Book Description

This guide to good dental health provides information consumers need to realistically assess their dental needs and those of their children. Not only will it help you avoid or minimize dental disease, it will save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment. Beginning with the premise that the best treatment is minimal treatment if it solves the problem, the author, a practicing dentist for more than 30 years, discusses guidelines and costs for common (and commonly expensive) dental procedures. He advises the reader on such topics as: Proper home care and prevention Frequency of X-rays and prophylaxis (professional cleaning) Diagnosing and treating tooth decay and gum disease Composite, silver amalgam, gold and porcelain fillings Special precautions for children Unnecessary extractions Bleaching and veneering In clear, easy-to-understand language, Complete Guide to Dental Health outlines the costs, benefits, and risks of alternative treatments, suggesting ways to save time and money on such procedures as orthodontics, extractions and bridges. An extensive discussion of the misdiagnosis of impacted wisdom teeth, overuse of general anesthesia, and unnecessary caps and bleaching warns consumers of how they may be injured financially and physically by dentists. Most chapters conclude with recommendations to help you avoid being overcharged and overtreated. Charts provide information on a range of fees for common procedures. You are shown how dentists exploit patients with unnecessary treatment, upgrades and add-ons. Suggestions on how to choose and evaluate a dentist will turn the average patient into a savvy consumer. With extensive information on how dental decay and periodontal (pyorrhea) disease occur, Complete Guide to Dental Health will help protect your teeth and your pocketbook.