Does a dentist have the right to refuse service?

I wanted to get dental implants, but my dentist is refusing. He says it is because I have diabetes and smoke. Is my life my business. He said he might be willing to help if I quit smoking, but absolutely refuses to treat me if I don’t. What gives him that right? Joseph S. – Conway, AR Joseph, Your dentist understands that dental implants is a difficult procedure under the […]

Can You Help Me Convince My Dentist?

I got a small composite filling. It looks OK, but everytime I bite down to chew there is a sharp pain. I talked to my dentist about it, he messed with my tooth, but it didn’t do anything to help. Now he wants to do a root canal and crown. I did some research (out of desperation), because I don’t want to loose any more natural tooth structure. I read […]

Can I get mercury filled fillings removed?

It turns out that my fillings are mostly made of mercury. I cannto believe my dentist didn’t warn me about that. I want them out, but I don’t know if they can be removed. Advice? Beth C. – Louisiana Beth, Yes, they can be removed, but they have to be done a certain way to protect you from the mercury fumes. Not all dentists know how to do that, nor […]

Is my ex-wives club ripped off on their Lumineers

I have two friends who, along with me, have recently gone through a divorce. We call ourselves the ex-wives club. We decided to get our smiles re-done for a complete fresh start and a boost to our image. We’re getting Lumineers, which my dentist was thrilled to place on all of us since she recently got certified. We were equally excited, but now have some concerns. We went in and […]

Image of natural looking teeth with dental work

What if I have a crown, can I still get veneers?

I have a dental crown on the tooth adjacent to one of my front teeth, but I want to get porcelain veneers, my dentist said that makes it impossible to get veneers? Is it really not possible? Is there any way around it? Amber S. – Denver, CO Amber, Are you certain your dentist didn’t say you can’t have a porcelain veneer on the tooth with the crown instead of […]

My Dentures Look Like Chiclets

I had to get dentures. My dentist said he could make them look natural and even better than my original teeth. I told him the only change to my teeth I’d like is for them to look a little whiter. They’re so white, they look like chiclet gum. Will the color settle down? Amelia L. – Idaho Amelia, Very sorry for your experience. Sometimes, if your teeth were whitened with […]

Is bone grafting really necessary?

I wanted to get dental implants and my dentist said that I have to have bone grafting done first. That seems like it is just adding expense and I’m really ready and anxious to get rid of these dentures. Is that something that is really necessary? Greg H. – Baltimore Greg, It depends on your situation. If your dentist is requiring bone grafter, than it is likely that he fears […]

Dentist and I in disagreement about smile makeover

I want to get a smile makeover and I know exactly what I want my smile to look like. My dentist thinks the smile I want is too white for “my age”. To be frank, if I wanted to look my age, I wouldn’t be getting a smile makeover to begin with. How can I convince him this is OK? Marigold L. – Texas Marigold, You probably can’t. It sounds […]

Can I fix my own denture?

I dropped my denture on the kitchen floor. Two of the teeth broke off. Is it possible for me to superglue them back on? George C. – Boston George, Please don’t try to fix your dentures yourself, especially with superglue. You don’t want to put unnecessary chemicals in your mouth. Instead, it’s best to use the materials that have been designed to be safe in the human body. There is […]

What if I can’t afford dental implants?

I’m needing to replace quite a few teeth. What do I do if I can’t afford dental implants? I don’t want to be stuck with dentures. I’ve seen my mother suffer through those for years. MaryAnne L. – Little Rock, AR Mary Anne, I can understand you’re not wanting to use dentures. They’re miserable for many patients. Plus, you want to preserve as much bone structure as possible, which dentures […]