The array of dental products today is dizzying. Here's a look at the current costs of caring for your pearly whites. · Items to ConsiderMore Teeth Topics
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Obsessed With Your Teeth?
6. "My equipment is state-of-the-art circa 1985."
"Dentists are creatures of habit," says Richard Hirschland, the head of Kodak's dental business. Perhaps that's one reason they've been slow to embrace the digital X-ray, developed more than two decades ago. Manufacturers estimate only 15 to 25% of dentists have a digital system in their office, and according to a 2004 study in The Journal of the American Dental Association, fewer than 12% of U.S. dentists rely exclusively on digital radiography.
The benefits are clear: Instead of waiting four minutes for X-ray film to develop, digital systems display your teeth on a monitor in seconds. Your dentist can also use computer tools to search for decay automatically, and if needed, he can email your X-rays to your insurance company for approval.
Despite these advantages, many dental offices have balked at the cost: roughly $10,000 to $20,000 to convert an exam room. Of course, old-fashioned X-rays are fine too, but when you see an endodontist for a root canal, a digital sensor can spare you lots of unpleasant time in the chair. Luckily, about half of endodontists have gone digital check ahead to make sure yours is among them.
7. "Did I mention that we'll need to do this again in a few years?"
When it comes to whitening and other cosmetic procedures, thousands of dollars often buys you only a few years. Drinking coffee and cola may reverse the bleaching process, and normal wear and tear can damage even the most durable crowns, veneers and bonding. (Hint: Don't chew ice.)
Because porcelain fractures more easily than healthy enamel, porcelain veneers last between five and 15 years, according to Goldstein, the cosmetic dentist. "If you're in your 20s, you're going to want to replace them three or four times in your lifetime," he says. If that seems daunting, Goldstein suggests patients opt for "conservative" procedures, such as fillings, cosmetic contouring and orthodontics work that enhances appearance without dramatically disturbing the original structure of the tooth. Trendy "restorative" procedures, on the other hand, such as crowns and implants, often cost up to five times more and are far more likely to compromise teeth, if not replace them altogether.
"Dentists are creatures of habit," says Richard Hirschland, the head of Kodak's dental business. Perhaps that's one reason they've been slow to embrace the digital X-ray, developed more than two decades ago. Manufacturers estimate only 15 to 25% of dentists have a digital system in their office, and according to a 2004 study in The Journal of the American Dental Association, fewer than 12% of U.S. dentists rely exclusively on digital radiography.
The benefits are clear: Instead of waiting four minutes for X-ray film to develop, digital systems display your teeth on a monitor in seconds. Your dentist can also use computer tools to search for decay automatically, and if needed, he can email your X-rays to your insurance company for approval.
Despite these advantages, many dental offices have balked at the cost: roughly $10,000 to $20,000 to convert an exam room. Of course, old-fashioned X-rays are fine too, but when you see an endodontist for a root canal, a digital sensor can spare you lots of unpleasant time in the chair. Luckily, about half of endodontists have gone digital check ahead to make sure yours is among them.
7. "Did I mention that we'll need to do this again in a few years?"
When it comes to whitening and other cosmetic procedures, thousands of dollars often buys you only a few years. Drinking coffee and cola may reverse the bleaching process, and normal wear and tear can damage even the most durable crowns, veneers and bonding. (Hint: Don't chew ice.)
Because porcelain fractures more easily than healthy enamel, porcelain veneers last between five and 15 years, according to Goldstein, the cosmetic dentist. "If you're in your 20s, you're going to want to replace them three or four times in your lifetime," he says. If that seems daunting, Goldstein suggests patients opt for "conservative" procedures, such as fillings, cosmetic contouring and orthodontics work that enhances appearance without dramatically disturbing the original structure of the tooth. Trendy "restorative" procedures, on the other hand, such as crowns and implants, often cost up to five times more and are far more likely to compromise teeth, if not replace them altogether.
8. "I'm a big fan of continuing education especially when it means a weekend in Vegas!"
As new technology emerges, the dental industry must keep up, which is why 45 state boards require dentists to undergo continuing education, usually 20 hours a year. The problem is that only 10 states specify a minimum number of hours of hands-on clinical study. What's more, continuing-ed for dentists is regularly held on cruise ships and in such scholarly hubs as Las Vegas, where attendance at the for-profit Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies has tripled over the past eight years, and Costa Rica, where the University of Florida has recently begun offering courses. "Dentists like to bring their family and make a vacation out of it," says Lindy McCollum-Brounley, communications director for the university's College of Dentistry.
The latest trend in continuing-ed, online courses are sometimes conducted without approval from the ADA. These classes may be run with little or no instructor supervision, nor do they answer to state dental boards. A study of the issue in The Journal of the American Dental Association recommends that states begin monitoring online coursework to make sure dentists are actually called upon to learn something.
9. "That reminds me of a joke I once heard in rehab."
