Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

I never considered going out of the country for affordable dental work but now that I need dental implants, it’s hard for me not to consider it.

If a travel and accommodations plus the dental care are cheaper in another country, I think it would be unwise not to investigate. I know there are risks for everything, but if something goes wrong with the treatment there, how agreeable would a dentist here be to doing the follow-up work? Thanks. Drew

Drew – If you choose to receive dental work out of the country and you need the assistance of another dentist in the U.S., you will be able to find a dentist who will assist you. But we often ask our patients, why take the chance?

It is recommended that you do a lot of research before choosing to leave the country for dental work. Some of the information you need to gather includes the dentist’s credentials and how you will verify them; the facility in which the care will be administered; governmental regulations for dental implants in that country; the quality of implants used; follow-up care; and how you will handle emergencies or implant failure.

We understand patients’ concerns about the cost of implants in the U.S., but we are concerned about your on-going oral health. You will find many implant dentists in your area who will work with your budget and provide payment options to help make treatment affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

I try to save money when I can and I have some friends that do their teeth whitening themselves. I am am on my 4^th pkg of Luster At Home Teeth Whitening. I am barely noticing the difference from when I first started the whitening. I am wondering if I should switch to a higher strength or maybe leave the gel on longer than recommended. 30 minutes doesn’t seem to be doing it. How long can I use Luster? Thanks Sabrina

Sabrina – Based on the results you have received, it is likely that the type of Luster whitening you are using has zinc oxide as its primary whitening agent. Zinc oxide will coat your teeth and temporarily make them look whiter, but it wears off. The agent is does not reach embedded stains.

You need carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to dissolve embedded stains. The advantage of receiving teeth whitening from your dentist is that the professional-strength whitening gel used will penetrate your teeth to break up stains permanently. You can do at-home touchups as needed to keep your smile bright, but only as directed by your dentist. It is possible to over-whiten your teeth.

There are some cases in which teeth whitening, even by your dentist will have no effect on the stains. And in some cases, the bleaching gel will only make the stains more noticeable. Even when you are doing at-home whitening, we recommend that you consult with your dentist to determine if you should whiten your teeth, the strength of whitening gel that should be used, and the results you can expect. Your dentist will be able to determine the cause of the stains on your teeth, along with the best treatment to brighten your smile.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.