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Dr. Anthony LaVacca

May 28

Dentures and face collapsing?

By Dentures, Facial Collapse

I have been searching the internet for how to reduce dramatic facial changes when bone loss occurs due to having all of your teeth missing and wearing dentures. Most of the articles I’ve read are by dentists or on dental websites and they are offering dental implants. Most people simply cannot afford dental implants.

How does the face look after the denture years of having all your teeth missing? How can facial collapse be avoided with a regular denture? – Vince

Vince – The photos below show how the face looks after years of having all of your teeth missing. Facial collapse is progressive; it generally occurs in ten to twenty years of having all of your teeth missing.

You have found so many articles pointing to dental implants to resolve facial collapse, because that is the way to prevent it. When all of your teeth are missing, your body resorbs the jawbone. Just as the presence of natural teeth preserves the jawbone, so does the presence of dental implants.

Even if you wear dentures, securing them with as few as two dental implants helps prevent jawbone shrinkage. Implants support dentures, instead of dentures resting on your jawbone and accelerating the bone loss. Without implant overdentures, your jawbone will continue to shrink.

Most implant dentists accept various forms of payment and offer payment plans to make securing your dentures with implants more affordable.

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

 

May 20

How long does it take for Invisalign to straighten your teeth?

By Invisalign

How long does it usually take for Invisalign braces to completely straighten your teeth? – Jasmine

 

Jasmine – Generally, Invisalign straightens your teeth faster than traditional braces. How long it takes to straighten your teeth will have to be determined by your orthodontist.

Your orthodontist will establish a treatment plan for you that determines which teeth need to be moved, and to which position each tooth should move. The more complicated your case, the longer you will need to wear Invisalign aligners.

Have your teeth examined by an orthodontist to determine how long you would need to wear Invisalign.

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

May 17

Can he play sports after dental implant surgery?

By Dental Implant Mistakes, Dental Implants

Hi. My boyfriend is in a baseball league. He wants dental implants, but he doesn’t want to get them at a time when he would have to miss a game. How soon after dental implants can he be active in sports again? Thanks – Dawn

Dawn – For at least several days after the implant procedure, your boyfriend should not participate in any demanding activity, including sports. Physical exertion can cause bleeding around the implant site. The implant surgeon will provide specifics as to when your boyfriend can resume his normal activity. In addition to demanding activity, irritants including alcohol, black tea, and nicotine should be avoided, because they can have a negative effect on the healing process.

In order to prevent dental implant failure, nothing should be allowed to interfere with the healing process. In approximately a week after the healing process, your boyfriend will return to the implant surgeon for a progress check.

The implant dentist will give your boyfriend specifics of the kinds of food, drink, and activities that should be avoided or limited immediately after the surgery and during the healing process.

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

 

May 15

When can I smoke after my dental implants are placed?

By Dental Implant Mistakes, Dental Implants

I am a smoker but I quit for a month before I got dental implants. I got surgery 2 weeks ago and the surgeon told me not to smoke for another 2 for 4 months. Is this right? Thanks – Doug K.

Doug – Smoking, before or after, dental implant placement can affect the success of the implants.

Smoking has a negative effect on the healing process, so during the two to six month period while your bone and the implant fuse together, you should avoid smoking. Smoking can severely limit the healing process.

If your implants don’t heal properly, it can lead to inflammation and infection, or the implants will not stabilize. If you experience implant failure because of smoking, the implants will need to be removed and completely redone.

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

Apr 30

What kind of doctor should I see for TMJ?

By Prosthodontist, TMJ

 

I think I have TMJ. What kind of doctor should I see for it? – Blake

Blake – Dentists often treat TMJ symptoms, but there is no recognized specialty for TMJ disorders.

Find a dentist with extensive TMJ training. Visit his or her website to find out if the dentist has received training specific to the disorder. Prosthodontists are specialists who are highly trained to address jaw joint disorders.

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

Apr 26

My implant loosed and came out

By Dental Implants

I got 5 dental implants in Nov. 2012. 2 weeks ago I noticed that the crown on one of them felt funny when I chewed. I had an appointment last week with the implant dentist this past Monday and he said sure enough the crown was loose. He pulled on it and the whole implant came out. He said I need another implant surgery. I can’t believe after all of trouble I went through to get the implants and then the healing time that is needs to be done over! How could this happen? – Kristie P.

Kristie – If your crown was loose, it would be much easier to correct than a dental implant. A loose implant is a serious mistake, but it does occur.

There are several reasons that implants can loosen. One reason is that the crown may have been placed prematurely—before the bone bonded to the implant. Another possibility is that the implant was not sturdy enough to support the crown. Or, you may have inadequate bone density to support dental implants. An infection will also cause an implant to loosen.

