Where can I get discounted dental treatment? And is it worth it?

Do you know where I can get discounted dental care? I don’t have dental insurance and I’m wondering if there are any dental schools that need patients to practice on. I’ve heard I can get affordable dental treatment if I visit a dental school, but I don’t know how to apply. I’m also a little worried about the quality of the care I’ll get. What if something goes wrong?

—Sam from Washington

Hello Sam,

You’re not alone. Many people who feel that they can’t afford professional dental treatment seek out discounted care at dental schools. Rest assured, you can indeed get high-quality treatment at an accredited dental program. The only caveat is that your treatment will take much more time than if it were provided in a private dental practice. This is because the students need to take their time while they learn and work, and then more time is needed for their instructors to check the work. But the fact that all treatment is supervised by experienced instructors means that you won’t have to worry that something will go wrong.

On that account, getting discounted dental care at a local dental school is preferable to seeking cheap treatment from a “discount” dentist.

If you don’t mind spending up to an hour and a half in a dental chair to get a single filling done, then it might be worth the reduced cost for you to get your treatment at a dental school.

All you have to do to get started is Google accredited dental programs in cities near you, contact the ones listed, and ask how you can join their patient base.

You can visit a dental program for treatment like orthodontics, as that is an accredited branch of specialty dental care. But if you’re interested in making cosmetic enhancements to your smile, then you’re better off saving up to visit a cosmetic dentist for the real deal, since dental school programs place more emphasis on function than esthetics.

This post has been published on behalf of Dr. Heng Lim, an Owasso dentist with advanced training in orthodontic treatment alternatives.

Is it necessary to rinse before a hygiene appointment?

I recently had a dental cleaning, and it was my first one since the COVID pandemic started. I know I’m long overdue, but I was surprised at how many things had changed since I last stepped foot in a dental office.

For example, the hygienist had me rinse with a little hydrogen peroxide at the start of the appointment. I don’t remember ever doing that before.

When I asked the hygienist about it, she said that she’s always asked her patients to rinse before starting the cleaning, even before the pandemic. She said this can help prevent viruses from spreading.

Is this true?

Thanks in advance for your answer.

— Christine from Alpharetta, GA

Hi Christine,

Yes, it’s true that rinsing with an antimicrobial agent before a dental cleaning can prevent the spread of viruses inside a dental practice.

The concern here is aerosol generation. Aerosols are microscopic droplets of water that are generated in a vapor during certain dental procedures. These droplets can suspend viruses in the air for several hours, transporting them around the entire office where they can be inhaled by others.

As dental professionals work in the mouth, they’ve always been concerned with preventing aerosol generation, but it’s become even more critical in the wake of the pandemic.

Here are some of the ways dental offices have been trying to limit aerosol generation and exposure to aerosols in recent times:

High-volume suction equipment
Special face shields
Treatment area barriers
Enhanced ventilation systems
Pre-procedural antimicrobial rinses

We’re here today to talk about that last point: pre-procedural rinses.

These rinses help control aerosols by making the droplets released less infectious. A rinse with hydrogen peroxide temporarily lowers the amount of harmful virus that may be present in the patient’s mouth. This means that when aerosols are generated during the appointment (such as when the hygienist uses an ultrasonic scaler), these vapors are less likely to transmit the virus to others in the practice.

The result is a safer environment for the care providers and for other patients in the practice.

In years past, it may not have been standard practice to require patients to rinse before a dental cleaning. But the practice has become more popular in dental hygiene programs of late, so you’re now more likely to meet a hygienist who asks you to rinse at the start of the appointment.

Of course, in view of the ongoing pandemic, it’s likely that this simple practice won’t be going away soon. In fact, it’s becoming mandatory in more dental practices across the country.

This post has been published on behalf of Owasso dentist Dr. Heng Lim.