Hi,
Lgt: Crestwhite works,but it's not available at pharmacies in s'pore.It's a US product.I don't think it has arrived at our doorstep yet.But Crestwhite will only work to a certain extent coz of saliva contamination.So the end results may not be wat u expect.
ELIAZ: 1st,I feel happy that u've found a handsome dentist whom u're comfortable with.I have mixed feelings reading ur post.As far as I know,there are only 3 methods of replacing missing teeth.
1) Best option: Implants.Expensive,but best option as no other teeth are 'disturbed'.Long treatment time,but success rate of abt 97% in a non smoker & someone with no underlying systemic disease that will compromise the healing process
2) Bridge: 2nd best option.Less expensive than implants.However,2 teeth on either side of the space needs to be trimmed in order to support the bridge.in a way,2 good teeth (assuming they haven't been restored) are sacrificed to replace 1 missing tooth.Many times,I will only trim those teeth if they have a large filling that will require a crown to prevent fracture.In this way,since the supporting teeth needs a crown,i don't see it as sacrificing a good tooth to replace 1 missing tooth.
3)Denture: Least expensive.troublesome.needs to be taken out every night.thick,uncomfortable.
From wat i see,implants are still the best options for replacing missing teeth.It's not that i don't have morals coz i recommend implants to patients,but it is the best option.I will place an implant for my mum/dad anytime! in fact,i have persuaded my mum to have 2 implants done,but she refused coz of fear(which is very normal).
I am guessing that ur mum had a bridge done instead of implants.But have u tot if any teeth have been sacrificed coz of the bridge? To me,u seem ignorant of the pros & cons of the options to replace missing teeth.Pls do not be offended,this is my opinion.As a dentist reading how u rave abt how good Dr.Lee is & wow,no need to do implants,have alternatives,i can't help but wonder if the whole range of options & their pros & cons been explained to you & ur mum clearly.yes,there are surely alternatives,but there are pros & cons too.Personally,i always run thru' all the options,including doing nothing to the space & the consequences.ultimately,the decision is theirs.
anyway,success rate that any literature looks at is 5yr,10 yrs,15 yrs.No one looks at short term success rate coz it's not reflective of how good the work is.this is something to bear in mind.and cheap doesn't mean good.there's a reason y it's cheap.My prices are higher than wat i read in ur post.but see,as dentists,we charge according to the amt of time spent.fair enough,right? if i spend 1hr doing a cosmestic filling that makes a person look good,i charge more.the material cost itself is already higher for cosmetic fillings.hence,i'm always quite skeptical abt fellow collegues who charge so little,esp for implants.
Well,as an ethical dentist,i will not comment more on charges,but make sure u find out wat u are getting.there's no free lunches in this world.similarly,u pay for wat u get.
zoom was quite good, i usually have sensitive teeth (can't eat things too cold), but i hardly felt any sensitivity when i did the whitening. 