How to avoid the most common dental scams!

The Implant Pyramid Scheme

You need a tooth replaced and your dentist recommends an implant. You go home and notice there are several dentists in your area that are offering implants at a special rate. Many of these offers may lead to you paying more then you should. This is how these scams work. They advertise a ridiculously low price for an implant with some fine print that leads to one of the following money bilking scams:

1) Immediate add on fees. This may be an examination fee or radiographs

2) Latent add on fees. These are added to the implant surgery to pad your bill

3) Post surgery add on fees

4) Restoration gouging

First make sure the dentist will do any necessary radiographs and examinations for free. We need the information on the radiographs to determine the size and shape of the implant. Get copies of all records before you leave that day even if they are free. In Pennsylvania, the law is very clear, the records are yours for free. The dentist may put a charge on your account for the duplication, but it is uncollectible. DO NOT PAY FOR YOUR RECORDS IN PENNSYLVANIA!

The next step will be a second opinion. Then get a third opinion. Did all three agree about the surgery? Grafting is only needed in extreme situations where we need to grow new bone. Over eighty percent of implants can be place without grafting. If grafting is needed get the graft receipt. Most bone used today is from a human source, which means it must be identified and registered with the FDA.

All implants require a period of healing and check ups to make sure everything is healing well. This should be included in the surgery for free. Most implants require three to four post operative checks and you should not pay for them.

There are three parts to most implants. The implant itself is the titanium fixture placed in the jaw. The second part is the post, which screws into the implant to give the dentist something to cement to. The third part is the crown, which looks like a tooth. The crown can be cemented or screwed down. THere is no reason that you should be forced to have the implant restored by the placing dentist. This avoids getting gouged on the last two parts of your implant. The implant dentist should welcome this scenario and give your dentist the information and parts necessary to restore the implant.

Remember those second and third opinions? Good. Now compare prices. Get a fee for just the implant and get a fee for restoring the implant. Get this in writing. Now you are an educated consumer and will get the best value for your money.

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen

2030 West Main St.

Jeffersonville, PA 19403

drsethrosen.com

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a degenerative infection of the oral tissue supporting your teeth. It is normally caused by poor oral hygiene. After years of neglect, a build-up of plaque eventually forms under the gum line. This stage is called gingivitis; it’s the mildest form of periodontitis. It usually goes unnoticed until physical symptoms begin.

Symptoms of gingivitis include swollen gums and light bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth. As gingivitis worsens your gums may bleed freely when brushing or eating. If these conditions persist, you could lose your teeth. The plaque grows slowly but surely, lifting the gum away from the bone. That creates pockets around your teeth. Those pockets are perfect food traps. When food becomes trapped beneath the gum line, it causes more discomfort and bleeding. If you try to dislodge the trapped food by flossing, it can make the pockets even worse. 

If the affected teeth are in the same area and only include a few teeth, the gingivitis is called localized. Generalized gingivitis affects teeth in several areas of the mouth. In its initial stages, before it becomes severe, the condition can be managed by scaling the surface of the teeth. Worse cases may require root planning as well. Post-treatment follow-up care by the patient requires excellent oral hygiene. Daily flossing after meals and twice-daily brushing with a soft-bristled brush are required to keep plaque from reforming. It takes about three to four months for the plaque to build up to the point where it needs to be scaled again. Your dentist or periodontist can schedule regular cleanings to prevent further bone loss or the loss of your teeth.

If the condition worsens, surgery may be required. To prevent its recurrence, the gum line is trimmed back to reduce the depth of the pockets surrounding the teeth. That makes it easier for you to floss effectively and keep the area clean. People with diabetes, compromised immune systems or a genetic predisposition to gum disease must be extremely vigilant after having periodontal work performed. A lifetime of good habits are necessary to maintain your teeth. Research has shown that periodontitis can even cause cancer and high stress levels.

