affordable dentist Archives - Drake & Wallace Dentistry

Lemons for DIY Teeth Whitening

Posted on November 24, 2023 by writeradmin.

I keep reading about the effects of lemon on whitening teeth. Could I use lemons from the grocery store or even lemon essential oils to whiten my teeth at home?

Fran

Dear Fran,

Some years ago, there was a dangerous teeth whitening product that would have the patient rinse with a citric acid solution. This would have the effect of etching the teeth. The initial etching would do some minor whitening. Then they would place titanium dioxide on their teeth which was a pigment. It would allow the teeth to look significantly whiter for the length of time that the pigment lasted.

The problem comes with the etching of the teeth that was done using the citrus acid. That enamel will not come back, which means those teeth are permanently damaged and will always be more susceptible to stains. If you were to use lemons, it would have the same effect, without the pigment. The citrus is acidic and it will damage the enamel on your teeth. I even recommend that you rinse your mouth out after drinking citrusy drinks before brushing your teeth in order to neutralize the acid before you scrub it onto your teeth.

If you really want to safely whiten your teeth, the best way to do that is through a dentist. They can provide you with custom-fitted teeth whitening trays. Not only will that whiten your teeth more effectively, but it will do it safely protecting both your tooth enamel as well as your gums.

If finances are the only thing keeping you from going to the dentist for your teeth whitening, then I would simply look for a dentist who advertises as an affordable dentist. Not only do they work hard to keep their prices as low as possible, they are often willing to work with you on payment plans.

Teeth whitening is pretty basic. Because of that you do not need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. You can shop around and find the most affordable dentist to do your teeth whitening. Just make sure you do it right after having your teeth professionally cleaned. Otherwise, you will have splotchy results.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Beware of Smile Direct Club Reviews

Posted on January 16, 2023 by writeradmin.

I was doing some research on Smile Direct Club, which advertises itself as an inexpensive Invisalign alternative. I started by looking up reviews, but all the review sites seemed to be tied to the company’s sales. Interestingly, all the reviews were positive. Then, I came across this article by the New York Times that indicated the Smile Direct Club was squelching negative reviews.

Based on the article, it appears that Smile Direct Club keeps a close eye on their reviews. When a negative one pops up, they contact the customer and offer them a pro-rated refund in exchange for signing a contract. Part of that agreement entails removing any current negative reviews they have up as well as, “he/she will not make, publish, or communicate any statements or opinions that would disparage, create a negative impression of, or in any way be harmful to the business or business reputation of SDC or its affiliates or their respective employees, officers, directors, products, or services.”

That will make it very hard for potential customers to get a realistic impression of the experience actual patients have had with them. I decided to do a quick search on the Better Business Bureau, where it is harder to manipulate information. In the last three years, for my city alone, Smile Direct Club had 2,650 complaints. Compare that with Invisalign where I could not find any complaints for my area.

So, what is a patient to do if they want invisible braces? You have a couple of options. First, you can completely ignore this and get Smile Direct Club anyway. If it works out for you, you will have saved some money. Bear in mind that you will not be under a dentist’s care throughout the procedure so if something does go wrong, you are on your own. Your second option is to go ahead and get Invisalign. If cost is an issue, I would look specifically for a dentist who advertises himself as an affordable dentist on his website, but also offers Invisalign. They will be more likely to work with you on payment options.

I hope this helps protect patients who are hoping to have a good experience getting their teeth straight.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Can You Put Off a Root Canal Treatment?

Posted on February 5, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have been laid off and am struggling financially. I know I need a root canal treatment because my dentist told me that at my last appointment. We’d planned on waiting until my next paycheck, but then I lost my job. I don’t know how long I will have to live off my savings. Is there a length of time it is safe to put off getting the root canal treatment done? At the moment the tooth doesn’t hurt.

Roger

Dear Roger,

I am sorry about the financial hardship you are experiencing right now. I hope you are able to find a new job quickly. That must be very stressful, especially when you are worried about your dental care at the same time. I could not give you a definitive time, especially since I have not examined you or even seen any x-rays. I can, however, give you some general principles to go by.

See the Dentist Right Away If…

I know it is not hurting now, but if the tooth starts hurting in any way, then it will be important to see the dentist right away. You could be dealing with a dental emergency. Another thing to keep an eye on is any drainage that occurs or even a pimple of your gums. A pimple on the gums is an abscess. Each of these symptoms indicates an active dental infection that tells me you need to get an appointment with your dentist.

Most dentists went into their field because they wanted to help people. I would start by telling them what is going on. Given your circumstances, they may be willing to help you. If they are not, I would call around to other dental offices. Start with those who advertise on their website as affordable dentists. I feel fairly certain you will find someone willing to give you the treatment you need and then allow you to pay off the cost of the care.

If it is not hurting and has not for a while, you may be okay to wait. There have been patients who went for years putting off an arrested infection without problems. Once they did decide to deal with it, however, they found their body felt better. The infection, though not causing serious issues, was giving them a weary, achy feeling without them realizing it until it was gone. As long as you do not have an active infection, it would be okay to wait. However, if the infection becomes active again I suggest you call the dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Luster Premium Home Whitening

Posted on August 1, 2021 by writeradmin.

I recently came across a Luster Premium Home Whitening kit. Is this effective and safe?

Darren

Dear Darren,

I am very glad you wrote. In most cases, when someone writes us about some type of teeth whitening kit they’ve come across we can usually find something positive about it, even if we feel professional teeth whitening is better. This one, however, is a complete fraud. Let’s start with the light. It is too weak to contribute anything. It is there for purely psychological reasons.

As for the whitening ingredient, they use as their “super whitener”, it is nothing more than a pigment from zinc oxide. This will temporarily stain the teeth more white but will wear off. My guess, after looking at the reviews, is any positive reviews must have been written before the pigment wore off.

My suggestion is that you not waste any money on this. If you want your teeth whitened, I am going to suggest you talk to your dentist and have it done right. If it is the cost that bothers you, many dentists are willing to work with you on payment plans. The great news about this is professional teeth whitening is the least expensive way to make a huge difference in the appearance of your smile.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.