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Monthly Archives

September 2016

Sep 30

Will braces leave spots on my teeth?

By Braces, Orthodontics

Hi. I am so excited about getting braces in two weeks. It seemed like every time I went to the dentist I had a new cavity to fill and I had to wait for all of that to get straightened out before I could get braces. The orthodontist pulled 2 teeth to make room for my other teeth so everything would work out with the braces. I am excited but also nervous. 3 of the 5 people that I know had spotted teeth after their braces came off. Is there a way to tell in advance whether or not braces will leave spots on my teeth? Lena

Lena – Whether or not braces leave spots on your teeth has a lot to do with how well you take care of your teeth while wearing braces.

When you wear braces, food can easily get trapped between the braces and your teeth. Trapped food can lead to a formation of plaque, bacteria, and decay. Plaque buildup on your teeth causes decalcification, which shows as white spots on your teeth.

The white spots can be prevented if you are diligent about maintaining good oral hygiene—particularly with braces. Avoid acidic food and drink. Thoroughly floss and brush your teeth after you eat, and pay attention to the areas around and under your braces. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride. Keep your regularly scheduled dental cleaning and exam appointments.

If you are very careful about what you eat and how you take care of your teeth but you still have a few spots on your teeth after your braces are removed, visit a skilled cosmetic dentist. He or she will let you know your options for concealing the spots, as well as the best time to receive the treatment to conceal them.

Invisalign is an exception. The clear braces are removed when you eat and when you floss and brush your teeth. You can maintain excellent oral hygiene and not have to be concerned about plaque buildup.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Anthony LaVacca of Naperville Dental Specialists.

Sep 29

Why are Clear Choice reviews inconsistent?

By Dental Bridge, Dental Implants

I have a dental bridge that is about 17 yrs old. It lasted a long time. Now I am thinking about getting an implant bridge. I had 2 consultations with implants dentists and now I am looking for a 3rd opinion. I’ve seen commercials about Clear Choice and I have an acquaintance who received implants from Clear Choice and recommends them. One recommendation isn’t enough for me so I started looking on line for Clear Choice reviews. I found it interesting to see that some reviews are super positive and others are super negative. There are more positive reviews than negative but the negative ones are so bad that it’s making me a little nervous. Why are Clear Choice reviews so inconsistent? Thanks Nicola

Nicola,

Clear Choice reviews are based on patient experience. Some patients have a great experience, while others are disappointed.

Clear Choice reviews reveal that patient cases are treated the same. That approach is risky because each patient case is different. A single method or technique can’t possibly be right for everyone. Your dental implants solution should be tailored to match your needs. Clear Choice often falls short of that.

Rather than visit a dental implant chain, smaller practices often provide consistently positive outcomes. But don’t visit just any implant dentist. Check out his or her experience and credentials before scheduling a consultation. Your current dentist might be able to recommend a skilled prosthodontist for your third opinion.

Ask each dentist how many implant bridge cases he or she has handled. Ask what kind of problems have been encountered and how the dentist resolved them. Discuss your treatment options. An implant bridge might be the right option for you, but other alternatives may be better for your case and your long-term oral health.

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

Sep 28

My 3 yr old’s teeth aren’t erupting

By Pediatric Dentist

At first my daughter seemed to be getting teeth early. Now she is 3 years old but only has 10 teeth. I haven’t taken her to a pediatric dentist yet because she doesn’t have many teeth. She is my first child so I know nothing about tooth development in children other than what I find online. Based on what I have researched, I think something is wrong. Shouldn’t she have more teeth? What is happening? – Shana

Shana – A baby’s first tooth usually erupts between 4 and 15 months of age. Children who are born prematurely, or who have a low birth weight, can experience delayed tooth development and eruption. At 3 years of age, a toddler should have about 20 teeth. A visit to a pediatric dentist is a smart move.

As far as appearance is concerned, the teeth of a 3-year-old toddler should be white with smooth surfaces. Spaces between the teeth are normal. Gum tissue should be smooth, pink, and firm. If a child has discolored teeth or issues with gum tissue, schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist.

Delayed tooth eruption can be a result of traumatic injury, nutritional deficiency, a genetic disorder, an auto-immune disease, or some other medical condition such as pituitary or thyroid dysfunction, or anemia. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a pediatric dentist.

The treatment for delayed tooth eruption will vary, depending on the cause. Treatment may include:

  • Treating the disease or condition that is delaying tooth eruption
  • Surgically exposing the teeth that need to eruption
  • Orthodontic traction to encourage eruption
  • Creating space for tooth to erupt
  • Surgery to remove any obstacles to tooth eruption

Schedule an appointment for your daughter with a pediatric dentist. Your daughter’s teeth and gums will be examined, and if necessary, your dentist will work along with your daughter’s pediatrician to determine the reason for her delayed tooth eruption.

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

Sep 27
denture-teeth-falling-out blog

Why are my denture teeth falling out?