More is involved than simply replacing the implant. The bone that was removed before the implant was placed will need to be replaced, and bone grafting may be required.

Unfortunately, implants mistakes are common. We recommend that you find a credentialed implant dentist to do replace your implant, instead of returning to your original implant dentist. Have the new implant dentist examine the space where you need an implant. He or she will determine what needs to be done to restore it.

 

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

Apr 17

How do you care for dental implants?

By Dental Implants

How do you care for dental implants? I am trying to calculate the expense of caring for the implants after I receive them. – Leslie

Leslie – Treat your dental implants just as you would your natural teeth. They require the same care.

Brush thoroughly, just as you would brush your natural teeth. Floss carefully around the implant to prevent plaque build-up.

Keep your regular six-month dental exam and cleaning visits.

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

Apr 16

Is it okay to get dental work done while I am pregnant?

By Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, Toothache

Hello. My baby is due in July. I need dental work done, but it is nothing critical. My dentist says that my pregnancy is not an issue. I won’t say that I don’t trust my dentist, but I don’t know him well. We recently moved from Ohio six months ago, so this is a new dentist for me. I just want to verify that there is no known problem with getting the work done at this stage of my pregnancy. Thank you. Rachel

Rachel – At this stage of your pregnancy, one of the biggest problems with getting dental work done is your comfort. You will be reclined, so you may experience discomfort during the treatment.

What type of dental work is being done? Have you been told how long the dental procedure will take?

Dental cleanings and exams during pregnancy should continue as normal. You want your teeth to be kept clean to reduce the chances of having tooth decay or gum disease. Dental x-rays and invasive dental treatment should be avoided.

If you are in pain with a toothache, or if there is an infection in your tooth, it should be treated promptly to stop the infection.

If you have the dental work done, consider bringing a pillow or whatever back support makes you comfortable. Speak with your dentist about any concerns you have about being comfortable. The staff will make the effort to get you as comfortable as possible.

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

Apr 09

What questions should we ask our daughter’s implant dentist?

By Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

My daughter has a condition that she was born with that has prevented her from developing several teeth. She is now 20 years old and getting dental implants. We know this is going to be a very costly procedure, but we want her to have the confidence that comes with having healthy teeth and a good-looking smile. She was teased enough through her teen years. We are seeing two implant specialists and we will decide which one we want to do the procedure. We have a list of questions that we started, but if you can give us some pointers on what to ask, it would be appreciated. – Jan

Jan – Continue to compile your list of questions. Anything that you can think of that is of concern to you should be asked. It is very important that you find a credentialed implant dentist who has extensive experience in successfully placing dental implants.

Three-dimensional diagnostic studies should be performed to ensure that your daughter’s implants are properly placed. Also, quality implant fixtures should be used. So, some questions can be asked to ensure that those measures will be taken. Although the questions below are not a complete list of all the questions you should ask, you may choose to add some of them to your list.

  •  What training have you received?
  • What are your credentials?
  • Are you a board-certified specialist?
  • How long have you been placing dental implants?
  • How many implants a year do you place?
  • What is your implant success rate?
  • What steps do you take to avoid implant failure?
  • How many surgeries are needed?
  • What kind of sedation will be used?
  • What are the risks?
  • Do you have pictures of before and after cases you can show me?
  • What technology do you use to ensure implants are properly placed?
  • What type of implant fixtures do you use?
  • What should we expect after implant surgery?
  • What are our options?
  • What is the cost?
  • What are our payment options?

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

Apr 07

All I have is regrets

By Dental Implant Mistakes

I have to admit that the people there are really nice. In fact when I first visited, I was very impressed with the customer service and the seeming sincerity of the representatives, although at times they were a little too aggressive for my taste. The advertising and fancy printed material really impressed me.

Now that I have the implants, and it’s $30,000 later, I have an infection from one poorly placed implant. I have had temporary teeth break several times. I am a bit frustrated to say the least. My cheek is swollen and I am having trouble speaking.

Everyone I speak to from Clear Choice is very pleasant, but I still have regrets and I am not confident that I will get a resolution there. Every conversation I had before the surgery was very positive. I was not warned about possible implant failure or any other negative aspect of getting dental implants. In hind sight, I should have asked more “what if” questions.

It’s an expensive lesson learned, and I regret it. I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet, but I am really not comfortable returning there to get the problems fixed. – J. from Indiana

 

J. – It is unfortunate to learn about your experience and the discomfort you still are experiencing. Aggressive sales tactics often don’t clearly inform you of the risks involved.

If you decide to get a second opinion, seek it from a credentialed implant dentist. You may be interested in reading about Dr. LaVacca’s second opinions for Clear Choice dental implants.

We also have a Chicago Clear Choice Reviews page for any of our readers who would like to share his or her experience.

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