Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Ordering Dental Parts Online

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Is there a way for me to order dental implant parts online that does not require me to be a dentist? What I need is the male retention parts. My dentist charges me for one what I can get for six of them online. I’m retired and thought I’d have enough to get through, but the economic problems really hit me hard. I need to pinch every penny I can or I will outlast my money. Not that I’m hoping for the opposite problem either. Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated.

Michael

Dear Michael,

snap on denture

While it is true that dentists have a great deal of overhead, this would not be a huge earner for him and should not make much difference in his bottom line. I would start by talking to your dentist about your situation. My guess is that he would be willing to work with you. If he is not, you will still have options.

My next step would be to look for a dentist who works with dental implants, who also advertises themselves as an affordable dentist. I have found that most dentists went into their profession in order to help people. Affordable dentists are especially sensitive to the financial straits that people sometimes find themselves in. You could call around to a few dental offices and tell them what you told me. It’s often the staff who orders the parts instead of the dentist anyway.

A final option would be to order from eBay. There are overseas companies who are willing to sell these to non-dentists. I’m making that a final option because you would have to know some information such as the strength of the cap you need as well as how to place them into your denture.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

A Second Opinion on Invisalign?

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I understood that Invisalign was a good option for adults who wanted to straighten their teeth. I’ve had several friends use it with great success. I didn’t think my teeth were much worse than theirs, but when I went to see my dentist about it he told me that it wasn’t good at fixing misaligned teeth and I should just get braces. Is that accurate? I’d like to get a second opinion. If it is, what are my options?

Peter

Dear Peter,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I’m not sure why your dentist said that Invisalign was not a good option for fixing misalignments. This is exactly what the aligners were made for. Please understand, I do not know who your dentist is, so I cannot tell you definitively if this is the case, but two things come to mind as possible reasons for saying it was not a good option.

The first is that he has not kept up with the developments in the dental field very well. While it is true that when Invisalign first came onto the market it was only useful for the most ideal of cases, now it is able to handle all but the most complicated of cases. Your dentist simply may not be aware of this.

The second is that he does not offer Invisalign and, if he refers you to a dentist who does, you may switch dentists permanently instead of just for this procedure.

My suggestion is that you find a dentist who does do the procedure and have your teeth straightened there. As a side note, the aligners used to straighten your teeth are also able to double as teeth whitening trays. This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. You’d simply have to ask your dentist to provide you with the whitening gel and then wear it inside your aligners at your convenience.

Just make sure to have your teeth professionally cleaned before starting the whitening. Otherwise the results will end up blotchy.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.
Click here to read why many patients consider him an affordable dentist.

How Long Can You Put Off a Root Canal Treatment?

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I have a tooth which is in need of a root canal treatment. I am in a bit of a bind financially at the moment. Do you have an estimate of how long a root canal treatment can be put off before it becomes a problem?

Jack

Dear Jack,

A man holding his jaw in pain.

I am sorry that you are having to deal with so much right now. First, the financial bind and then the infected tooth. I’m sure this is adding more stress. It would be hard to tell you how long you can wait without examining your tooth. However, I can give you some guidelines.

If the tooth is not hurting and has not been hurting for a bit you can likely put it off without much of a problem. I know of a patient who put off a root canal treatment for several years but there were no problems. When they did finally get the root canal treatment, they did mention they felt better in their general health, which surprised them. Most people do not realize that their general health is impacted by their oral health. One thing to be aware of is that waiting for a long period of time puts you at risk for external resorption. This is where the root of the tooth is slowly eaten away and the tooth can no longer be saved.

If there is any pain with the tooth, even just a little, then you have an active infection and you should not put this off. It will continue to spread. Another sign of an active infection is a pimple on your gums. Again, don’t put off treatment in that case. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections. This is because your teeth are very close to your heart, lungs, and brain. If an infection reaches there, then an infected tooth becomes life threatening. I say this to make sure you understand an active infection must be dealt with. I would consider this a dental emergency.

