Dental Care Portal http://www.dentalcareportal.com Dental Care Information Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:58:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en How long does a dentist appointment take that would consist of the following? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-long-does-a-dentist-appointment-take-that-would-consist-of-the-following http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-long-does-a-dentist-appointment-take-that-would-consist-of-the-following#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:58:31 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-long-does-a-dentist-appointment-take-that-would-consist-of-the-following I'm taking my dad to the dentist and I want to know how long it will take. This is his first trip to the dentist in 8 years so he's going to have a cleaning, and xrays and they are going to do a filling to. Anyone know how long this will take and whether or not I will have time to go shopping while he's there?
i need to go shopping for a birthday present since today is my only day off. the mall is located across the street from the dentist's office.

I would say 30 - 45 minutes for the cleaning since he hasn't been there in about 8 years. Then about 10 minutes for the topical gel to numb the gumline and another 5 minutes for the full numbness then about 10 minutes for the filling itself. I would estimate about 1 & 1/2 hours to 2 hours total. I wouldn't see any harm in going across the street to get a gift. Just make it back quickly incase the dentist runs into any problems.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-long-does-a-dentist-appointment-take-that-would-consist-of-the-following/feed How would you get free dental care through your state? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-would-you-get-free-dental-care-through-your-state http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-would-you-get-free-dental-care-through-your-state#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:58:22 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-would-you-get-free-dental-care-through-your-state I am in dire need of a dentist and I really can not afford one. I live with my boyfriend and do not work. I watch our daughter and his older daughter from another relationship. I know if him and I were married it would be done and over with but that is not an option right now. Please let me know if there is anyway for this to happen.

Here, where I am, certain health centers offer dental services. You can’t be on insurance of any sort, including medicare/medicaid. But they offer the services for free.
For those who are on Medicare/Medicaid, there are dental offices that accept that type of insurance.
There are also community services offered. I recently learned that there is a church in my area that offers free services such as dental, a pharmacy, eye exams, etc all in the church there. It’s something they offer once a month, I think, and they only accept 20 people each time.
Not all of these services may be available in your area, but services like that aren’t advertised much, you have to do your research.
Good luck!

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-would-you-get-free-dental-care-through-your-state/feed How dentist determine number of tooth surfaces when filling is required? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-dentist-determine-number-of-tooth-surfaces-when-filling-is-required http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-dentist-determine-number-of-tooth-surfaces-when-filling-is-required#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:18:25 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-dentist-determine-number-of-tooth-surfaces-when-filling-is-required My Dental insurance company require me to pay certain amount for each procedure. I have to go for a tooth filling sometime this week and my charge list shows various charges depending on number of surfaces. For example for Resin-Based Composite – One Surface, Anterior i have to pay 17$, for Two Surfaces, Anterior i have to pay 23$ and so on…
So as a patient how do i determine myself that for how many surfaces dentist should charge me?

You can't. You are not a dentist!! So really, they can rip you off if you want to. The only thing you could do, is research every type of tooth and then say…hey, wait a minute… a bicuspid only has 2 surfaces…how come you are billing me for 4!!! (for example)

That sort of thing.

Dentists can seriously rip you off. They are licensed crooks.

A better thing to do is to ask your dentist to prepare you a written report, showing each tooth that needs to be filled…how many surfaces need to be filled…and so forth…BEFORE you get the work done.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-dentist-determine-number-of-tooth-surfaces-when-filling-is-required/feed How can you get dental care without insurance and with limited funds? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-can-you-get-dental-care-without-insurance-and-with-limited-funds http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-can-you-get-dental-care-without-insurance-and-with-limited-funds#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:18:16 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-can-you-get-dental-care-without-insurance-and-with-limited-funds Need immediate oral surgery, however all oral surgeons seem to want to be paid up front, and I do not have the resources.

Check in your area to see if there is a dental school in a university in your area. Temple University offers discounted dental care and the rate is based on what the student dentist charges. Check out your area it may be worth it.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/how-can-you-get-dental-care-without-insurance-and-with-limited-funds/feed How do I convince my mother to call the dentist? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-convince-my-mother-to-call-the-dentist http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-convince-my-mother-to-call-the-dentist#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:15:33 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-convince-my-mother-to-call-the-dentist I had a filling put in on the 2nd that was supposed to only last for one week. Its lasted, but its wearing away now. Underneath this filling is a layer of cotton and then the nerve is totally exposed (the fault student dentist fiasco, don't ask). The endodonist said that if I was in any kind of pain at all it was an emergency and to call immediately. Its been in pain for more than a week, and now I can no longer chew without incredible nerve pain from the afflicted tooth. It feels like the filling is being ripped out.

I am incredibly frustrated and annoyed, I've told my mother my symptoms on several occasions, but her reaction always is "the appointment is soon, just take some Advil and don't chew on that side of your mouth". If the doctor hadn't seemed so adamant about us calling then I wouldn't have a problem at all, but I'm worried about what will happen.

My mother won't call the dentist like he insisted that we should, so how do I convince her?
The endodontist is a family friend and doing it for free, actually.

