Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Affordable Dentist in an Emergency for Unemployed

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I need to find an affordable dentist for my dad. He is 63 and has a terrible toothache, but he’s also unemployed and on state insurance, which doesn’t provide dental coverage. Obviously, with the unemployment, he can’t really afford to have the tooth fixed, which is terrible. He keeps trying to live with it, thinking he’ll just fix it when he gets back on his feet again, but I’m really worried that it’s infected and that it’s getting worse. How do I find an affordable dentist who will help him?

Jim

Dear Jim,

There are a lot of ways you can find an affordable dentist and it sounds like your dad needs to get in as soon as possible. Anytime there’s extreme pain, it is a dental emergency. If it’s an infection, it will get worse and spread, so it’s good that you’re looking into options. I’m not trying to scare you, but people still die from tooth infections. I’m only saying that so you’ll have an understanding that it cannot be ignored.

The fastest way to get him treatment is to call around and see who offers payment plans. Some offices will provide in-house financing, but a lot of them are offering things like Care Credit, which is financing through a company that only helps people with medical bills. They usually have a deal where, if you pay off the balance in six months or less, you don’t even have to pay interest on it. If you find an office that does either one of these things, any office can instantly become an affordable dentist and he can get treatment right away.

Depending on the severity of the pain and how long it has been going on, you could look into dental insurance plans as well. When you do self-pay on the policy, it may kick in right away, but be sure that the plan doesn’t have any kinds of waiting periods. These are clauses that some insurance companies stick in there that say the insured party cannot have a specific kind of treatment for a certain number of months after signing up with a policy. You might see waiting periods of 6-12 months or more on “major” services, which generally include extractions and root canals.  Always read the fine print, but you can find him a policy that only runs $30 a month or so and may cut the fees he pays in half or even more, depending on what he needs to have done.

If he’s in a real bind, have him visit his primary care physician. Although a doctor won’t treat dental needs, he can assess it and determine if he thinks it’s infected. If it is, he’ll be able to prescribe antibiotics, which should be covered under his state medical care. This won’t fix the problem, but it will buy him a little bit of time to work out which affordable dentist he’s going to see and how he’ll cover the expenses.

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

Who’s Getting Ripped Off, Me or Other Patients?

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I went to a dentist because he was touted as being affordable. I don’t really have anything to complain about. The care was good and I’ll be back. I just noticed that on top of having much more reasonable prices than many of his peers, he also had very expensive furnishings, a flat screen television, and other goodies in rooms for patients. It got me to thinking either my dentist is cutting corners on treatments or other dentists are seriously overcharging. Is it common for dentists to overcharge?

Brooks S. – New York

Brooks,

Well, that’s a difficult question to answer. Every dentist works on a different budget. Then even if two dentists had the same budget they all allocate it differently.

It could be that your affordable dentist allocates more of his funds to patient care and less to marketing, feeling his quality care will help him with patient retention.  Obviously, you were happy with the care you received there.

While it is possible that other dentists overcharge, it’s a big assumption to make. To be honest, if you’re happy with the care from your dentist who charges less, why worry about what the other dentists do?

Enjoy your affordable care and spend your time thinking about how you can use all that money you’re saving.

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

Dentist Refuses to do any treatment except implants

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I need to replace several teeth, but my dentist says he only does dental implants. I can’t afford that procedure. Please tell me there are other viable options. And also tell me they’re more affordable.

Humphrey A.  – Maine

Humphrey,

While it is his practice, I will admit to getting a little frustrated when dentists are so inflexible, especially when there are other viable options.

There are affordable ways to get your teeth replaced. Just some of the options are removable partial dentures or a dental bridge.

You can even get certain types of more affordable implants, such as mini implants or implant supported dentures.

Another option, would be to find a dentist who is willing to work with you on payments for dental implants or another replacement option.

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

Thought I was saving money until my tooth fell out

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I needed to replace my tooth. I called around to find the cheapest dentist to do it. I was so excited when I found a dentist who was several thousand dollars cheaper. I got the procedure done. Then the new tooth just fell completely out. I went back and he’s saying it’s my fault. I went to a different dentist and he told me that first one botched the job. Now I have to spend a lot more money to get it fixed and need and additional procedure. I’m devastated. It’s going to cost me double than if I had just gone to a different dentist to begin with.  Can I get my money back?

Stella B. – Denver, CO

Stella,

What a horrible experience. I think you’ve learned there is a very big difference between an affordable dentist and a cheap dentist. This cheap dentist has cost you a small fortune.

As far as getting a refund, there is no guarantee. It helps that you have a second dentist saying that the procedure was botched. Your first dentist will likely care about his professional opinion. You could get at least a partial refund just by that reason alone.

The fact that it fell out works in your favor too, because it didn’t meet the minimum standard of care, which is it needs to be functional.

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

Need more work than I can afford

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I’ve neglected my dental care for quite a few years. Because of that, I need a lot more work than I expected. The dentist said I needed six crowns because the cavities are too large to just fill them. There’s no way I can afford that, but am afraid I’ll lose my teeth if I don’t do anything. Is there a middle ground option?

