Another Take on Bargain Bites

Several years ago a patient of mine needed crowns to repair six fractured front teeth (“TJ for Your TMJ,” by Joe Sehee, So SoCal, Sept. 27). We discussed options and agreed that porcelain crowns would be best. When I informed him of the cost, he said he’d think it over.

A few months later, back for a checkup, he pointed proudly to his front teeth, which sported new “crowns” from a dentist in Tijuana. What I saw were six plastic crowns, typical of the temporary crowns we use here and not intended to last more than a few weeks.

“So,” I asked the patient, “when do you go back to get the permanent crowns?” He said the crowns in his mouth were permanent.

Since then, I refer to my tooth-colored temporary resin crowns as “Tijuana crowns,” and a sign in my office reads: “Beware of bargains in parachutes, life preservers, fire extinguishers, brain operations and dental care.”

Richard A. Lewis DDS

Long Beach