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Dr. Anthony LaVacca

Feb 27

My dentist recommends a flipper but the prosthodontist prefers a temporary crown

By Dental Implants, Porcelain Crown, Prosthodontist

My dentist sent me to a prosthodontist to get an implant in place of a rotten tooth that had to be pulled. My dentist wants me to get a dental flipper from him, but the prosthodontist said that I can get a temporary crown. Is it normal to get a temporary crown? What is a dental flipper like anyway?

Ken – It is common for a temporary crown to be used while waiting for a permanent crown to be placed.

A dental flipper is a removable partial denture that has a gum-colored acrylic base with an acrylic tooth attached to it. Metal clasps can be attached to wrap around your teeth and keep the flipper in place. Depending on the location of the missing tooth, the metal clasps can be seen. Care must be taken to ensure the flipper does not disturb the dental implant.

You will find a temporary crown to be more comfortable than a dental flipper. Speak with your prosthodontist about your concerns. He or she will be able to fully explain your options and the pros and cons of both.

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

Feb 25

Strong Sales Pressure Tactics

By Blog

Very strong sales pressure tactics. Very little face time with dentist – about seven minutes. Salesperson spoke very rapidly, jumped from topic to topic, and often did not answer questions unless they were repeated. Very difficult to pin down the process, as we were told several times that detailed questions would be answered at the follow-up appointment.

Both salesperson and dentist were scornful and dismissive about other dentists’ practice of doing bone grafts: “We NEVER do bone grafts and don’t believe they are necessary.” Most common treatment they appear to offer is to pull all teeth, implant four, and fill the remaining space in with acrylic, bolt-on dentures…for $50,000. Seems high if the service is provided over the course of only one day. Salesperson claimed they would fix anything that went wrong, but there was no written policy provided (what if all teeth are pulled, then the implants are rejected?). We were shown a lengthy infomercial, which dumbed down the info for the audience. For example, they really pushed the wonder of their 360 degree imaging device — mentioned it multiple times — and they also pushed the fact that all resources necessary for the service are onsite.

They faked a “news” story, with a Fox newscaster set and a “story” that was too lengthy to be a true news story. When confronted, the salesperson stated it was a “special situation.” At the end of the hour-long consultation, the salesperson tried to force us to sign a statement that, among other things, claimed the dentist described a wide range of medical and dental information to us, which she did not. The salesperson grew visibly angry when we refused to sign, repeatedly insisting we do so, then angrily writing “refused to sign” on the form. She also pressured us to start the treatment that day, and they wanted full payment up front. Their service may be a viable option for some patients, but the high-pressure sales tactics and lack of medical information scared us off.

– Suzanne from Virginia

Suzanne,
Your experience is similar to others we have heard about. We do believe that clinically they do good work, but we have received this frequent complaint about high-pressure sales tactics, and the treatment recommendations being presented by a sales person rather than the dentist.

And they have a strong inclination to want to take out all the remaining teeth and do the all-on-4 dental implants procedure, which avoids needing to do bone grafting and other labor-intensive services. There may be cases where that is the best treatment for the patient, but we believe in presenting more options.

Please see Dr. LaVacca’s page where he offers second opinions about Clear Choice dental implants. If you have your own experience to share, please see our Chicago Clear Choice reviews page.

Feb 12

The teeth are falling out of my denture

By Dentures

Hello. I got implant dentures about 2 ½ years ago. Since that time I’ve had teeth fall out of the denture twice. I have been keeping record of this and the first time it happened was in December 2011. One of the top left teeth fell out. In July of last year, two bottom teeth fell out. Last weekend I noticed a problem again on the upper left side of my mouth when I chew. I looked in the mirror and gently pushed each tooth on that side of my mouth and found that again, one is loose. Of course, I have brought this to the attention of my dentist. He keeps the denture for repair. I am not sure what that process is, but after the “repair” he returns the denture to me. I know plenty of people who wear dentures and I haven’t heard one of them say that a single tooth has fallen out of the denture. So my guess is that what’s happening to my dentures is very unusual. Can you confirm that for me? Thank you. Jim

Jim – It is very unusual for teeth to fall out of the base of a denture. If your implant dentures were made correctly, what you are experiencing would not occur.

You can certain request your denture be to be re-made. Unfortunately, mistakes occur when shortcuts are taken. Inferior materials, shortcuts in techniques, or a cheap dental lab can all contribute toward your receiving dentures that are poorly made.

Although the laboratory makes the dentures, it is the dentist who is responsible for ensuring that you get a high-quality product, and for correcting this situation.

This post is sponsored by Naperville implant dentist and prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca. Find out what to look for if you want affordable dental implants.

 

Feb 12

I was told I only needed a filling in my tooth

By Dental Crowns, Dental Fillings

I have a tooth that has been sensitive for about 2 mo. now. Not just to hot or cold. It’s just been plain sensitive. So my dentist took xrays and said there is some decay and I needed a filling. Yesterday I went for the filling and after all of the drilling and prep work now he says I need a root canal treatment. I made the appointment to get the root canal treatment next week but I am wondering how could I go from needing a filling to a root canal treatment all in the same day.I just want to know if this is unusual . thanks – Jamel

Jamel – Dentists use x-rays to determine the appropriate treatment plan. At times, when a dentist begins to work on a tooth and drill to eliminate tooth decay, it’s found that the tooth decay is deeper than the x-ray revealed. In that case, a dental filling in the cavity won’t be enough to save the tooth.

When a dentist sees that the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth, a root canal treatment is needed to remove the infected pulp. The root canal treatment prevents the infection from spreading to your jawbone or other teeth.

Although a root canal treatment takes longer to complete than a dental filling, it can be painless procedure. You will receive antibiotics to ensure that the infection is completely gone. And a dental crown may be used to protect your tooth.

