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Dr. Anthony LaVacca

Dec 26

Why would pediatric dentist want to sedate my daughter?

By Pediatric Dentist

We relocated from Ohio and have a new pediatric dentist for our 2 children. My 8 yr old has a cavity. She normally does very well at a dentist’s office. She doesn’t have any fear. The dentist scheduled an appointment to fill her cavity, and she said that she will administer nitrous oxide first. I don’t think this is necessary at all. Am I being unreasonable? – Anika

Anika – You have a right to accept or refuse dental treatment for your daughter. If you don’t think she requires sedation before filling a cavity, you can explain your concern to your child’s dentist.

The response you get can determine whether or not you choose to seek a second opinion on treatment for your daughter. You will be able to find a dentist who is willing to fill the cavity without sedation.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 26

Looking for a cheap dental implant for canine tooth

By Affordable Implant Dentistry, Dental Implants

I have a crooked canine tooth on the right side of my mouth. It is also badly shaped and discolored. I am wondering if I can get a cheap dental implant to replace it and still have it look natural.  Erika

Ericka – It is likely that your canine tooth doesn’t need to be replaced with a dental implant. You can have the tooth examined by an experienced prosthodontist. And if you do need a dental implant, you can discuss how a quality implant can be made affordable for you.

The goal will be to preserve your tooth. There are options that may work for you, including reshaping the tooth and whitening it; lightly shaving the tooth and bonding a porcelain veneer to it, which will look completely natural; reducing the size of the tooth and covering it with a porcelain crown to match your natural tooth; or short-term orthodontics and teeth bleaching.

Schedule an appointment to have your tooth examined and to find out your options. Many dentists, like Dr. LaVacca, offer a complimentary consultation.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 23

What can I do about cavity pain until my dentist’s appt?

By General Dentistry, Tooth Decay

I made an appointment with a dentist already for a cavity, but the appt isn’t until next week. The office is closed for the holidays. I feel more sensitivity in the tooth each day and I am afraid that it’s going to get very painful before I can get the tooth treated. What can I do at home? – Zach

Zach – If your tooth is sensitive, try to limit cold or hot beverages that can increase sensitivity. If you start to experience pain, you can take over-the counter pain medication to relieve the pain.

It is unlikely that your pain will become extreme, but if it does, you may be able to find an emergency dentist who has on-call personnel who will see you and relieve your pain.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 22

What’s the success rate of dental implants?

By Dental Implants

I want to have 3 missing teeth replaced with dental implants. I read on your website about dental implant failure, but what’s the success rate? They cost so much that I really hope the success rate if very good. Thank you. Kacie

Kacie – The success rate of dental implants is very good—95%. The majority of dental implants still function at their peak performance 20 years after they were originally placed.

A key to success and longevity of your implants is a skilled, experienced, and credentialed implant dentist who plans for quality placement, and who uses quality implant fixtures. Your strict cooperation with instructions before and after implant surgery are also vital to the success of your implants.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Dec 20

My gums swollen over 1 year after dental implant placed

By Dental Implant Mistakes, Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

I got 3 dental implants 1 ½ yrs ago. The healing seems to be fine but now the gum around 1 of them is swollen. I take good care of my real teeth and the implants. I now live 6 hours away from the dentist who placed the implants. I made sure not to relocate before everything was healed. Why is this happening now? Jennifer

Jennifer – Swelling around the implant right after implant surgery is normal. Swelling will peak in approximately 48 hours and will gradually diminish in about one week.

Swelling like yours that occurs over a year after the implant surgery is a reason for concern. It is possible that there is a problem with the implant or you may have an infection.

Your tooth needs to be examined by an experienced implant dentist for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Nov 30

Dental implants and meth

By Dental Implants, Health Issues and Teeth

Meth has messed up my teeth. I am pretty much addicted to it but I don’t know if I can stop. I am trying to cut back on using it. I have plenty of money to get my teeth straightened out. Will dental implants work for me if I am still using? T.W.

T.W. – Tobacco use, alcoholism, and drug addiction affect the success of dental implants. These habits can contribute to bone loss, which affect the ability of implants to be placed. Bone grafting may be needed. The habits also affect the ability of dental implants to heal and to stabilize.

It is best to have your teeth examined by an implant dentist. He or she will let you know how methamphetamine has affected your oral health, and determine if you are a candidate for dental implants or if another treatment is required to restore your teeth.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

 

Nov 21

A tooth fell out of my dentures

By Dentures

I had the most embarrassing moment last night. A tooth fell out of my dentures. My wife and I were out with friends at their anniversary dinner. There were 8 of us in the group. The tooth that fell out has never given me a problem. I check my dentures regularly and the tooth never felt loose. I was eating my dinner and I felt a tooth dislodge. I was afraid that I might swallow it so I had to discreetly deposit the food in my mouth into a napkin. I excused myself and went into the lobby with the napkin to find the tooth in my half chewed food. It was an incisor! I put it in my shirt pocket. I had to return back to our table, but from then on I didn’t smile or laugh hoping no one would notice that I had lost the tooth. Of course my wife starting whispering to me about what was going on. What do I do now? Will I have to get new dentures? – Dennis

 

Dennis – Some dentists can repair dentures themselves. Call your dentist’s office and ask how denture repairs are handled. If your dentist is unable to secure the tooth back into your dentures, you may find a dentist or prosthodontist who can make the repair on site. It’s possible that your dentures will need to be sent to a lab for repair. Depending on your location, it may be a few days before the repaired dentures are returned.

