On the other hand, if you’re searching for something as important as a doctor or a dentist, you might want to think twice before trusting Joe Schmo’s review. Call me crazy, but when it comes to choosing a health professional who will be injecting my mouth with lidocaine and drilling for oil, I want to know more about the business than whether the receptionist was friendly.

That’s where DoctorBase comes in. Doctorbase is different than your typical social media network site. For one, each review posted on DB is verified. DB makes sure that only reviews with useful and pertinent information are posted. Secondly, when searching for a dentist you can also filter the results by procedure or insurance company. Third, DB posts "reviews across the web" for each dentist, which is a summary of all reviews that could be found for that particular dentist. All in all, DB makes sure that the reviews posted answer some pertinent questions that will help you decide on the right dentist for you.

So, what type of information should you be looking for when searching for a dentist? For starters:

• What sort of technology is the office using? Did you know that on average it can take a dental office more than 10 years to adopt a new technology? While one dental office may be using state of the art equipment, another office is using the same equipment as when they opened in 1984; technology that was bigger, louder and way less efficient. What does this mean for you? It could mean that while your best buddy who is having the same procedure as you is only making one visit to the dreaded D, you will be making three. Three times the cash and three times the pain. It seems sort of worth it to ask about the technology, doesn’t it?
• How many times has the dentist performed the specific procedure he claims to be specialized in. I’m quite certain this information wasn’t disclosed in the "he was so friendly and his office was adorable" review.
  

Positive reviews aren’t the only ones that should be ashamed of themselves. Negative reviews can be just as inadequate. A common reason for a ‘one star’ review is that someone was "upsold on an unneccessary procedure". The fact is, in the majority of cases, this is simply untrue. Insurance guidelines dictate that dentists justify all submitted charges via a photograph. Basically, dentists have to plead their case to the almighty insurance Gods and hope they are granted their wish of reimbursement. Keep in mind, as evil as it sounds, insurance companies reserve the right to say "yay" or "nay" to covering any procedure they wish. Fair, isn’t it? The problem is, your average reviewer doesn’t know this and you can find a number of dental forums where this is a major complaint.

So what have we learned? A typical dental review on a social media site leaves out crucial information needed to determine whether a dentist is favorable or not. Remember, don’t be fooled by the rave reviews of dentists being friendly and funny and having offices that smell like freshly picked roses. Go deep and go for the good stuff. Your mouth will thank you for it.

1. What is your purpose for wanting to visit the dentist? Did you smoke too many Marlboro lights in high school and now your teeth are a lovely shade of nicotine? Or maybe you wince in pain every time you chew on anything thicker than baby food. The answer will help you determine what type of speciality you’ll want your dentist schooled in.
2. What’s your budget? Do you have dental insurance to help foot the bill? If not, are you willing to give up next year’s vacation in order to afford a doc with the latest Matrix-like technology? Decisions, decisions…
3. When reading reviews of a dentist on a social media site, please please please keep your salt shaker by your side. Review sites possess a few fundamental flaws. These include:

• The reviews are opinions. We all perceive experiences differently.
• There are rumors that businesses pay people to write positive reviews. I’m no Veronica Mars, teenage PI, and I have no proof of this, but it’s definitely conceivable.
• There is the probability that some of the positive reviews are being written by employees of the business while negative reviews may be written by their competitors.
• Small sample size. Users are basing their decisions on possibly one or two reviews when the business is visited by hundreds or thousands of people.

Hopefully answering these questions will give you a bit more focus on what type of dentist you’ll want to look for. For more helpful tips on finding that one-of-a-kind dentist in San Francisco, check our dentist reviews and ratings.

Photo by gerlos

Myth: All silver amalgam fillings should be replaced for fear of mercury poisoning.

Fact: There are many things that may cause mercury poisoning, but according to the American Dental Association, silver amalgam fillings ain’t one of ‘em.

Like most controversial topics, there are two sides to this story. Some dentists believe the mercury from silver amalgam fillings can leak out of the filling and into your body causing health problems. If you search youtube you’ll find there’s no shortage of dentists (or actors who play one on TV) trying to convince you that silver amalgam fillings are harmful and need to be replaced. The ADA, the watchdog of dental practices, is in agreement with most major health agencies and scientific bodies that silver amalgam is safe and reliable. The ADA states, “…the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth”. In addition, research has failed to show any link between amalgam restoration and health problems.

