Decay of Teeth; Worried About Cost?

Question

I'm twenty-two years old and have a bad family history when comes to teeth. I haven't been to the dentist in about ten years, which is cause for problems. I have blacken decay on teeth numbers nine and ten; with starting decay on tooth eight. How much would it cost to get this fixed and what is the best way?

Scott Young, DDS · Answer

Based on your description, the cavities on these front teeth are probably pretty advanced and you should see a dentist right away.  The odds are pretty good that you have decay in other areas that you are not aware of.  I would seek a comprehensive exam and x-rays from a dentist and find out exactly what is happening in your mouth.  They can give you a treatment plan and present you with payment options that their office accepts.  By waiting you can cause yourself potential pain and more expense.  Act now!

Scott Greenhalgh, DDS · Answer

The worrisome thing about tooth discoloration and decay is that typically it goes a lot farther and deeper than what you can see on the outside.

	I'm very concerned that you could have major cavities in those front teeth. I would get to a good dentist right away and have some X-rays and a thorough exam. There is a high probability that you also have other important cavities in back teeth as well.

	You will also want to make sure that your new dental office is very prevention oriented. In our office we spend a lot of time sharing with you about the best ways to clean your teeth. Sonicare is the best way to make sure you are really getting the plaque off of your teeth. It's one key step to ultimately stopping cavities.

	We also start a lot of patients on a prescription strength Fluoride. They use this at home twice a day. It is another key element in stopping cavities.

	Fluoride varnish done in the office is the most potent Fluoride treatment you can have. This ought to be done with every cleaning to further assist in stopping cavities.

	The key for you is to START. Find the right dentist. Start making as many of these changes as you can. Work through the process of getting the cavities removed. My guess is that you will probably need bonding or white fillings to start. IF the cavities are huge, you may need crowns to seal the teeth properly.

	A great dentist can help make you comfortable through all of this. The problems won't go away, they will begin to hurt soon and you start to have a risk of losing teeth because of large cavities. It doesn't have to go down that route. Take action today!

Soheyla Marzvaan, DDS (retired) · Answer

Sorry to hear about your situation. Your questions is not one that can be answered. It is as if you say I am hungry , if I go to a restaurant how much  my food bill may be. Clearly your front teeth have large enough decay that you can see them. And the treatment options can vary. And god knows what other teeth have decay that you cannot see, or are not large enough for you to be aware of them, but never the less more decay may exist. Just to visit a dentist and take x-rays and get an exam, ( not even treatment)  you are looking at an average of few hundred dollars ( $150-$400). So here's how I can help you and my advise to you. 

	1) Go to a dentist SOONER than later . The longer you wait the more expensive treatment gets.

	2) Find a Dental School. Usually you can get great dental care at a fraction of the cost. Students will work on you and every appointment takes longer, but every step that the student makes is supervised at all times and you will receive great care.

	3) If you cannot afford the time and you are working and cannot take off your work to go to a dental school to get care, then find a dentist that accepts payment plans and budget yourself to pay your payments out of your paycheck

	4) Find a job that can offer dental insurance

	5) Try dental plans such as AFLAC

	 

	Good luck

Decay of Teeth; Worried About Cost?

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Decay of Teeth; Worried About Cost?

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