orthodontist work -> cosmetic work

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Rich - 23 Jan 2005 20:54 GMT

I'm looking for a serious reply, I've got some major questions and need
unbiased answers.
You know it's tough to find an unbiased answer when you go into a dentist
telling him you're thinking about having $18k worth of work done in the next
2 weeks. That's why I'm posting here. Refresher: I've been posting here for
2 years. I'm the one with semi-crooked, gray colored, misshaped, decayed
teeth. Got all the decays fixed last September. Set me back $6k with
multiple fillings in all my teeth (guessing 30+ composite fillings). Next
step was to straighten #8, #9 (both rotated outwards slightly) and #23
(crowded inwards). Got metal braces in October and the fact is that I still
need to get veneers and crowns (for all the RCT jobs done on #4, #8, etc.)
when the ortho work is completed plus these braces are driving me nuts.

So I went to two different "cosmetic" dentists to see about getting the
braces off and reshaping the teeth since they needed a lot of work anyway.
One dentist wanted tooooo much money and the other seems ok but at the end
of each sentence he adds in a "my only concern is that of the teeth moving
back later, however it shouldn't be a problem if we use a retainer". He's
building up to cover his a.s if/when something goes wrong. On the other hand
($) he's 90% sure we won't have a problem. Nothing would please me more than
to get these braces off and get these teeth looking better now but I don't
want to have crooked porcelain teeth 6 months later. I don't know if this is
really going to be a problem. Has any dentist here ever removed braces early
to do cosmetic work like this? Did they come back with crooked porcelain
teeth?

The dentist is telling me that the temporary plastic teeth will have a wire
behind them which will hold them in position for 6 to 8 months, then when I
get the porcelain installed I will have to wear a retainer for awhile.
Comments please.

And what is the life expectancy of a mouth full of porcelain? Suppose that
the dentist does a really good job and everything goes fine, will I need to
have this stuff replaced after 20 years? He offers a 7-year guarantee and
he's been in town at least that long. I'm 30 years old and this is a
concern..

THANKS for any feedback.

Rich

Reply to this Message

Joel M. Eichen - 23 Jan 2005 21:53 GMT

>I'm looking for a serious reply, I've got some major questions and need
>unbiased answers.
>You know it's tough to find an unbiased answer when you go into a dentist
>telling him you're thinking about having $18k worth of work done in the next
>2 weeks.

What is the rush?

> That's why I'm posting here. Refresher: I've been posting here for
>2 years. I'm the one with semi-crooked, gray colored, misshaped, decayed
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>to get these braces off and get these teeth looking better now but I don't
>want to have crooked porcelain teeth 6 months later.

Some people get porcelain veneers or crowns to avoid the need for
braces and avoid the possibility of shifting back.

Q. Why did you switch from dentist #1 to another dentist?

Joel

> I don't know if this is
>really going to be a problem. Has any dentist here ever removed braces early
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>Rich

Reply to this Message

Rich - 23 Jan 2005 23:20 GMT

> >I'm looking for a serious reply, I've got some major questions and need
> >unbiased answers.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> What is the rush?

I'd *like* to get it done this year. But there's no rush, I'm just wondering
if this is going to work out. Dentist #2 has me scheduled for early next
month. I'm on the verge of canceling to have more time to think, if I can't
come to a solid decision by mid-week.

> > That's why I'm posting here. Refresher: I've been posting here for
> >2 years. I'm the one with semi-crooked, gray colored, misshaped, decayed
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Q. Why did you switch from dentist #1 to another dentist?
> Joel

A. Dentist #1 (who did all the fillings) is a very good dentist but
apparently got some kind of kick back or is "networking" big time with my
orthodontist. Wherever they have an office, the ortho has an office on the
same block. I should have wondered about this. In hindsight they gave me no
treatment plan and didn't talk about alternatives before they shoved me off
to the orthodontist. I'm pissed but I just have to move on and figure out
what to do next.

