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Monthly Archives

November 2013

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.

 

My Clear Choice Review is positive

By Blog

Just wanted to let you know that my experience with Clear Choice was nothing but positive. I know that sometimes they get a lot of negative reviews but from the I walked in the office I was pleased with the way I was treated. The surgery was successful. It’s been 2 months since I had the surgery and my teeth look and feel good. I’m pleased. J.H.

J.H. – Thank you for submitting a review of your experience with Clear Choice. We are happy when patients have positive outcomes for dental implant surgery.

Dental implants can and should last a lifetime and have a positive impact on your quality of life. Thanks again for your review.

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

 

 

Second opinion for all on four from Clear Choice

By Second Opinion, All-on-4 Dental Implants

I know that dental implants are the best long term solution for my teeth but I just like to be sure that I am doing the right thing. I have read both positive and negative comments on ClearChoice so I want there for myself. I didn’t feel pressured by the sales person. I actually had a good experience. My only concern was that the dentist I saw recommended All on four for me which I really was not expecting at all. I had done my research in advance and I had pretty much decided that I didn’t want to go that route. I discussed my concerns about All on four with the dentist and he pretty much told me that I had nothing to worry about and that All on four was the best option for me. Maybe it was a mistake, but I asked if I could confer with a second ClearChoice dentist regarding his recommendation. He got on the defensive and said that any dentist anywhere would make the same recommendation and that there was no need for me to speak with anyone else. He wasn’t mean about it, but I could tell that he was somewhat offended by my question. Now I am wondering if I did the right thing. Your thoughts? Al B.

Al – You went into the Clear Choice office with reservations about All-on-4 implants, so your concern is very understandable. Even if you had no prior concerns, your options and the pros and cons of each should be thoroughly explained to you.

A second opinion is in order. Many patients and implant dentists have concerns about the reliability and durability of the All-on-4 process. An experienced implant dentist will be able to let you know if this treatment is really the best for you and explain why, if that’s the case.

Since you did advance research on the procedure, you are no doubt aware of the jawbone shrinkage that can occur in the posterior area, and that a problem with one of the implants can affect the others and require the replacement of all four implants.

A second opinion will ensure verify whether you have other options so that you can make a good decision for your treatment.

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

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.

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.

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