Your Views

A Crowning Touch

I had a crown put on about three months ago ["Crowns Can Be a Royal Pain, Not to Mention a Sign of Aging," June 23]. The whole procedure from shaping to making to applying the crown took about 45 minutes.

My dentist, Jeffrey Hirsch in Olney, has a computerized machine that makes the crown while you wait. He can measure the tooth with this computer and shape it on the screen to get a perfect fit. He then sends the measurements to another machine (located about five feet away from the patient), and within a matter of minutes the crown is made. No pain and no waiting a week for another visit.

Bob Fustero

Silver Spring

Of the half-dozen dentists I've visited the last 25 years, all of them seem to want to sell me services I don't need.

However, a few weeks ago, I went to the local college that has a dental program. The students clean teeth under the supervision of several experienced dental assistants and a dentist. For $20, I got X-rays, a complete exam, a cleaning that included under-the-gum planing for my entire mouth (this took four visits and 10 hours total) and a diagnosis of what else I need to take care of (three cavities). Surprisingly, during this exam the dentist said I had no peridontal disease, which five previous dentists had told me I already had or was very close to having.

I think many people may avoid dentists not just to avoid the pain of the drill but also because some dentists prescribe dental work that may not be needed and may cost thousands of dollars. I recommend getting a second opinion from a source that has no financial incentive to claim that your dental health is in immediate peril.

Raymond Schneider