get new veneers. Of course I’m concerned about quality. I already paid a lot of money for these veneers and the quality is poor. Hopefully you can guide me in finding quality affordable veneers. – Sabrina

Sabrina – We’re sorry to hear about your bad experience with porcelain veneers. Quality cosmetic dentistry is a rare art, and when patients request affordable dentistry for cosmetic purposes, it concerns us.

A skilled cosmetic dentist can make it more affordable for you to get your veneers replaced, but it won’t mean that the restorations will be inexpensive. We caution patients who focus on cost alone. Affordability is best met through payment plans or financing to make new porcelain veneers easier on your budget. If you insist on the lowest cost, even if you get new veneers, there could be a sacrifice in quality, and they too can fall off or be easily damaged.

A skilled cosmetic dentist has the tools required to properly bond your porcelain veneers. He or she also knows the bonding techniques required to secure your veneers. They should never fall off.

Select two or three experienced cosmetic dentists with whom you can schedule consultations. Have your veneers examined. It’s possible that you don’t need new veneers. Sometimes poorly bonded veneers can be removed, cleaned, and correctly bonded to your teeth.

  • Compare the options and costs for each consulting dentist.
  • Ask to see before-and-after pictures of porcelain veneers each dentist has placed.
  • Ask about options for payment plans or financing.
  • Don’t automatically select the dentist with the lowest cost. Verify his or her training and qualifications.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

 

 

Affordable dentist gave me bad implants

I’ve been looking for an affordable dentist but didn’t just want to pick a dentist without knowing anything about him/her.  So I scheduled consultations with 5 different dentists. The issue is replacing 2 teeth. I received recommendations for a partial denture, a bridge, and dental implants. I thought it interesting that the dentist who offered dental implants quoted a price that was the same price as a dental bridge from another dentist. I couldn’t figure out of the implants were no good or if the dental bridge was over-priced. After researching online I found that the affordable dentist who offered implants has been in practice 11 years. That made me feel comfortable. I accepted a payment plan for 2 implants and I regret the day I did. One implant fell out and the other is loose. This issue with the implants happened in May. It’s over a month later and my dentist is still trying to figure out if I need bone grafting. This is starting to scare me. So know I don’t know if I should just try to get a bridge and forget the whole thing or start all over and get consultations with 5 new dentists. The other issue is that I still need an affordable dentist. So please don’t advise me to go to a top dentist with a fancy office because I can’t afford that. Thank you. Shawna

Shawna – Although the affordable dentist you chose has been practicing dentistry for 11 years, it doesn’t mean that he has been placing dental implants for 11 years. And given the results of your implants, his training and credentials are questionable.

It’s rare for dental implants to fall out. It’s not clear if your dentist thinks you needed bone grafting before the implants were placed, or if he thinks you now need grafting to support a new implant. Osseointegration, the process of the jawbone fusing to the implant takes about six to nine months, so be patient with having your implants replaced.

Despite a dentist’s careful planning and placement of an implant, a patient’s body can still reject it. It’s impossible to predict how your body will react to the implants.

Without an examination and diagnostic studies, we can’t say if and how your dentist was at fault. If you feel comfortable returning to one of the four dentists with whom you had consultations, you should do so. Otherwise find an experienced implant dentist to examine the implants, discuss your options, and help resolve this issue.  You should be able to find a skilled, affordable dentist to help.

 

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

 

 

 

Is this affordable dentist the reason I still have gum disease?

After a lengthy 2 month search, I finally found an affordable dentist. After 3 years of going to this dentist I expected better results. She has been treating me for gum disease for more than a year and a half and I really don’t think my teeth or gums look better. Would I have seen improvement faster if I had chosen a dentist with higher fees? I get a deep teeth cleaning every 3 months and my teeth are almost as loose as they were a year and a half ago. Does getting an affordable dentist mean that I won’t get quality care, or am I being impatient? How long does it take to get gum disease under control? Thanks. Liz

Liz – Your frequent visits to the dentist for scaling and root planing to treat your periodontal disease means that you have a severe case that is beyond the expertise of your affordable dentist.

Bleeding, sore, and inflamed gums, along with infections are signs of gum disease. If gum tissue and teeth continue to separate, your teeth can completely loosen and fall out. After almost two years, if your periodontal disease is about the same, it might be time for you to see a specialist—a periodontist—with two years of post-graduate training in diagnosing and treating issues with your gums.

Do All Affordable Dentists Provide Sub-Standard Care?

The length of time that you’ve been treated isn’t necessarily because you have found an affordable dentist. A dentist with higher fees might also assume that he or she knows how to successfully treat a particular case of periodontal disease when a specialist is really needed. It’s your oral health, so you can ask to be referred to a specialist for a second opinion, or if your insurance allows it, schedule the appointment yourself.

The appearance of your teeth at this point is probably related to the health of your gums. After your gum disease is under control, a cosmetic dentist can work with you to improve the appearance of your smile. It’s crucial to get a specialist to accurately determine why your periodontal disease isn’t improving. He or she will establish a treatment plan that will help you keep as many natural teeth as possible and get back on the path of good oral health.

In the future, you can find an affordable dentist who has good experience and training in general and cosmetic dentistry, and who recognizes when you should be referred to a specialist.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.