Studies have determined that pregnant women who already have gingivitis are more likely to have a pre-term baby with low birth weight. In fact, the mothers themselves are especially at risk for periodontitis. Between sixty to seventy-five percent of pregnant women will experience gingivitis in their second trimester. Their high levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone cause the gums to become more susceptible to the bacteria that creates plaque. “Pregnancy gingivitis” causes excess bacteria to enter your bloodstream. From there, it travels to the uterus, increasing the production of prostaglandins. The prostaglandins start uterine contractions that can induce false or premature labor.

If you’re pregnant and have good oral health, continue your brushing, flossing and regular exams with your dentist. If you require dental work during your pregnancy, wait until your second trimester to lower the risks that could occur during the first trimester, when your baby’s important organs are being formed. Postpone any non-essential dental work until after your child is born.

With the introduction of LANAP, (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), Dr. Scott Smith, at Center for Periodontal and Implant Dentistry, is able to remove and kill only the bacteria within the pockets of your gums while leaving the healthy tissue behind to reattach to the root surface! Why is this important? You can now enjoy less pain, less discomfort, less recession, less sensitivity, and much better and more predictable long-term results. LANAP is the first and only FDA cleared laser protocol on the market and has been proven through extensive science and research studies in the United States and abroad. Quite simply it is the highest standard of care available in the world for the treatment of gum disease. Often Dr. Smith can save teeth that have previously been deemed hopeless by naturally regenerating the bone around the tooth.If saving your teeth, reducing your pocket depths, and maintaining optimum periodontal health is important to you, this is a treatment that you must consider! Give Dr. Scott Smith a call at 610-265-7023.

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen

2030 West Main St.

Jeffersonville, PA 19403

drsethrosen.com

Causes and Treatments of Tooth Sensitivity

A Pain in the Tooth!

It’s that sudden, sharp shooting pain that you feel in a tooth or set of teeth after eating food or consuming a drink. The discomfort can be excruciating until you eliminate the source and cause of the sensitivity. Approximately 38% of adults have experienced and suffer from tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity often occurs after consuming foods that are sweet, sour, hot, cold or acidic. The sensitivity can even occur after simply breathing in cold air. So, what causes tooth sensitivity and how can you treat it?

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

When the underlying layer of your tooth, called dentin, is exposed, thousands of tiny tubules also become exposed. These tubules lead to your tooth’s nerve center. When they become stimulated from the food you eat, you experience tooth pain and sensitivity.

Several factors may be responsible for your tooth sensitivity: tooth decay, your age, tooth whitening, excessive brushing, gum disease, plaque, dental procedures, recessed gum lines, cracked teeth and acidic foods.

How is Tooth Sensitivity Treated?

To get rid of the tooth pain, you must determine what is causing the tooth sensitivity. Regular dentist visits and professional teeth cleaning ensure optimum health for you and your teeth. Your dentist can determine any problem areas and give you tips on improving and getting rid of the sensitivity.

A talk with your dentist can then help you determine if specific foods are triggering the sensitivity and prescribe you fluoridated toothpaste to fight sensitivity.

The quickest way to treat tooth sensitivity is to visit your dentist for proper diagnosis and care. If you have gum disease, a cracked tooth, damaged dental crowns or fillings, receding gum lines, or are known to grind your teeth, your dentist can properly diagnose the cause and determine the appropriate treatment.

Dental procedures such as white fillings can be applied to cover the exposed roots and nerves of your tooth. Professional strength fluoride as well as sealer treatments can also be applied to your sensitive teeth by your dentist.

Don’t spend another day in pain. Eliminate tooth discomfort and sensitivity by determining the exact cause of your sensitivity and applying the correct procedure and treatment to fix it. Contact your dentist to help you get your smile back without the pain. You and your teeth will be glad you did!

A Family Dental Care Center: Dr. Seth Rosen

2030 West Main St.

Jeffersonville, PA 19403

drsethrosen.com