Dental Work

[viking]

When I was growing up, I had more fillings than you imagine. Seems like I was always at the dentist. Today, my kids had some type of treatment ( forgot what you call it) on their teeth since they were little and 20 years later, no dental required. Nothing.

[Blues Fairy]

I doubt there is much difference in the brushing habits here and there.

When I was growing up, we only brushed in the morning (not in the evening; there was no such custom) and we never heard of such a thing as dental floss.  I bought by first box of floss when I came to the US to study in grad school.  

[SANDRO43]

I would really like to get some implants.

Implants are a great invention, I have 4 in my lower jaw - due to gravity, most problems seem to start there - the first 2 inserted some 10 years ago to remedy a messy situation created by my previous dentist, a friend from my teenage times to whom I had unwisely entrusted my mouth for some 30 years .   

With advancing age - and poor dental hygiene - the mandibular bones tend to shrink, so if you want implants you'd better have your dentist evaluate your current bone conditions with an X-ray and determine whether their thickness can still support implanted screws adequately.

Another positive aspect of implants is they they often stop bone shrinkage in their insertion area, and even promote some regrowth .

[Turboguy]

Thanks Sandro.   My dentist says no, I am not a candidate but my periodontist says, yes, I am.  I tend to think my Periodontist is more of an expert.   I think they do bone grafts when there is not enough bone left which I would probably need.   When I started looking into the cost of them they are a lot more than I expected.   Take good care of the ones you have.  Getting the same thing in the USA right now would run you about 20 grand.  That is if you don't need bone grafts.   That strikes me as a lot for a little screw and a hunk of plastic. 

[SANDRO43]

My dentist says no, I am not a candidate but my periodontist says, yes, I am.  I tend to think my Periodontist is more of an expert.

He could be, implants are a specialised field that not all general dentists are thoroughly familiar with, my own dentist started doing them some 15 years ago.

Getting the same thing in the USA right now would run you about 20 grand.

Wow! I figure the current cost now would be around € 5-6,000 here, about half as much.

[Handycam72]

Come to the UK and say you need to see a dentist and you will get a confused look, then the reply "Whats a dentist?"   

[Turboguy]

Here it is $ 1850 for the implant, another $ 1850 for the crown (tooth) and you add xrays, anesthesia, evaluation and other charges and it hits about 5 grand a tooth.   If you need the bone grafts it can hit $ 10 grand a tooth.   Out of the country you can get it for as low as 1/4th that.  

Funny Handy.   When I was in Azerbaijan I saw signs everywhere for "Stomachologists"   I thought they must have a lot of stomach problems there but I guess that is the word for Dentist.

[SANDRO43]

When I was in Azerbaijan I saw signs everywhere for "Stomachologists" I thought they must have a lot of stomach problems there but I guess that is the word for Dentist.

Probably it was stomatologist, from the Greek στόμα (stoma) meaning opening/mouth . Stomatology is the branch of medicine concerned with the structures, functions, and diseases of the mouth.

[Enot]

Here it is $ 1850 for the implant, another $ 1850 for the crown (tooth) and you add xrays, anesthesia, evaluation and other charges and it hits about 5 grand a tooth.   If you need the bone grafts it can hit $ 10 grand a tooth.   Out of the country you can get it for as low as 1/4th that.  

Funny Handy.   When I was in Azerbaijan I saw signs everywhere for "Stomachologists"   I thought they must have a lot of stomach problems there but I guess that is the word for Dentist.

WOW that's expensive.  I got it for $3300 an implant, doesn't include a bone graft.

[RussianWind]

Probably it was stomatologist, from the Greek στόμα (stoma) meaning opening/mouth . Stomatology is the branch of medicine concerned with the structures, functions, and diseases of the mouth.

Sandro, you are a walking encyclopaedia 
Stomatology is a common word here; such word as dentistry you can find only in English novels

[SANDRO43]

Sandro, you are a walking encyclopaedia 

...and a μεγάλο στόμα (big mouth) .

[Shadow]

MrsShadow has told me a nice story about Russian dentists, which probably is valid for the American (and other) holders of this profession as well.

When discovering some caries she went to a private clinic in Moscow, who told her the tooth she ahs a problem with needed to be replaced at once. They showed her photos and materials for replacement. Cost would be around $500

As her father is a general practician, he wondered about the cost, and arranged a second opinion. The tooth was filled (with ultraviolet) and has been without problem for 15 years.

Of course dental work does need correct care, but even more important is a dentist with the correct ethics.

[Simoni]

"This is quite common in my old country" said the Russian-born dentist today in the consultation
room. "We haven't seen such techniques in our American system, and I'm going back at least
15 years." She was being charitable. My wife's teeth look pretty good, but below the gums there
is big trouble in paradise. The X-rays revealed a few pins that resembled sheetrock screws, with
threads clearly visible. Root canals that came up 4 mm short of completion. Bone decay.

In 2006, we visited Elvira's home in Yoshkar Ola, where in the course of her 4-week stay she submitted
to some major dental work in a blistering series of visits, maybe 12 in all. She was insistent on saving
money by getting around the US system. Root canals, caps, crowns etc. What a mistake we made,
and I blame myself for not having been more forceful about the risks over there. The dentist came
with glowing recommendations, the best in Mari-El Republic.
 

Same story with us, Vaughn.  We had all her dental work done there, at a "bargain" price.

But xrays here showed terrible work, with missed margins and all kinds of "junk" used in her mouth.

Now we are two year and $15,000 into the process of getting it right.  The money means nothing, but I shudder at her having to experience the pain twice 

[Chicagoguy]

This discussion is very timely for me. My wife is back in Russia now to see doctors  now for some cheaper medical work. Plus she was going to go to the dentist.

Although her teeth appear perfect I am a strong believer in preventive dentistry. And I don't believe in buying problems. My thinking now is to tell her to wait until she gets back home here. At least here the practice is fairly consistent and my dentist is very good and resonable.

[JR]

I would really like to get some implants. 

Dude, thats just not right....)

[Vaughn]

Elvira made an appointment with a Russian-speaking endodontist for later this
week as part of her treatment regimen, and asked if I could make her a map - no problem.

Oh Lordy - dentists didn't look like this when I was growing up....

http://www.charlotterootcanalcenter.com/endodontists_charlotte_nc/endodontist_dr_kirakozova.html

[viking]

Well Vaughn, you can always go for a cleaning, every month !