Money Roots

Because of tooth sealants, flossing, antibiotics and fluoride in the water, more and more adults are keeping their teeth longer and children have fewer cavities than ever before.  Dentist Washington, DC is aching for patients. To fill in the gaps of having fewer patients, many dentists are expanding their practices to include cosmetic dentistry, gum work and bone and bite and aesthetics.

 

Many people are skeptical because they are contemplating a recommendation for a dental procedure that could be preventative but cost thousands of dollars.  This may be a good time to request a second opinion.

 

Even the best dentist in DC area should be questioned regarding the justification of the procedure and the cost for the procedure. The following are three dental diagnoses that would justify a second opinion in addition to a second cost estimate to have the work completed. 

 

New fillings – recently there has been a scare regarding amalgam fillings-silver mixed with mercury fillings.  A study showed that a significant amount of toxicity could be released into the body from these types of fillings and may be linked to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

 

A person may need to replace amalgam fillings if and when they wear out, they typically lasts anywhere from five to 10 years although some have lasted up to 40 years.  The American Dental Association launched a safety campaign regarding the amalgam fillings and added a memo from the ADA’s legal department stating it is ethical for a core dentist to say just that replacing these types of fillings for health concerns.

 

TMJ – many people are diagnosed with temporomandibular (jaw) joint disorders and it often clears up on its own without any type of treatment from a dentist or other medical practitioner. 

 

The problem is TMJ is not one dilemma but an accumulation of problems which has many treatment options.  It is often recommended that a person who has been diagnosed with TMJ seek a second opinion because of its complexity.

 

Implants – until recently all one could do about it missing was to wear dentures and more recently people with missing teeth can opt for a more permanent solution with permanent dental implants.  The procedure requires a dentist to screw metal rods into the jawbone and insert false teeth on top of that.  It is very painful and very expensive.

Tags: best dentist in DC area, dentist Washington DC, health

This entry was posted on Friday, August 7th, 2009 at 11:17 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.