The good news is that there are affordable dentists who would be willing to work with you on payments in the situation where you need urgent dental care. I would do an internet search using the term affordable dentist, then call them and explain your situation. One of them should be willing to help you.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

How Often Do I Need to See an Invisalign Dentist?

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I have been saving up for Invisalign treatment for a while. I have all the money ready. However, since then, we have moved. Our new location is two and a half hours away from the nearest Invisalign dentist. I know that we get aligners every two weeks. The problem I have is the distance. That would be five hours just in driving. On top of that I would have to add the time for the actual appointment, gas stops, and I’d probably need to eat and use the restroom at some point. I have four kids and don’t want to drag them on such a long trip every two weeks. It’s also not tenable for me to hire a sitter so often. Is there a way a dentist would be willing to work with me on maybe not coming quite so often?

Sylvia

Dear Sylvia,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I am glad that you wrote. You certainly have your hands full. You’re also extremely disciplined if you were able to save up that money while meeting the needs of four children. That’s impressive!

You should know that while you switch out the Invisalign aligners every two weeks, we generally give you two pairs of aligners so that you are only actually coming in once a month. However, given your situation, you may be able to get your dentist to stretch that out even further. A lot of that would depend on how complex your particular case is. If there isn’t anything that would require a lot of monitoring, your dentist may be able to give you a few months worth at a time.

You should know that Invisalign aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays. I don’t know if that is something you are even interested in or need. If you are, it is a great way to save some extra money by knocking two procedures out at once. Plus, because the aligners can fill in for the bleaching trays, you will not have to worry about the additional cost of have bleaching trays made. The only thing you’d have to pay for is the bleaching gel itself, which is not very expensive.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.
See why he is considered an affordable dentist.

Snap on Smile for a Bulimic?

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I am a recovering bulimic and have hardly any enamel left on my teeth as a result. My dentist says I need porcelain veneers on all of the teeth, but that is way more than I can afford. Can you tell me if snap-on smile would work as a result? My teeth are so sensitive and hurt all the time.

Amy

Dear Amy,

image of snap-on smile

I am sorry for what you are going through, but at the same time really proud of you for taking the steps to recovery. You are in a tough spot. The most that you will get out of snap-on smile is an improvement in your appearance. Unfortunately, it will not help with the sensitivity.

What you need to help with that are dental crowns. I am not sure why your dentist suggested porcelain veneers. When done correctly they can provide you with a beautiful smile, but they only cover the front of your teeth. It is the back of your teeth that takes the brunt of the damage from bulimia. Porcelain veneers will be useless to you in this case.

What you need is an artistic dentist who can provide you with beautiful dental crowns. This is still expensive. However, if you call around you will likely be able to find a dentist sympathetic to your situation who will do this is stages for you. He or she can triage the teeth and decide which are more urgent to get crowned and then work from there. Look for someone who advertises as an affordable dentist. They tend to be very compassionate toward people in your situation.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can’t Afford to Remove Broken Tooth

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I have a back wisdom tooth that is broken. Shortly after it broke, the pieces began falling off. All I have left now is one small piece in the back. The pulp is disappearing, however, the tooth is super sensitive. Will it eventually fall out by itself or do I HAVE to see a dentist? I don’t have much money at the moment so even though I’m in pain, I want to avoid the dentist, if possible.

James

Dear James,

An adult male grimacing in pain has he holds his cheek

I am glad you wrote. I feel compassion for what you are going through. To be in so much pain and still not want to see the dentist means you are completely broke. Yes, eventually, your decaying tooth will fall out. That being said, there is a chance that an infection will get into the bone and cause serious problems. The way to avoid that is to have the tooth taken out.