Of course, there will likely come a time when an amalgam filling needs to be replaced due to it being old and cracked or worn. When that day arrives, you’ll want to find a well reviewed dentist who makes certain to use safe practices when replacing these fillings. Dr. Eccles, located in Livermore, California, is one of many dentists who specialize in health-centered dentistry.

Be sure to listen with a cautious ear when a dentist urges you to replace your silver fillings because they are a health risk. If the fillings are still in good condition, it’s quite possible it’s not your fillings that need replacing, but your dentist’s BMW.

According to Wikipedia:

“In dentistry, a veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a damaged tooth surface. There are two main types of material used to fabricate a veneer, composite and porcelain. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory, and later bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement such as Panavia. In contrast, a porcelain veneer may only be indirectly fabricated.”

What is the Dental Veneer Procedure Like?

How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?

The cost does vary depending upon the part of the country you are in but a good average is $1500 per veneer at the time of writing this where the lowest being just under $1000 & the most expensive being around $2000. Be wary of bargain hunting; you should not find too “cheap” a Dentist.

Where Can I Find a Good, Well Reviewed Dentist that Offers Veneers?

We thought you would never ask. Try here.
Email the author with a question, seriously I don’t mind, it’s what i’m here for. If I don’t know the answer, I know a lot of dentists, i’ll get you an answer.

Photo Credit Kayepants

Here are some recommended home remedies that will make the toothache better until you can get to the dentist.

1. 1/2 a teaspoon of Nyquil or similar product. Swish around your mouth until better.
2. Cut a piece of fresh onion and put it by the affected tooth.
3. Gargle with alcohol based mouthwash.
4. Put a piece of raw garlic by the affected tooth.
5. Gargle with hard liquor like whiskey or vodka.
6. Swab tooth with clove oil (be careful, it can burn your skin in some cases).
7. Rub the palm of your hand with some ice … some report this really works.
8. Rinse mouth with salt water, brush teeth and rinse with alcohol based mouthwash (get you through a few hours).
9. Swab tooth with vanilla extract.
10. Crushed aspirin dissolved in warm water, gargle.

I’m sure there are a million more (feel free to post yours below in the comments if you have one or success from any of these).

If you are suffering through pain and feel you cannot afford the dentist, go see one anyway – you may be surprised and the dentist will cut you some slack or let you pay by next payday. Toothaches will not get better by themselves. Feel free to use our list of well reviewed dentists in your area if you a looking for “good people”.

Good luck!

Before hitting the yellow pages or searching for a San Francisco dentist online there are a few criteria you should be wary of.

Reputation

All dentists, as with any profession, were not created equal but you will be glad to know that the general level of technical capability of San Francisco dentists is quite high for the most part. Searching for dentist reviews online can help as can word of mouth from a friend but remember that it can be difficult for a layman to tell the difference between good, bad and average. Professional referral is a slightly better gauge as a dentist will know a good, bad or average dentist.

Facilities

Did you know there are tools to get rid of or reduce that gagging feeling, or a machine that can build a dental implant immediately on site removing the need for multiple visits or that there is a shot that halves the time you have that numb feeling after you visit? Well, there are and not all San Francisco dentists have all. Some people have such levels of fear when visiting the dentist that full or partial sedation is a definite need – not all San Francisco dentists do this, but some do. If you have an idea of what work you will be doing, ask about the appropriate equipment the dentist will be using or ask him what is available to combat any concerns you might be harboring.

Cost

Depending on the procedure the cost of a visit to the dentist in San Francisco can become somewhat expensive. Factors that determine cost will be primarily reputation or experience, equipment (he has to pay for the machines some way), location (San Francisco rent is not cheap) and of course the procedure being delivered.

Insurance

For most, dental insurance is quite basic so if you are getting more than a check-up or a filling, do not bank on insurance protecting your wallet. I am including this here so sticker shock is somewhat reduced if you are seeking something like cosmetic dentistry.

Convenience

In some cases, you may be required to make multiple visits in a short amount of time so thinking with location, parking and even traffic may be an important factor. What is the point of driving to a cheap part of San Francisco (if there is one) to save a couple of hundred dollars when the time to get off work, drive and park negates that saving.

So there you go. Don’t worry, your odds are good. We at Doctorbase would like to humbly offer our listings of quality dentists in San Francisco as they have been checked for reviews and facilities with many having peer reviews too. They wouldn’t be on our listings if they had a bunch of bad reviews. If you choose not to, you obviously know how to use Google – you found us – so good luck.