By Dentures

My dentures are 3 years old. I thought they would last at least 5 years because I really take good care of them. In February of this year one of the bottom incisor teeth fell out of the denture. My dentist put it back in. In April, the same tooth fell out of the denture and again it was put back in place. I was on vacation in July and another bottom tooth fell off the denture. It was a molar tooth this time. Thank God I didn’t have to walk around during vacation with a front tooth missing. I just saved the tooth until I got back home because it wasn’t noticeable. That tooth was secured back to the denture, but when I cleaned the denture this morning I noticed that the same tooth is loose again. I should add that my dentist is very casual about this thing. It’s kind of like, ‘oh let me fix that for you’ without an explanation or apology for my inconvenience. I know it isn’t normal for denture teeth to fall out, so I am very curious as to why this might be happening and whether or not I should expect more of the same. Thanks for your help. Joan

Joan – You are correct—denture teeth should not fall out of the base. There are several things that can cause denture teeth to dislodge.

Poorly constructed denture – The base of the denture might be poorly made. If it’s not constructed properly, the teeth won’t stay in place.

Improper bonding – Denture teeth need to be securely bonded in place. Cheap bonding material or improper bonding technique can cause teeth to loosen. You’ve experienced problems with two denture teeth—one of which has fallen out twice. Faulty bonding might be the issue.

Improper bite – The way your denture teeth fit together affects the pressure on them. If your bite is off, increased pressure or tension can cause teeth to loosen and fall out.

It’s important not to try to repair your own denture or use glue that isn’t designed for oral appliances. The adhesive might damage your denture or be toxic in your mouth. We suggest that you schedule an appointment with a prosthodontist for a second opinion. A prosthodontist is a specialist in tooth replacement. He or she will check the construction of your denture to identify the problem and let you know your options.

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

Sep 25

All-on-4 dental implants and metal sensitivities

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

I have severe metal allergies. Is it safe for me to have all on 4 done? My allergies developed within the past 5 years. I had to stop wearing jewelry because of it. All on 4 sounds good to me because I cannot afford to get an implant for every tooth that needs to be replaced. Also I want my denture to be secure and not floating around in my mouth or clacking. I have several relatives who wear dentures and they only have bad stories about them. I hope all on 4 is the answer but I do need information on the metal issue. My dentist said that she doesn’t think it would be a problem, but that isn’t a definite answer. Do patients with metal allergies get all on 4? Thanks BJ

BJ – People who have metal sensitivities or allergies usually don’t have a reaction to all types of metal. Your inability to wear jewelry indicates that you have nickel sensitivity. You might know other metals that cause sensitivity or an adverse reaction.

Dental implants for All-on-4 and other techniques are usually made of titanium. Some implant fixtures are made of titanium alloy, which includes other metals, and possibly nickel.

The first step is to find out if you are a candidate for the All-on-4 procedure. Not everyone can receive this treatment. Be certain to receive an examination from a highly skilled implant dentist who is experienced in using different types of implant fixtures and different types of implant procedures. Tell the dentist about your metal sensitivity.

He or she will select dental implant fixtures—whether it’s for All-On-4 or a different procedure—that don’t contain metals that cause an adverse reaction.

If you are unsure of which metals you are sensitive to, schedule an appointment with an allergist for testing. It is best to identify what causes the reaction to ensure you receive dental implants that are safe for you. If a particular metal causes a reaction and you receive implant fixtures that contain that metal, it will make it difficult for your implants to heal properly. If you qualify for All-on-4 and have a reaction to the metal, one or all of the implants can fail.

Your allergist and implant dentist can work together to help achieve a successful outcome.

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

Sep 01

Three Ways to Avoid Dental Implant Failure

By Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

Each year about 500,000 Americans receive dental implants. Scientific literature reports a 98 percent success rate for dental implants. So why are so many people concerned about dental implant failure? In part, it may be due to the seriousness of the signs and symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Dental Implant Failure

  • Swelling and bleeding around the implants after a normal healing period
  • Loose dental implants
  • Painful implants
  • Implant infection

Avoiding Dental Implant Failure

How can dental implant failure be avoided? We’ll discuss three key factors to be aware of before you choose your implant dentist.

1. Three-dimensional diagnostic studies

Some dentists will place dental implants without 3-D xrays or a CT scan. They might believe that a standard x-rays are enough. But what if dental implants are placed in a way that punctures sinuses or impinge nerves? These mistakes can be avoided with 3-D diagnostic studies.

2. Quality implant fixtures

Although the average patient doesn’t know which dental implants are of the highest quality, a skilled implant dentist or prosthodontist knows. Ask your implant dentist which brand of implants he or she uses. Nobel Biocare and Straumann are leaders in implant fixtures. Other high-quality manufacturers are 3i, Zimmer, and BioHorizons, and Astrotech. If your dentist uses a different brand, ask why, and do some research on the brand. Schedule a second-opinion appointment with a different prosthodontist and ask what he or she thinks about that brand.

3. The skill of the dentist

Implantology is not a recognized dental specialty, but quality placement of dental implants requires much skill. Look for a dentist who has credentials from the American Board of Oral Implantology or the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. A prosthodontist is a specialist with two years of post-graduate training in tooth restoration and replacement.

After you identify two or three skilled and credentialed implant dentists, schedule a consultation with each of them. Ask each dentist what he or she does to ensure successful outcomes for dental implant patients. Consultations are your opportunity to ask questions and discuss your options so you can make an informed decision of the best provider of your implants.

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

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