I’m having a hard time grasping the entirety of your situation because I haven’t seen it. I’m not sure what you mean by the pulp disappearing. Because of that, combined with my sympathies for your financial situation, I am going to suggest that unless your jaw starts to swell you should be okay to wait it out. However, if the jaw starts to swell, you have a serious dental emergency on your hands. In that case, you have to see someone and have this dealt with, or else it can become life threatening.

Here is some advice if you want to try and take care of this now. First, I’d call around and see if there is a free dental clinic for emergencies. If not, you could also call around to see if there is a dentist who will allow you to get the treatment you need and then pay it out. I would start by looking for dentists who advertise themselves as affordable dentists in that case.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Are Orthodontics Required to Replace Crowns?

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I have had two crowns on my front teeth for a while. They are starting to show their age and really need to be replaced. For some reasons, my dentist is insisting that I do orthodontics first before he’ll replace my dental crowns. It’s not that I don’t want straight teeth, but I just can’t afford them. Is this just a preference thing or will I face this with every dentist?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

A dentist and patient
It is unfair to patients when a dentist insists on the ideal treatment, regardless of circumstances

I have to admit that it annoys me when dentists behave this way. Yes, having straight teeth is the ideal, but if you cannot afford orthodontic work, then you can’t afford it.

Obviously, you can have dental crowns placed when your teeth aren’t straight or you wouldn’t have any now. This is a preference issue on the part of your dentist.

In all honesty, I’m going to suggest you find another dentist. Look for one who is willing to work within the budget of his patients. You could do an internet search for an “affordable dentist” in your area.

Benefits of an Affordable Dentist

If you find an affordable dentist, they’ll be willing to work within your budget. They’re also willing to stage treatments, so you don’t have to do everything at once. Additionally, they will often have payment plans. Some of them have in-house plans and some of them work through Care Credit.

Getting a Crown on Your Front Teeth

One thing you want to be careful of, regardless of where you go to get your crowns done, is that they only give you all-porcelain crowns on your front teeth.

A metal-based crown will not look right on front teeth. They will be too opaque. They will also develop a gray line on the gumline.

If You Ever Decide to Get Orthodontics

When you do decide you are able to get orthodontics (and that should be completely up to you) you no longer have to get metal wires and brackets. These days, you have the option of “invisible braces”.

Invisalign is the most popular brand which utilizes clear aligners. These gently guide your teeth into their correct position.

I hope this helps you. This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can I Charge George Lucas for My Dental Appointment?

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I was having fun with my son playing Jedi versus Sith. Not only did my son, the Sith, win but he seemed to use the force. the circle that is at the top of the hilt flew off and hit me in the mouth. I was bleeding, which isn’t unexpected from a mouth injury, but this morning I noticed the tooth feels loose. I keep wiggling it to be certain and I’m pretty certain. Because this injury is due to a defect in the lightsaber, can I charge the company? Or possibly George Lucas? I don’t have insurance or a dentist, but I’m assuming I have to see one.

Melissa

Dear Melissa,

Woman covering her mouth with her hand

A loose adult tooth requires an emergency dentist

First, let me say you sound like a fun mom! I know lots of little boys who would enjoy a good Jedi battle with a parent. As far as charging the company or George Lucas, you could write to them and let them know what happened and ask them to cover your dental expenses which resulted from the accident. However, unless you do a Jedi mind trick, the dentist won’t bill them for the services without written consent.

Next, I’m going to say please stop wiggling the tooth immediately. There are ligaments which aide in holding your tooth in place. If you keep stretching them, they may snap. Your tooth will need to be stabilized. This would be considered a dental emergency.

As you don’t have a dentist, my suggestion is to do an internet search using the term “emergency dentist“. These are general dentists who are willing to see non-established patients in the case of emergencies such as yours. They’ll stabilize your tooth, but also do x-rays to make sure there’s no damage to the pulp of the tooth. If there is, a root canal treatment will be necessary.

Who Pays for Emergency Dental Appointments?