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca

Jan 28

Sensitive Teeth

By Sensitive Teeth

Are your teeth sensitive to heat or cold? Or do they hurt when you brush your teeth?

There are several causes of sensitive teeth. You need to have your teeth checked by your dentist to determine the actual cause.

Tooth decay can make a tooth sensitive, but so can a tooth that is fractured. You may need composite fillings to protect your tooth. If the filling in a tooth is worn, it will need to be replaced. If it’s fractured, it will need to be repaired.

Sometimes, root surfaces are exposed on certain teeth. When you brush your teeth you will feel sensitivity. You can try toothpaste for sensitive teeth, or your dentist can prescribe toothpaste for you. Your dentist may need to brush your root surfaces with fluoride varnish, which works immediately.

Tooth sensitivity can be a sign of gum disease. Be sure to regularly brush and floss your teeth to fight bacteria-causing gum disease. It’s important to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups to prevent gum disease, or to detect it early.

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

 

Jan 28

Can I find dental insurance for dental implants?

By Insurance

Can you tell me what companies provide dental insurance that covers the cost of dental implants? – Thanks Meryl

Meryl – Dental insurance companies don’t provide coverage for dental implants.

Insurance companies need to make a profit. They don’t profit from dental implants. They would have to pay out much more for dental implants than they would gain.

Dental insurance through an employer contributes toward the cost of extensive dental work. But they contribute toward the least expensive treatment that would solve your problem. There are treatments to replace missing teeth that are less expensive than dental implants—a dental bridge, a partial denture, or complete removable dentures.

Many implants dentist accept various form of payment and offer payment plans.

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

Jan 23

I am having severe pain after 2 teeth were pulled

By Teeth Extraction

Hi. I had 2 teeth pulled yesterday, lower left molars. I haven’t decided how I want to replace them, though. My dentist said that there would not be much pain afterward, but if I felt pain to take ibuprofen. My pain is extreme and ibuprofen is not helping. It hurts to talk, open my mouth or chew. Does it sound like something went wrong with the procedure? – Thanks. Thomas C.

Thomas – Your description of the pain you’re experience doesn’t sound very unusual. There can be trauma with tooth extraction, and the pain can be severe.

Your expectations, based on what your dentist told you, were much different than what you are actually experiencing. Some dentists let their patients know the worst that can happen, while others only tell you the mildest experience you might have after an extraction.

It’s best to call your dentist and let him or her know about the severe pain you are experiencing. You may need to see your dentist again. Or antibiotics or pain-relief medication may be prescribed.

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

Jan 23

Why do my implants keep failing?

By Dental Implants

Over the past five years I have tried to get implants for three missing teeth, but they have all failed. The surgeon has taken extreme care and rebuilt my jawbone in those places, but my body seems to keep rejecting them. My implant dentist is clueless. I want to replace these teeth. What do you suggest? – Margo

Margo – In rare instances, because of body chemistry, there are patients for whom dental implants don’t work. The situation is similar to a patient’s body that rejects a tissue transplant.

It is surprising that if you have an implant dentist, he or she is clueless. If you want reassurance, get a second opinion from a credentialed implant dentist. Take a look at our Meet Dr. LaVacca web page to get an idea of the kind of credentials you should look for in a dentist from whom you will receive a second opinion.

If your body is rejecting the implants, the implant dentist will be able to recommend alternate treatments. Although implants are the most effective and natural-looking tooth replacement, there are alternatives will look like your natural teeth.

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

Jan 23

Risk factors and symptoms of gum disease

By Gum Disease

Last week while driving, I was listening to XM radio and found a station with a guest dentist. She talked about gum disease and that you can get it even if you regularly brush and floss your teeth. That doesn’t make sense to me. I didn’t catch the entire segment because I had an appointment to keep. Are there certain contributing factors for gum disease? Also, what are the symptoms of gum disease? I’m not the best at keeping dental appointments, so I’m interested in knowing what to look for. Thanks –  Briana

Briana,

Gum disease is mainly caused by plaque, but there are other risks factors. Tobacco use increases the risk of gum disease. Stress makes it more difficult for the body to fight infection, including periodontal disease. Certain medications can affect your oral health. Some inflammatory diseases can promote inflammation in your gums.

Poor nutrition can affect the body’s ability to fight infection and disease, which can affect your gums. Grinding your teeth puts pressure on the teeth and gums, and can affect gum tissue. Some people are genetically disposed to gum disease. And gum disease is more common among the elderly.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

  • Pus in your gums, or between your teeth and gums
  • Inflamed, red, or sore gums
  • Gums that bleed when your brush your teeth or eat certain foods
  • Loosening of  teeth
  • Increase in spaces between teeth
  • Receding gums
  • Persistent bad breath
  • A change in the way partial dentures fit
  • Mouth sores

 

Early detection of gum disease is makes treatment easier. Stopping the progression of gum disease can save your teeth and help avoid more aggressive treatment. Regular dental check-ups with an examination of your teeth and gums are critical to preventing gum disease and to detecting it early.

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

Dec 27

Could my toothache cause my cheek to swell?

By Dental Crowns, Toothache

A toothache can cause swelling in your cheek if there is an abscess. When you have a tooth infection, a collection of infected material, or pus, can form in the middle of the tooth. This collection of infected material is called an abscess.

The abscess can spread into your jawbone and cheek. The infection will continue to spread until it’s treated, so recommend that you promptly make an appointment with your dentist. The tooth will likely require a root canal treatment.

If your tooth is weak or cracked, a crown may be used to protect it. But there is no need for concern about the crown. Porcelain crowns are made to have the characteristics and color of your natural teeth. You will be given a prescription of antibiotics to prevent further spread of the infection.

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

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