08-05-2007 - Dear Nancy, Things have improved alot in 10 years in dentistry. Today, an impression can be taken of your teeth within 15 seconds with new fast setting impression materials. Also, if you have had bad dental experiences in the past and felt as if you were choking... I would recommend asking the dentist or dental assistant to spray your mouth with a little "Chloroseptic" mouth sray. I would hope that most dental offices keep this handy because it will definately depress the "gag reflex". Personally, Crest "whitestrips" are too messy and too expensive,(you have to buy about 10 kits to get a professional result). Don't give up on professional whitening! It's still alot less money than porcelain veneers. However, if teeth whitening is not for you... and you want a beautiful white, straight teeth then consult with your dentist about having veneers. If you have further questions call my office. We love helping people. I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less

08-05-2007 - Virginia, Today there are several ways that patients can pay for needed dental work. In our office, we offer to patients payment options that allow them to stretch their payments from one to five years. This is especially helpful for patients who have more complex dental proceedures and require a larger investment of time and money. There are many dental offices who are offering extended payment options for patients.Please refer to this web page for an answer to your question about "Price". There are many variables that must be concidered when a dentist gives a patient a fee. I have addressed this issue previously in answer to another person's inquiry. Visit a dentist who you trust and make an appointment for a consultation. This shouldn't break your budget and you should get the information that you need to make a dental decision that is right for you. To give you a specific price for implants in your case would be unfair to you and to the dentist who may do your surgery. There are so many variables that must be concidered. It's almost as if you owned an asphalt company and I called you up and asked "how much do you charge to pave driveways?" As the owner of the asphalt company, it would be unfair to give me a price until you or one of your field representatives inspected my driveway to see how long it was etc. I hope this helps you. If you have further questions, give my office a call. We like helping people. Dr.B:)   « less

08-09-2007 - Rakesh, In the last few years computer software companies have made available, to dentists who are interested in placing implants, programs that incorporate the CT scan. This is valuble to the treating dentist because this new technology helps him/her better evaluate the area that is to recieve a dental implant. This new software actually allows the dentist to "practice" on a computer the placement of the implant before the surgical proceedure is actually done. So yes, dentists can precribe CT scans. Don't worry though, the professionals are TAKING the CT scans. The dentists are only prescrbing them and then entering them into the computer software. I hope this helps you feel better about this issue. Dr. B:)   « less

08-12-2007 - Frances, The MRI on your knee should not be affected by the upper teeth that you have had "capped". The way I understand it, an MRI might have a "scattering" effect on the image of the MRI if there is metal in the targeted area. Your mouth is a long way from your knee so I would be surprised if there is a problem. Let me know if your treating doctor tells you otherwise, or if your radiologist tells you otherwise. I want to be sure that I am giving you good advise. I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less

08-14-2007 - Jerry, Whew! Trigeminal neuralgia can really be a challenge for anyone who has to live with it. I called Dr. Ronald W. Smith, D.D.S. for you today and I asked him if it would be okay for me to give his name to you. He said fine. I haven't checked out his web site yet, but here it is www.ronsmithdds.com. His number should be on his website. My advise to you is to think about going to see him for a consultation and he can better advise you. I hope this helps you. Dr.B:)   « less

09-05-2007 - Doris, There are many causes for a white bump one the end of your tongue. It probably is a swollen taste bud and will go away in a few days. If it doesn't go away within 7-10 days then I would recommend that you see your dentist. Have the dentist take a photo of the area using an intra-oral camera and save it on his/her computer patient record for future reference.(If your dentist has an intra-oral camera and has computers in every treatment room.) Have them take another photo a week or so later and compare photos to see if there have been any changes. There are many reasons why people can have lesions in their mouths. Did you eat something hot? You may have burned the tissue. Did you bite your tongue... or have and injury? An oral cancer exam is something that all dentists should be doing for their patients during their routine dental hygiene visits. Hopefully, it's nothing to be concerned about and will return to a normal state on it's own... however, keep up with how it is healing. I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less

09-05-2007 - There's an old saying... "quality is remembered long after price is forgotten." What patient's are paying for in dentistry is the dentist's skill, care, and judgement. Did you request to have your dentist try to save your tooth, or to have it removed? Did the dentist do what you requested? Were the fees for treatment discussed with you before treatment began? Did you agree to the financial arrangements before treatment began? Was the treatment successful? Do you still have pain? Are you able to use the treated tooth to chew your food comfortably? Was the involved tooth a more difficult tooth to treat for the treating dentist? Were you a more difficult patient on which to perform dental treatment? Did the proceedure take the clinician twice as long as it normally did? Was the tooth difficult to achieve anesthesia? What kind of crown did the dentist prescribe for you... solid gold, solid porcelain, porcelain to metal,etc.? Did the treating dentist have to do a "build-up"(make a tooth where you didn't have one)? Was it a "Cast" build-up or a "post and core" build-up? As you can see there are alot of variables. If your treatment was successful then thank your dentist for doing a job well done. If your treatment was unsuccessful talk to the treating dentist to see what your treatment options are. I have had alot of patients over the years who would pay anything to be out of dental pain. $1800 may have been a bargain in your case... I don't know, and I'm not trying to be crass. I am empathetic to your being on a fixed income, and $1800 is alot of money to me also. However, if you agreed to proceed with treatment and were given other treatment options, then be thankful that $1800 fixed your problem...thank goodness it wasn't $18,000 for a medical treatment and you did'nt have medical coverage...like so many people. We all have many blessings for which to be thankful... and I'm sure you do also. Dr.B:)   « less

10-07-2007 - Janet, Keep thinking positive and don't give up. One of the best ways that we can let our "light" shine to others is to smile at them when we see them. If we don't smile, others wonder why not, and may incorrectly assume that we are unfriendly,etc. Try these three places (if you live in the Knoxville area)... the Interfaith dental clinic, Knox county health department(dental clinic), and UT Hospital (dental clinic) general dentistry residency program. I advised another gentleman on this website just this evening to see if these same three clinics may be able to help him. Call them and see what the requirements may be to become a patient. Let me know how it goes. You can e-mail me at this site. I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less

10-07-2007 - Jody, I really need more info before I could advise you. See your dentist and see what he or she advises. I always advise that a denture or dentures are the last resort. See what other options that are recommended for your particular dental circumstance. I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less

10-07-2007 - Arlene, There is a new techique that has come along in dentistry called "Snap-on Smile". I have just recently seen two patients who chose to see if it would work for them. I am encouraged about this for select patients. Go to their web site.. snaponsmile.com and check it out. If you are interested either call your dentist and see if they have any experience with this alternative... or call my office. I will be happy to see you for a complimentry consult to see if you might be a good candidate. My web site is cosmeticdentistknoxville.com I hope this helps. Dr.B:)   « less