JT, I know that you are discouraged, but it may be that you don't have enough tooth structure to keep your crown in place. Most likely an implant is an option for you to replace the root... if you are a good candidate. Dental implants are very successful today using the latest protocols and techniques. The costs vary and depend on several different factors... the clinician's skill, care, and judgement; the overall health of the patient(medical history, current/ past medications), overall dental health of the patient, health of sugical site, selection of implant type, etc. In addition, different dentists have different "comfort zones". One dentist may feel more comfortable referring you to a specialist for further evaluation. Another dentist may feel confident enough to do the implant in his or her own office. Another dentist may recommend that a removable partial or bridge would be a good option for you. #1) I recommend that patient's first find out what the treatment options are for their specific case... and make a decision that is right for them. #2) Find the clinician/dentist that they trust to do the treatment and discuss all of the advantages and disadvantages of treatment/nontreatment. #3) After these are decided then discuss fees, financial arrangements, and insurance. Where there is a "will" there is a "way". If a patient can not afford one treatment option, then another treatment option(compromise) may be in order. I hope this helps. DrB   « less

Yes, I would be interested. Please call Nikki at my office on Monday to give her the details of how we may best help you and your employees. Office- 494-0634. Thank you for thinking of me and our office. Dr. B :)   « less

Smantha, You probably have several options. Get another opinion or two from some other dentists. First, figure out what your options are... choose the treatment that is best for you... make your financial arrangements so that you have no surprises... THEN discuss with your dentist how to best deal with your "allergy" to pain. Today patients can have their dental work done and "sleep" through the whole proceedure. Check out docs.com. You will find alot of info about this. I hope this helps. Let me know if I may be of further assistance along your dental journey. Dr. B.    « less

Dear Marie, Bad breath is probably one of the more sensitive issues to discuss with anyone... and telling our spouse that they have breath that is noticably bad can hurt feelings or start an arguement. I think most of us want to be accepted by others and we want others to feel comfortable when we are talking in close quarters. I personally always want my staff members to tell me if my breath is bad... of course I'm a dentist! Sometimes my staff members will simply hand me a piece of sugarless gum. It's their way of letting me know that I didn't brush my teeth after lunch. Really bad breath can be a sign of periodontal disease. If your husband hasn't been to a dentist in over 6 months then recommend to him that he should have his teeth and mouth examined. If he uses tobacco he should have an oral cancer exam. Usually, a dentist or dental hygienist will discuss halitosis, periodontal disease, and any other concerns that they may have about conditions that they see present. Is your husband afraid to go to a dentist? That may be an issue that is holding him back. I hope that this helps. Dr B :)    « less

Dear Lisa, You have asked one of the best questions that I have read lately, and I will help you in the best way that I can. I can certainly appreciate your concern about your desire for the best dental outcome, especially since our self-esteem, confidence, and attractiveness is so closely tied to our smile. It really is challenging to evaluate which dentist is the "right" dentist for any individual because one person may be looking for the cheapest dentist to make them dentures, and another patient may be looking for an experienced dentist to fully restore their mouth or give them a smile "make-over". Here is what I tell my patients who are moving to another town and they ask me if I know of a good dentist in that location. I tell them to call at least five or six dental offices within a 20 mile radius of their residence ("google it"). There are at least 10 or 15 questions that I would ask, but I usually limit it to 4... they are easier to remember. #1 How long are the adult dental hygiene appointments? If they aren't at least one hour in length then I would say thank you and call another dentist. ( My reasons are personal and have to do with the dental hygienist having enough time to be thorough, not only with the patient's treatment but also thourough in record keeping, infection control, and patient education.) #2 Ask .. Does the dental hygienist wear magnifying glasses during the cleaning appointment? ( Only 20 percent of hygienists wear them.) My reasons are personal, but if the hygienist can see better then she should perform better.) # 3 Ask ... Do you use digital x-rays? ( Digital x-rays allow us to see a more clear image and they reduce the patient's exposure to radiation by 90 percent.... would you rather have more radiation or less?) #4 Ask ... Do you have a intra oral camera that the dental hygienist or doctor uses at every appointment? (This is such a powerful diagnostic tool that helps the dentist, the hygienists and the patient see exactly what's going on in the patient's mouth.) Only 20 percent of all dentists and hygienists USE an intra oral camera...even if they have one! Once you find a dental office that can say "YES" to all four of those questions ... then ask questions about the dentist's credentials. How long has he/she been in practice? In what dental organizations is he/she a member? How long? What is your web address to find out more information about your doctor, the office, and the support team. If you feel comfortable with the answers that you have recieved then I would ask if it would be alright to go visit the office and meet the staff. ( In our office we welcome this request and there is no charge... we enjoy meeting new patients and making new friends!) Most people who call a dental office don't know what to ask! Most ask... How much do you charge for...? or do you take my dental insurance? Although these are important issues that need to be addressed... the most important one to me is to find a dentist who is passionate about doing excellent dental work for me and my family. Trust is such a big part of a good dentist/patient relationship. Qualitly and thoroughness never go out of style. Dentistry is a wonderful profession. It allows dentists to be as good as they want to be. To find the right dentist for you (or any quality-minded person) will require some time and effort on your part ... but it may save you time, disappointment and money in the long run. I hope this helps. Dr. B :)    « less