The choice of a dentist is arguably as important as your choice of a family physician, but trying to distinguish good dentists from bad can be tough. For one thing, consumers have restricted access to complaints made about dentists to their state dental boards: Only complaints that have been investigated and substantiated are available for public scrutiny.
Another worrisome fact: An estimated 15 to 18% of dentists are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and a 2002 study of the problem by the ADA had roughly 10% of dentists reporting they'd used illicit drugs in the past year. Not exactly a comforting thought with a drill stuck in your mouth, vibrating mere inches from your brain. To address the issue, most states have instituted programs where dentists can get treatment for addiction, temporarily surrendering their license to practice. That's obviously a good idea, but once again, the consumer is out of the loop: Dentists who submit to these programs do so with the promise of no public disclosure in most states.
So where can you turn for help to find a competent, trustworthy dentist? Dr. Oogle offers over 30,000 reviews of dentists nationwide. Looking for a Texas dentist? We found a complaint against one who suggested a patient take out a home-equity line of credit to pay for expensive veneers. Um, next.
As new technology emerges, the dental industry must keep up, which is why 45 state boards require dentists to undergo continuing education, usually 20 hours a year. The problem is that only 10 states specify a minimum number of hours of hands-on clinical study. What's more, continuing-ed for dentists is regularly held on cruise ships and in such scholarly hubs as Las Vegas, where attendance at the for-profit Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies has tripled over the past eight years, and Costa Rica, where the University of Florida has recently begun offering courses. "Dentists like to bring their family and make a vacation out of it," says Lindy McCollum-Brounley, communications director for the university's College of Dentistry.
The latest trend in continuing-ed, online courses are sometimes conducted without approval from the ADA. These classes may be run with little or no instructor supervision, nor do they answer to state dental boards. A study of the issue in The Journal of the American Dental Association recommends that states begin monitoring online coursework to make sure dentists are actually called upon to learn something.
9. "That reminds me of a joke I once heard in rehab."
The choice of a dentist is arguably as important as your choice of a family physician, but trying to distinguish good dentists from bad can be tough. For one thing, consumers have restricted access to complaints made about dentists to their state dental boards: Only complaints that have been investigated and substantiated are available for public scrutiny.
Another worrisome fact: An estimated 15 to 18% of dentists are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and a 2002 study of the problem by the ADA had roughly 10% of dentists reporting they'd used illicit drugs in the past year. Not exactly a comforting thought with a drill stuck in your mouth, vibrating mere inches from your brain. To address the issue, most states have instituted programs where dentists can get treatment for addiction, temporarily surrendering their license to practice. That's obviously a good idea, but once again, the consumer is out of the loop: Dentists who submit to these programs do so with the promise of no public disclosure in most states.
So where can you turn for help to find a competent, trustworthy dentist? Dr. Oogle offers over 30,000 reviews of dentists nationwide. Looking for a Texas dentist? We found a complaint against one who suggested a patient take out a home-equity line of credit to pay for expensive veneers. Um, next.
Shhh! Don't Tell
Here are more secrets other people in your life may be keeping from you, too.
- Your Dentist
- Your Veterinarian
- Your Architect
- Your Contractor
- Your Interior Designer
- Your Butcher
- Your Car Insurer
- Your Credit Card Company
- Your Plumber
10. "You think this root canal hurts wait till you get my bill."
The skyrocketing cost of health care is an issue of growing concern; what you might not know is that dental treatment is rising faster than other medical services. A $1,000 dental bill in 1985 would translate into $2,837 today, since dental care has shot up at nearly twice the rate of inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and of all Americans who had at least one dental expense in 2003, the average annual cost was $540, up 41% from 1996.
The good news is that 55% of Americans now have some kind of dental insurance, and 67% of employers offer dental benefits, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting. But that's not the whole story, as employers are paying less of the tab than they used to: Only 28% of policies are fully covered by employers, and average premiums have risen almost 50% over the past 10 years, according to the National Association of Dental Plans.
If you really want to save money on your teeth, take care of them. Experts say decay and gum disease can be prevented to a large extent, so don't forget to floss.
<--- Return to Page One
The skyrocketing cost of health care is an issue of growing concern; what you might not know is that dental treatment is rising faster than other medical services. A $1,000 dental bill in 1985 would translate into $2,837 today, since dental care has shot up at nearly twice the rate of inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and of all Americans who had at least one dental expense in 2003, the average annual cost was $540, up 41% from 1996.
The good news is that 55% of Americans now have some kind of dental insurance, and 67% of employers offer dental benefits, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting. But that's not the whole story, as employers are paying less of the tab than they used to: Only 28% of policies are fully covered by employers, and average premiums have risen almost 50% over the past 10 years, according to the National Association of Dental Plans.
If you really want to save money on your teeth, take care of them. Experts say decay and gum disease can be prevented to a large extent, so don't forget to floss.
<--- Return to Page One