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10 Things Your Dentist By WILLIAM MAULDIN AOL: 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. Dr. JPM: Crowns and implants are not trendy, nor are they likely to compromise teeth. These statements are not only incorrect, they ignore the long term benefit completely. These procedures cost more than fillings because they last a lot longer. Please tell me the consumer product or service that will be used three times a day and last longer and cost less than any of the procedures listed. A vehicle will cost a lot more, won't be used as much, and won't last as long as your typical dental procedure. Your house? Your refrigerator? I can't think of anything more cost effective than dentistry! I have been challenging my patients for years to come up with a product or service that is used as much as your teeth, and which costs so little in the long run. That's right, I said "costs so little." Do the math. Even if a procedure costs you $1,000, and lasts 5 years (absurdly high cost and absurdly short life span), you have used that tooth 5 years times 365 days per year times three uses a day for eating. Not factoring in cosmetics (how many times did you smile in that five year time span?), you have paid $0.18 per meal for that tooth. If that procedure lasts you 15 years, you have paid $0.06 per meal. Pocket change. If you had all teeth except wisdom teeth done at a $1,000 per tooth, which is an absurd scenario, you would still be looking at a long term cost of $1.70 per meal.
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