01-23-2007 - Dear Eric, Dental fees are always a sensitive subject to both dentists and patients. The individual dentist’s fees for a particular dental procedure should be a reflection of the dentist’s experience, the overall quality or level of service, the degree of difficulty to perform the service, and the associated costs of labor, materials, lab fees and facility expense. Unfortunately, there can be a wide disparity in dentist’s fees from one dentist to another. One reason is that there can be a big difference in the individual dentist’s experience and his or her commitment to thoroughness and quality. Whenever I am asked “how much” I charge for…..whatever dental procedure, I always give a wide range because I am committed to thoroughness and quality. Before quoting a fee, I first have to evaluate how the patient might respond to dental treatment….. are they very apprehensive? Will my staff and I need to spend extra time? Go more slowly? Use nitrous oxide? etc. I also have to evaluate if a patient can open his or her mouth wide enough, if they gag easily, if they have other health concerns that may compromise treatment, if there is decay or periodontal disease present, if they have “TMJ” or bite related issues such as grinding or clenching their teeth, how much tooth structure is remaining on any given tooth, (will I have to plan for additional time and costs to “build” the tooth back in order to have enough tooth structure to do a crown?). Is the crown that “needs” to be replaced on a front tooth (in the “esthetic zone”), or is it on a back tooth? Is the crown the doctor prescribes or recommends going to be a solid gold crown, solid porcelain crown, porcelain to metal crown, etc.? What about the dentist’s staff, and their experience and training? What about the overall office, décor, new technology and commitment to infection control and cleanliness? These are just a few of the other factors to be considered. To give you a straight answer about whether or not $1500.00 is too much to pay to replace your wife’s crown…. I don’t know, maybe….maybe not. I can tell you this much. If you call a dental insurance company or check other “pricing surveys” in your area and ask them what their fees are for a particular service they will not take into consideration the factors that I mentioned above. Patients need to remember that we dentists are working 3-6 inches away from their brain. Quality and thoroughness never go out of style….and usually we pay more to get it. I hope this helps, Sincerely, Michael B. Beeler, DDS P.S. You may want to log on the Knoxnews.com and view the response that I gave another person’s inquiry about second opinions that was posted on 9/?/06   « less

01-23-2007 - Dear Alan, The majority of dentists that I know would probably be disappointed that you did not have all of your questions answered to your satisfaction before you left the office. Many times we dentists delegate a staff member to explain dental procedures and to answer any additional questions that patients may have about a dental procedure after a dentist/patient consultation or exam. I want to believe that most all health care professionals desire that all their patients be given enough information in order for them to be able to make an informed decision about treatment, and whether or not to proceed. Trust is always an issue in any doctor/patient relationship. In my office we take digital x-rays, which exposes patients to 75% less radiation than traditional x-rays. We can then show patients their x-rays on a computer or TV monitor immediately. This allows us to enlarge the x-ray so that patients can see exactly what we see. We also use intra-oral cameras on every patient, on every procedure, and this allows patients to see a magnified view of the tooth or teeth involved. In my practice I know that, most of the time, if I can see the problem or concern then my patients can “see” what their dental problems are. It makes me feel better that I am building trust with my patients because the “credibility gap” between doctor/patient has been reduced or eliminated with “new” technology. We also use a computerized patient education program and make all new patients a personalized CD so that they can take it home and view their own x-rays and photos. We also download onto their CD, professionally made videos that explain in detail the dental procedures that might be recommended for them. Patients who desire a second opinion should seek one. I believe that what patients want is more information before proceeding with treatment. I’m okay with that. If I can help you, I would need to see you in my office for a clinical exam using an intra-oral camera and take some digital x-rays before I would be able to evaluate, diagnose, and recommend treatment. My staff and I will treat you as we do all of our patients – with confidentiality. You can visit our website at cosmeticdentistknoxville.com for a virtual office tour, directions, etc. The dentist/patient relationship is founded on trust. Some patients need a second opinion to “confirm” that the treatment that their dentist has recommended is correct. I actually refer patients to other dental specialists frequently for second opinions. In today’s health care environment, second opinions are common with all health care professionals. You may be going to a great dentist…..you may just need another dentist to confirm that. About fees….please refer to my response to another person’s inquiry about dental fees that was posted on 9/?/06. I hope this helps, Sincerely, Michael B. Beeler, D.D.S   « less

01-23-2007 - April 27, 2006 Dear Danny, In my practice, yellow shaded teeth have lightened very well for patients who are motivated and follow our instructions. I will be happy to see you for a complimentary consultation to be able to better advise you and to discuss options that will improve your smile and help you have a smile that you can be proud to “show off”. Please visit my web site at: cosmeticdentistknoxville.com for more information. Thanks for your question. Dr Michael B. Beeler   « less