If he is a family friend and doing it for free, then just call. He'd feel terrible if you didn't. And you know your own body. Your mother would feel terrible to if something worse happened.

Good luck. Take the bull by the horn and make the call. What is she going to do? She'll probably be proud of you.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-convince-my-mother-to-call-the-dentist/feed What is the best dental care items to buy? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-dental-care-items-to-buy http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-dental-care-items-to-buy#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:15:22 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-dental-care-items-to-buy Right now I have a regular teeth brush and dental floss. But I am looking for an auto brush, and I think I like Dental Floss by Reach… not sure. There seems to be many different kind and varieties in brand, etc. Bit confused.

Great question! The answer depends on the individual. Anyone can do a fine job with a manuel tooth brush. That being said, most people do a better job cleaning with an electric tooth brush. Braun Oral-B has a brush called the Vitality. There are three kinds, you will want the one that has the round head. They cost less than $20.00

If you want to spend more money, Sonicare is the best of the best. They have a few models out and they all work equally well. They will run anywhere from $95.00 to $149.00.

As far as floss goes. If you have tight contacts between your teeth, you will want either a waxed floss or a synthetic floss like Glide.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-dental-care-items-to-buy/feed How do I make the trip to the dentist more enjoyable? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-make-the-trip-to-the-dentist-more-enjoyable http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-make-the-trip-to-the-dentist-more-enjoyable#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:03:21 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-make-the-trip-to-the-dentist-more-enjoyable I go to the dentist each month and each time I dread the experience. The reason why I hate going to the dentist is because of the toothpaste. I just feels all crunchy and when they put it on it feels really weird. I ask for mint flavor because that is the most tasteless paste in my opinion. Is there some other toothpaste I can ask them to use? Is there a way I can make it more enjoyable?

In the office I work in. We have cherry paste that taste really good, also we have pinacolda and grape as well as bubblegum which is very yummy! And we do have the traditional mint. To make your visit more comfortable try taking a pair of headphones with you so you can listen to music. Our office provides headphones and we have T.V. in every room.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-make-the-trip-to-the-dentist-more-enjoyable/feed pro bono dental care in grand rapids mi? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/pro-bono-dental-care-in-grand-rapids-mi http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/pro-bono-dental-care-in-grand-rapids-mi#comments Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:03:15 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/pro-bono-dental-care-in-grand-rapids-mi I am a community heath care worker trying to find out if there is any pro bono dental care in Gr. MI. to assist clients. All are low income, most are uninsured in the dental dept. Some have limited health coverage. Our service helps people to resource.
a little more info., I am also looking for pro bono work like extractions, dentures, partials, ect.

I don't know of any probono, but teaching schools are a great resource for person's with little to no insurance. My dental hygiene school only charges $25 for adults and $15 for kids and seniors (that includes many things along with a cleaning, such as x-rays). Try looking up dental and dental hygiene schools in your area.

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/pro-bono-dental-care-in-grand-rapids-mi/feed How do I report an unethical, scamming dentist? Is there any governing body or watchdog association? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-report-an-unethical-scamming-dentist-is-there-any-governing-body-or-watchdog-association http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-report-an-unethical-scamming-dentist-is-there-any-governing-body-or-watchdog-association#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:58:22 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-report-an-unethical-scamming-dentist-is-there-any-governing-body-or-watchdog-association A dentist performed unnecessary work on me and misrepresented additional work that needed to be done. When I got a second, and third, opinion, these other dentists negated what the unethical dentist had put me through. The ADA won't accept any consumer complaints. Any suggestions to ensure others are protected against this unfortunate "dentist"?

*****Call the local news station and ask them to do an expose! You may also want to contact the Better Business Bureau!
Your insurance company will be REALLY interested as well!

]]> http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dentist/how-do-i-report-an-unethical-scamming-dentist-is-there-any-governing-body-or-watchdog-association/feed What is the best toothbrush or dental care system to use with braces? http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-toothbrush-or-dental-care-system-to-use-with-braces http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-toothbrush-or-dental-care-system-to-use-with-braces#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:58:17 +0000 admin http://www.dentalcareportal.com/dental-care/what-is-the-best-toothbrush-or-dental-care-system-to-use-with-braces My 9 y/o daughter got braces and I want to make sure that her teeth are getting cleaned properly. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sonicare is especially recommended for someone with braces.

Sonicare Elite is my top choice. There are many different model designations, but the "motors" are all pretty much the same. The kits are different because they pack different accessories. Some have two brush heads and some have four. Some have a travel bag and some have a wall-mount charger instead of a counter top charger.

Just read the label carefully and buy what you need. Bear in mind that you will have to replace the brush heads about every six months, so see if it is cheaper to buy a few extra brush heads in one of the kits.

Otherwise, buy a Sonicare, read and follow the directions. The directions are very clear and easy to understand.

If you want to try a Sonicare without taking out a loan, I've got good news for you. I just bought one for THIRTY DOLLARS. It uses two "AA" batteries, so you are not paying for a charger, etc. I have no idea how long the batteries last (yet), but $70 would buy a boat load of batteries. It seems to be equally effective as the rechargeable version with the new batteries.

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