Teeth can fall out of new dentures if the acrylic doesn’t bond correctly to the teeth of the dentures. If your dentures are old, the acrylic can deteriorate and weaken, and the denture teeth can loosen. Dentures last an average of five to seven years. If your dentures are within that span, or older, it may be time to have them replaced.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca. Dr. LaVacca is a board-certified prosthodontist, specifically trained in the replacement and restoration of teeth.

Nov 19

Daughter’s elbow loosened son’s tooth. Is a pediatric dentist necessary?

By Damaged Tooth, Pediatric Dentist

My 7 yr old son and 3 yr old daughter were wrestling yesterday evening. They play around a lot which is fine with me, but sometimes they get a little rough. The 5 yr old can actually handle it. While they were wrestling, my son tried to pin her down. He is careful not to hurt her, but this time she hurt him instead. She took defense with her elbow which went right into my son’s mouth.  Her elbow hit one of his teeth pretty hard. The tooth bled for about 20 minutes and today before he went to school he said it hurts a little. I checked it and it’s a little loose. I wasn’t really worried about it because it’s not a permanent tooth, but my husband thinks we need to have it looked at by our pediatric dentist. Is this really necessary? I don’t want to call the office because I know they will tell me to bring my son in whether it’s needed or not. Thanks. Cherise

Cherise – When a tooth is loosened it is normal for it to bleed a little from the gums. A slightly loose tooth usually tightens up on its own.

If the tooth feels very loose, or if your son is in persistent pain, you should call your pediatric dentist. Your dentist will likely want to check the tooth anyway to see if it needs to be repositioned, or if it’s very loose, your dentist may want to remove the tooth altogether.

If a primary tooth is loose and needs to be extracted, a spacer may be needed to hold the place for the permanent tooth so that the adjacent teeth won’t shift into the space.

Contacting your pediatric dentist just to check out the tooth is a good precaution.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Oct 31
polygrip-fixodent-drama-with-my-dentures-blog

Polygrip, Fixodent drama with my dentures

By Dentures

I can’t get it right. I don’t know if it’s my dentures, the products or me. I have tried both Polygrip and Fixodent. If I place small strips of adhesive on my dentures as recommended, they consistently fall out or slip. If I use enough adhesive to make the dentures stay in place, it is very difficult to remove them and I am left with a gross amount of adhesive that I have to scrape out of my mouth. This has been going on for two years. I think I have been patient long enough. I am looking for another option or another type of denture. I have spoken with my dentist about it several times and I don’t think he is responsive enough. I need some advice. Thank you. Millie

Millie – Unfortunately, your experience with dentures is common. It is possible that your dentures were not fitted correctly when you first received them. But many people experience problems even when the dentures were correctly sized.

Securing your dentures with dental implants will eliminate the need for denture adhesives. You can get affordable dental implants to give your dentures stability. You won’t have to worry about them slipping, they will look and feel more natural, and your chewing efficiency will improve. The implants are good for your oral health because they help prevent jawbone shrinkage and facial collapse.

Find an experienced implant dentist or prosthodontist to give you an exam. He or she will let you know if you are a candidate for implant dentures, and your options will be explained.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Oct 30

My kid’s pediatric dentist yelled at us

By Pediatric Dentist

I have 2 kids. My son is 4 yrs old and my daughter is 8 yrs old. The 4 yr old is afraid of nothing including the dentist. My daughter has always been afraid of the dentist even though to my knowledge she has never had a bad experience. The last 2 dental appointments my daughter had did not go well. She got really nervous and teary both times. On her most recent visit 3 weeks ago, the teeth cleaning went okay because the hygienist was patient, but when the dentist came in he looked at my daughter and said, “What are you crying for? Cry babies don’t get balloons in this office.” I think it scared my daughter so she really started sobbing. I tried to comfort her and the dentist yelled at me and told me that they didn’t need me in the room. He said I was making it worse for my daughter. I didn’t leave the room. I asked him to release my daughter so we could reschedule. We have been going to this dentist for 3 years. Although I was never really thrilled with the dentist, I didn’t dislike him either and we have been very pleased with the hygienists. I didn’t want to make a quick decision on whether or not to return, so I gave it some time. Any suggestions? – Heather

Heather – If your daughter is uncomfortable with dental appointments, her most recent experience has made her even more uncomfortable. Her long-term oral health is too important to allow her to have traumatic dental appointments.

Yelling at patients is unacceptable. You can consider finding a new pediatric dentist. Ask friends for references or do Internet searches to find a few experienced dentists. Request consultations and take your children with you to the appointments. You will be able to see the office, and meet the staff and dentist to help you decide on a dentist with whom you and your children are comfortable.

After your first official appointment, if you or your children are not comfortable, don’t hesitate to move on.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

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