Archive for February, 2010

Is a “Snap-On Smile” a good choice for me?

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Hello,
I’ve heard of this kind of dental appliance that you can put over your teeth, and that it can temporarily make it look like you’ve got the perfect smile. I’ve got a class reunion coming up, and I really want to make an impression, but extensive dental work is not in my budget.

First question is, what is this appliance called? Where can I get one, or talk to someone about how much they cost, how they really look when they are done, and whether or not they have to do anything to my teeth for me to wear it? How long does it take to get one?

Thanks for your help,

Grady in Manchester, New Hampshire

Dear Grady,

You are talking about a Snap-On Smile, and it is manufactured by a dental lab in New York. Snap-On Smile appliances are a kind of temporary smile makeover. People use them sometimes as costume props for the theater, or for big events like weddings or reunions. This is not meant to be a permanent appliance.

Your dentist will have to send in a model of your teeth to the laboratory, and after that it takes about two weeks for your appliance to arrive. It should just snap right over your own teeth, with no alterations at all, and it should be fairly comfortable when in place. The Snap-On Smile will make your teeth seem larger and bulkier, so be prepared for that.

A word of caution—for best results, you should really consult with an experienced cosmetic dentist, and have them send in the model. When you get ready for a permanent solution, porcelain veneers might be an option for you.

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Posted in Crooked Teeth, Invisalign, Porcelain Veneers, Smile Makeover | No Comments »

Problems with Clear Choice

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

I have spent most of the last two years trying to find a viable solution to my extreme dental problems. Two years ago, I had to have all my teeth extracted. I am only 52 years old, and my dentist warned me that if I don’t get some kind of dental implants done, my jaw bones will get smaller and smaller until I won’t be able to even wear dentures.

My regular dentist does not do dental implants, and he suggested I start shopping around to find someone who could do this procedure for me. I visited the Clear Choice Dental Implant Center because they have a reputation for being one of the best facilities in the business. They were very polite, and professional, and I was really impressed with their facility and the thoroughness of their exam. Then came the sticker shock. They told me it would cost more than $55,000 to do full upper and lower implants. When I questioned how it could be so high when I already had all of my teeth removed, they said that there is not any kind of discount for that because they offer free extractions with their dental implants.

That just doesn’t make sense to me! I know from first hand experience that removing all of a person’s teeth takes a considerable amount of time, skill and equipment. For them to say it is “a package deal” makes it seem like they are more concerned with making an extra buck than they are about giving me the care I need. I am not without resources, but there was no way I was going to come up with $55,000 for the procedure, and I was not interested in talking to their financing specialist.

I checked with another facility, and they quoted me a price that was less than half the Clear Choice quote, and also took into consideration that they would not have to do extractions.

What do you make of this? I know Clear Choice has an excellent reputation for being the top place to go for dental implants, but such a dramatic difference in cost is difficult to understand. How do they get away with charging those prices?

William from St. Louis

Dear William,

Your experience is not unusual, but do be careful about only considering price when you are evaluating your options. Poorly done dental implants can be catastrophic, and you want to make sure that the dentist you choose has been thoroughly educated in dental implant placement. Good luck.

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Posted in Dental Implants | No Comments »