Elizabeth C. – Mesa, AZ

Elizabeth,

It’s overwhelming to feel you need too much work, especially if you don’t have the money to afford the care you need. Your dentist should have affordale options for you. There is phased treatment, that allows you to get the most urgent work done first.

If your dentist is worried about it becoming an abcess and wants you to get them all done right away, then you can ask about payment plans. Many dentists have low, and sometimes even no, interest plans that will allow you to get the work  done you need.

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

I was so excited about redoing my smile…until I saw the cost.

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Can you explain why getting smile makeover is so expensive.  I had ramped myself up to get one and was so excited, because I’ve always hated my teeth. But when I realized the prize it was heartbreaking. Is there an affordable way to redo a smile?

Tina P. – Michigan

Tina,

I’m guessing you priced porcelain veneers. Yes, they can be costly. The materials alone are expensive and they require a high level of training and skill. Plus, there are lab fees. However, there are other ways to give yourself a smile makeover that are more affordable.

You didn’t mention what it is about your teeth that bother you, but I have a few procedures that I can recommend, which cost less that porcelain veneers.

  • Teeth Whitening: This procedure alone can make your smile look years younger
  • Invisalign: The allows patients to straighten their teeth without anyone knowing. No bulky, metal braces.
  • Dental Bonding: This works great for things like chipped teeth or small gaps.

All of those are affordable. I hope you find something that works for you.

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

Need too many procedures

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I went to the dentist for the first time in years…like since I was a teenager.  I’m 43 now.  I need so many procedures (which frankly doens’t surprise me), that it is going to cost many thousands of dollars.  I just don’t have that kind of money, but want to deal with my mouth, whihc has felt unpleasant for a while. I called around to several dentists in order to find someone more affordable. All the dentists were around the same price on all procedures (something I find a little suspicious), except one.  There was a cheap dentist, but when I looked up more information about him, he didn’t have very good reviews.  I’m feeling like he was cheaper for a reason.  Is there any way to get affordable dentistry?

Marc G. – Little Rock, AR

Marc,

Cheap dentistry doesn’t equate with affordable dentistry.  It’s a good thing you did some research.  If that cheap dentist were  one of those dentists that cuts corners but order cheap parts, you could have ended up with a serious problem.  Fortunately, that won’t happen to you, because you’re smart enough check beyond the price list. I have seen patients that ended up with major infections or a complete failure of the procedure. What they thought was going to save them money ended up cost more than double.

Prices are the only way to get affordable care.  When you need a lot of procedures, such your situation, I suggest phased treatment.  I would pick the dentist who is skilled and honest, not necessarily the cheapest. Have him or her list out everything you need done, but have them prioritize the list from the most urgent to the least.

Then, set up a treatment schedule that works with your budget. Get the most urgent things done. Then you’ll have time to save up for the other procedures.  I’d also suggest looking into low or even no-interest payment plans.  Most dentists have some kind of connection with options like care credit.

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

Never been to the dentist

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I grew up in a poor family.  I married into a poor family. As a result, I’ve never been to the dentist. I’ve been thinking about going lately, but to be perfectly blunt I’m afraid of what they’re going to say. I’m sure I’ll need tons of work that I won’t be able to afford, so I wonder if there is even a point.

Dania F. – Arizona

Dania,

I understand how frightening it can be when you feel helpless, especially when it is related to your health.  while it is possible you’ll need a lot of work, it’s also possible you won’t.  Then you can just continue with cleanings and check ups.

Don’t despair if you did need a lot of work. There are affordable ways to get dental work done.  There are phased treatment options, payment plans. The important thing is to speak to your dentist ahead of time.  Make sure he understands your situations. Most  dentists care enough to work with you to make sure you can get the dental care you need.

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

I REALLY don’t want dentures!

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I’m hoping you can help me.  I’m losing my teeth. Partly because I didn’t care for them well and partly because I just didn’t have the money to go to the dentist regularly.  Now I’m going to lose all my teeth. I can’t afford dental implants, but I really, really, really don’t want dentures. I’m going to feel like a 90 year old and I’m only 42.  Is there any way to get affordable dental implants?

Carrie M. – Maine

Carrie,

I don’t want to make you feel worse, but at your age, I think dentures are an extremely bad idea. Once your teeth are removed, your body begins to reabsorb the minerals from your jawbone throughout your body. By the time you are 50, it is quite likely that your denture will no longer fit because there won’t be enough jawbone to support them. Hopefully your dentist warned you about this.

I understand you don’t have the money for implants, but there are affordable dentists that will work with you. They could to low or no interest payment plans, or even phased treatments.

This is serious, so speak with your dentist or another one about your options.

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

Can’t afford veneers, will snap on smile do?

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I called around everywhere for an affordable dentist to do my smile makeover. I couldn’t find anything I can afford. Would snap on smile work instead?

Deanna M. – Austin, TX

Deanna,

It’s probably a good thing you didn’t find a cheap enough dentist. Those usually end up poorly done.

Snap-on smile will give you a decent smile, but it isn’t permanent and will not be as beautiful as porcelain veneers. It attaches to the front of your teeth.

If you’re fine with that, then it is an OK alternative. You could use that while you save up for a more permanent solution.

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