Unless they’re a minor, with rare exceptions, the only person a dentist can charge is the person receiving the service. One exception would be if someone signed a statement saying they’ll cover the bill.

If someone is truly responsible for your accident but refusing to take care of it, your only real option is to take them to small claims court.

I don’t think you’ll get very far with George Lucas, Ltd. Though, you’re obviously welcome to write to him and try.

There are affordable dentists out there. They’re very likely willing to allow you to make payments in order to get the treatment you need then pay it out slowly.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can I Use Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection?

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I have a pimple on my gums and my tooth hurts. I looked it up online and it sounds like I have a tooth infection. I don’t have dental insurance and don’t make much money. I do have some antibiotics I’d never taken for a sinus infection that went away on its own. Can I just take those for the tooth infection?

Carl

Dear Carl,

A man holding the side of his jaw like he needs an emergency dentist

Antibiotics won’t solve a tooth infection

There is a common misunderstanding about antibiotics and dentistry, which is probably why we still have people dying from tooth infections. I’m glad you wrote so you won’t risk the same fate. Think of antibiotics as an aide to instead of a cure for tooth infections.

The reason they can’t knock it out on their own is due to the structure of the tooth. Once the infection gets to the pulp of your tooth, it dies. That means no more blood flow. Without blood flow, there’s no way for the antibiotic to have any effect on the infected pulp. While antibiotics will slow down the infection on the areas it can reach, the infection will return and spread.

The only way to truly take care of it is for a dentist to get in there and physically dig out the infection. This is called a root canal treatment.

Finding an Affordable Dentist

You’re in a bit of a pickle and I understand that. Fortunately, most dentists are compassionate and got into this field with the idea of helping people. There are affordable dentists. Be careful though. There is a difference between affordable dentistry and cheap dentistry.

Cheap dentistry is when a dentist has significantly lower prices than almost all the other dentists around him or her. They are doing that to draw people in. You need to ask yourself why they are so much cheaper than everyone else. Is it because they have trouble retaining patients because of poor dental or people skills? Bear in mind, there’s also a real possibility they’re making up their profits by purchasing cheap materials which will fail on you.

Instead of a cheap dentist, you want one who works to keep their prices reasonable without cutting corners. They can be affordable in other ways, such as making low or no-interest payment plans available so you can get the treatment you need and then pay it out. They can also phase your treatment in some cases.

Do an online search for an affordable dentist, but be certain to check out their reviews to make sure you’re not getting into a disastrous dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can Emergency Dentist Save Tooth Hit by Baseball?

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I was playing a game of baseball with some neighborhood kids when one of the balls went flying and hit me in the mouth. I originally thought I was fine because it didn’t bleed or bruise. But this morning the tooth is wiggly and loose. Is there a way to save it or is it toast?

Payson

Dear Payson,

Woman Smiling Text: A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear

It’s very possible your dentist or an emergency dentist if you don’t have one can save your tooth. But two things need to happen for you to have the best shot.

Stop wiggling it.

Your tooth has ligaments that are a bit stretchy, like rubber bands. But, just like rubber bands, if you stretch them too far or too often and they’ll snap or lose their elasticity. This puts your tooth at greater risk.

Get to the Emergency Dentist

You’ll want to get in as quickly as possible. The longer this is left that way the less chance you have to save it. The dentist can stabilize the tooth by using a splint or bonding the tooth to a stable adjacent tooth. That may be all that’s needed. It gives the ligaments time to heal. However, if the pulp of the tooth was damaged, you’ll need a root canal treatment and dental crown.

What if the tooth can’t be saved?

If it’s not possible to save the tooth you have several replacement options. The top of the line replacement is a dental implant. However, if either of the adjacent teeth is in need of a dental crown, then a dental bridge may make more sense.

If both of those options are out of your current budget, you can either find an affordable dentist who’s willing to work with you on payments or get a removable partial denture until you can afford a more stable replacement.

Either way, you need to be seen right away. This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.