E-mail the author with a question, seriously I don’t mind, it’s what i’m here for. If I don’t know the answer, I know a lot of dentists, I’ll get you an answer.

Photo Credit Toestubber

Wikipedia defines Dental Implants as:

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used in prosthetic dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. There are several types of dental implants. The major classifications are divided into osseointegrated implant and the fibrointegrated implant. Earlier implants, such as the subperiosteal implant and the blade implant were usually fibrointegrated . The most widely accepted and successful implant today is the osseointegrated implant, based on the discovery by Swedish Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark that titanium can be successfully fused into bone when osteoblasts grow on and into the rough surface of the implanted titanium. This forms a structural and functional connection between the living bone and the implant. A variation on the implant procedure is the implant-supported bridge, or implant-supported denture.

Photo Credit Rikomatic

Here is a video describing the basic procedure although note there are variations from the different types and brands.

You can find a well reviewed dentist local to you who does implants here, or one that provides dentures for that matter.

There are many different types of braces and some are more aesthetically pleasing with a clear style. If you wanted to find a dentist to get braces, you will find many types available so make sure to ask when you get your appointment of what is available to you.

Photo Credit: Monica Nguyen

Wikipedia has a good writeup on the details of orthodontic braces including history to the many different styles and methods.

A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. It is part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber (within the coronal part of the tooth), the main canal(s), and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root. The smaller branches are most frequently found near the root end (apex) but may be encountered anywhere along the root length. There may be one or two main canals within each root. Some teeth have more variable internal anatomy than others. This space is filled with a highly vascularized, loose connective tissue, the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the tissue which forms the dentin portion of the tooth. The formation of secondary teeth (adult teeth) is completed by 1-2 years after eruption into the mouth. Once the tooth has reached its final size and shape, the dental pulp’s original function ceases for all practical purposes. It takes on a secondary role as a sensory organ.

Root canal is also a colloquial term for a dental operation, endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled.

You can find an endodontist in your area.

Dentistry has undergone many technological advances over the past few years to remedy many of the discomforts and annoyances inherent in the activity. Dentists these days have huge options of equipment, tools and drugs to better improve the dental patient experience.

Long gone are the days of foot powered drilling.

Here, as an example, are some tools now available to today’s dentist to remedy certain less popular experiences in the dental chair…

Negative Effect: Metal Mouth – Fix: Invisible Braces

The powerful image of a mouthful of metal may not be the most aesthetic image, so new technologies such as Invisalign® offer a remedy to this image and comfort issue.

Negative Effect: Dentures – Fix: Oral Implants

A way to replace a missing tooth from gum disease or from accidents is with “fake” teeth. Dental implants look and feel like normal teeth, but cost more than dentures. Implants look very natural and are stable like real teeth as they are “fused” to your bone with screws. Implants often require multiple office visits.

Negative Effect: Gagging – Fix: Isolite®

Like a “flashlight for your mouth,” the IsoLite® mouth irrigation & lighting system was one of the most popular hits of the CDA (California Dental Association) Show of 2009. A clear plastic apparatus replaces the traditional array of hoses & nozzles within the patient’s mouth, forcing their tongue to the side in a comfortable manner yet in a way which allows the dentist to see the inside of a patients mouth more clearly and easily.

Negative Effect: Off Colored Teeth – Fix: Zoom! Teeth Whitening®

A popular teeth whitening system available only from dentists, Zoom!® was featured on the popular ABC show “Extreme Makeover” and its popularity has surged in recent years. Other popular teeth whitening systems include Pola®, Beyond®, Sapphire®, LaserSmile® and Rembrandt®; however, it should be noted that no whitening system can take gray teeth to an ultra-white. There is also some controversy in the dental community as to whether the added light (used as an addition to Zoom!) actually improves the efficiency of any teeth whitening system.

Negative Effect: Numbness – Fix: Oraverse®

Oraverse® is a new product that will reduce that numbness feeling after your procedure. The average time spent waiting for numb gums and cheek to go away is reduced by half. Handy if you are getting dental work during lunch break.

These are just a few of the new tools available to the modern dentist. When evaluating your dentist, make sure to check on the technology in the practice. This may be a deciding factor that reduces the discomfort and increases the pleasure of a trip to the dentist chair.