Are you in need of dental work and wondering how you’re going to pay for it? Dental procedures can be pricey and even if you have dental insurance, it doesn’t typically cover the full cost. But don’t worry, there are many ways to finance dental work in order to make it affordable.

Call Oakdale Dental Associates PC at (413) 536-1782 to inquire about our financing options. We strive to make dental work affordable so that you don’t have to compromise your dental health because of your budget.

One of the most commonly used lenders for medical-related financing, CareCreditⓇ allows you to make payments without interest for a promotional period of time. As long as you pay off the balance by the end of the promotion, you will not be charged any interest. You will even be issued a credit card to use for medical costs of any kind. There is an application and approval process required.

You probably receive a steady stream of credit card offers in the mail offering 0% rates for certain promotional periods of time. These can be a useful way to finance dental work. The key is to budget properly so that you can pay it off by the end of the promotion and avoid paying the higher interest rate that applies to the remaining balance. To calculate how much you will need to pay each month in order to pay it off by the time the promotion ends, simply divide the total balance by the number of months you have in your promotion. If you know you won’t be able to make those payments, don’t get the card.

Oakdale Dental Associates recommends saving in advance for dental expenses. We offer a Dental Savings Plan for patients that don’t have dental insurance. This is not a loan and there is no application or approval process required. There’s no deductible and no annual maximum. This is not an insurance plan, it is simply a membership plan that entitles you to a discounted fee.

A personal loan is usually established with a set amount that is borrowed, such as the cost of the dental procedure you require. You then pay it back in monthly installments until the balance is paid in full. This is different from an open line of credit that becomes available again after you pay off the balance. A personal loan is a one-time fixed sum.

Many financial institutions offer dental loans and some lenders specialize in just that one type of loan. Start with your trusted bank or credit union to see what they can offer you. Beware of online only lenders that may offer extremely low rates. When you read the fine print you may find that your rate is subject to change and that there are extra fees added on.

Have you been putting off dental procedures you need because you don’t think you can afford to pay for them? This is an unfortunate situation that many people find themselves in as dental costs rise and dental insurance is not always easily accessible.

Don’t let your budget stand in the way of your dental health. Call Oakdale Dental Associates today at (413) 536-1782 to discuss financing options for the dental procedures you need. So you can smile with confidence because of your dental health as well as your financial health.

Until quite recently, dentures and dental bridges were the best solutions to replace teeth that were missing or failing. Today, though, dental implants have become the gold standard. They replace tooth roots, reversing jawbone loss and providing a strong, durable foundation for top-quality replacement teeth. A single dental implant with a crown is the right choice for one missing tooth, while just a few implants can support a full arch of replacement teeth that are anchored in place. No matter how many implants you need, the process remains the same.

First, we will use x-rays and cone beam scanning to carefully examine your teeth, soft tissues, and jawbone. We will work with you to design a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs, goals, and budget.

Your mouth must be clean and healthy to accept dental implants. We will correct any issues such as gum disease or tooth decay, and then extract the teeth that must be removed. We can provide a temporary partial or full denture at this point so that you never have to walk around without teeth.

Those who do not have sufficient healthy jawbone to support dental implants need a bone graft. This is a simple procedure in which we place powdered artificial bone or cow bone into your jawbone and allow it to heal for several weeks.

Placing the implants is a minor oral surgery. After carefully numbing the area, the site is prepared, dental implant is inserted, covered with gum tissue and left to heal.  We can place as many implants as needed in a single procedure. If you have any temporary dentures, you will continue to wear those for the next few weeks, allowing the implant to fuse with your jawbone.

When your implant has osseointegrated with your jawbone, we will remove the cover screw or healing cap and add an attachment known as an abutment. We use the abutment to precisely attach your final restoration and ensure that it fits perfectly.

If you are ready to start your journey to dental health with a caring, compassionate, and highly experienced dentist, we invite you to contact Oakdale Dental Associates at 413-536-1782 to schedule your appointment.

Archeological records show that primitive dental implants may have been used since prehistoric times, and they were surprisingly common by 600 AD. Modern dental implants were developed in Switzerland in the 1970s, and they grew rapidly in popularity throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Today, dental implants are considered the gold standard to replace missing or failing teeth. Yet there are still numerous myths and half-truths swirling around this common procedure. Here are 4 common myths about dental implants, and the reality behind them.

Fact: Though it is true that dental implant placement is considered a minor oral surgery, most patients feel that it is far less painful than a tooth extraction. In fact, a skilled dentist working with state of the art technology can make the procedure virtually pain-free.

If you are given prescription painkillers, take them as directed even when you are not in pain. It is far easier to stay ahead of any potential pain than to fight it once it occurs. Most people go back to work in just 72 hours.

Fact: It is true that the initial cost for dental implants is higher than that for other restorations such as dental bridges or dentures. However, those solutions typically last just 10 years. In addition, dentures lead to jawbone loss and must be relined annually, while dental bridges weaken the anchoring teeth, which raises the risk for fracture or tooth decay. Dental implants can last a lifetime while protecting your oral health.

Be wary of pricing offers that seem too good to be true. Although you do not need the most expensive implants in town, the costs should be reasonably competitive with other local providers.

Fact: It is true that dental implants can only be placed in a healthy, clean mouth. If you have oral health problems such as tooth decay or gum disease, we must treat those issues before we begin. In addition, underlying conditions such as diabetes or bleeding disorders must be tightly controlled before any elective surgery. Finally, you must have enough high-quality jawbone to support the implants, so we may need to perform a bone graft. Within these parameters, though, virtually anyone can become a candidate for dental implants.

Fact: Dental implants are made from biocompatible titanium, which is nearly impossible for the body to reject. In very rare cases, a dental implant might not fully fuse with the jawbone. However, success rates across the board are roughly 95 percent. A highly skilled and experienced dentist whose patients closely follow all aftercare instructions can reach a success rate upwards of 98 percent.

If you are ready to start your journey to dental health with a caring, compassionate, and highly experienced dentist, we invite you to contact Oakdale Dental Associates at 413-536-1782 to schedule your appointment.