Rich

> > I don't know if this is
> >really going to be a problem. Has any dentist here ever removed braces early
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> >
> >Rich

Reply to this Message

Joel M. Eichen - 24 Jan 2005 13:31 GMT

>A. Dentist #1 (who did all the fillings) is a very good dentist but
>apparently got some kind of kick back or is "networking" big time with my
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Rich

Yup, I am with you on that.

I am not sure I understand ther entire treatment plan.

I am reviewing this amongst others. Are there other references I
should look at?

Which post describes what was the process?

Joel

***

REFS

No-needle dental work
I heard on the news this evening that there is a new painless way of
getting dental
work done *without a needle*. Any idea on what this is, seriously? ...
sci.med.dentistry - Nov 22 2004, 12:34 pm by Rich - 15 messages - 6
authors

Q: re bridge, ortho, etc.
... That's not the case here but I'm just wondering. Thanks. Rich yes
Thanks. ... Merry Christmas
everybody. Rich Do you want the answer that drags out over 2-3 years?
...
sci.med.dentistry - Dec 20 2004, 2:19 am by Dr. Steve - 9 messages - 3
authors

Q about "cosmetic certified" dentist
... front of a lot of people once a month for here until eternity.
They would
be ok if I didn't have to speak in front of people. Rich
sci.med.dentistry - Dec 26 2004, 11:16 am by Rich - 8 messages - 7
authors

Root Canal and flying
... Rich Have rarely done RCT on an airborne aircraft. ... Rich If you
use a cell phone
in the clinical portion of my office you are invited to go home. ...
sci.med.dentistry - Nov 21 2004, 11:30 pm by Dr. Steve - 49 messages -
16 authors

Cosmetic dentist, treatment plan
... They have several locations and spread themselves pretty thin.
This is one thing
that bugs me. Rich I don't like what I'm hearing. ... I'll do that.
Rich
sci.med.dentistry - Jan 6, 6:57 pm by Rich - 7 messages - 5 authors

Teeth filled without anasthetic
... anesthetic before, and even that wasn't very fun. I'ma
"professional patient"
;-) Rich -- Adenosine Semi-informed Dental Consumer ?
sci.med.dentistry - Nov 25 2004, 8:32 am by Rich - 15 messages - 7
authors

Genetically modified bacteria tooth tx approved for test
... How can this bacteria hang on to your teeth for the "rest of your
life" after "just
one application" !??? What the heck is that about?? NUTS. Rich
sci.med.dentistry - Dec 1 2004, 8:42 pm by Rich - 9 messages - 5
authors

orthodontist work -> cosmetic work
... I'm pissed but I just have to move on and figure out what to do
next. Rich I
don't know if this is really going to be a problem. ... THANKS for any
feedback. Rich
sci.med.dentistry - Jan 23, 4:20 pm by Rich - 3 messages - 2 authors

TO: JAN, JAN, JAN, JAN, JAN, JAN, JAN,,,,
JAN, PLEASE post all of your ads in just one posting. Separate them by
a new line and QUIT flooding the group over and over and ...
sci.med.dentistry - Jan 24, 12:08 am by Rich - 1 message - 1 author

Cosmetic work, questions
A dentist wants $17,500 to fix up all my front teeth with porcelain (8
on top
8 on bottom). Is the price right? What are the pros and cons? ...
sci.med.dentistry - Jan 21, 3:37 pm by Tony Bad - 18 messages - 7
authors

Reply to this Message

Rich - 24 Jan 2005 19:01 GMT

> >A. Dentist #1 (who did all the fillings) is a very good dentist but
> >apparently got some kind of kick back or is "networking" big time with my
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Joel

I don't think any of the posts describe the process. I only post when I
think something is going wrong (by the time I realize it). I also sometimes
switch email addys so some are missing. Like the ones from last August or
September, I think that's where things started going wrong.

At any rate, the main two questions are now:

1. How long can porcelain restorations last if done properly?
2. What are the chances of them shifting back (given the circumstances
outlined in original post)?

Rich

> ***
>
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
> sci.med.dentistry - Jan 21, 3:37 pm by Tony Bad - 18 messages - 7
> authors

Reply to this Message