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November 2016

Nov 25

Why does my daughter’s pediatric dentist keep finding cavities?

By Pediatric Dentist

Every time I take our 9 yr old to her pediatric dentist for a checkup and cleaning, she has at least one new cavity. I don’t understand this, because every day I watch and assist her as she flosses and brushes her teeth, and still she gets cavities. The pediatric dentist’s questions make me feel like she thinks we don’t know how to floss and brush correctly. I took the extra step to ask the dental hygienist to make sure we were doing things the right way. She was very kind and gave us some tips, but there is nothing major that we weren’t doing. By the way, I strictly limit my daughter doesn’t drink soda, and I limit her sweets to one day twice a month. Why is she getting so many cavities? Thank you – Nevis

Nevis – It is frustrating to be proactive about your daughter’s oral health and still see her have repeatedly have cavities. Speak with your daughter’s pediatric dentist about your concerns and ask for her help.

If she is maintaining good oral hygiene, there may be other factors that are contributing to the cavities. Diet, medication, health issues, vitamins, and genetics can affect our oral health. Ensure that your daughter drinks plenty of water throughout the day to reduce the amount of acid in her mouth, which promotes bacteria and decay.

It is also possible that your daughter’s cavities are related to a medical condition. Ask your daughter’s dentist for recommendations on extra steps that you can take to help fight cavities, or that the dentist can provide to help. If the pediatric dentist is unable to determine the cause of the cavities, your daughter’s pediatrician can look for medical conditions that might be contributing to tooth decay.

If no problem is found with your daughter’s physical health, the problem might still be related to oral health. If her pediatric dentist can’t seem to identify the source of the issue, consider getting a second opinion.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

 

Nov 22

How often do I need to change my dentures to keep my face from sagging?

By Dentures

My sister has worn dentures for 25 years and her face has sagged something awful. She is now 62 years old and going to see plastic surgeons for a facelift. Everything else she has tried hasn’t worked. Some of our Canasta club members are going through the same thing. One of the members insists that she read of you change your dentures more frequently they will keep your face from sagging. Although I had taken pretty good care of my teeth, I ended up needing dentures two years ago. I got cosmetic dentures so I like the way they look. Although they weren’t cheap I will get them upgraded as often as I need to if it will help control the facial sagging. I don’t want a plastic surgeon cutting on my face at all. I would rather pay for new dentures more frequently. How often do I need to change them? Thanks Lora

Lora- When all of your teeth are missing, your jawbone shrinks. The bone shrinkage is what causes facial sagging, because your jawbone supports your facial muscles. Complete removable dentures can last five to eight years, or longer. But the bone shrinkage will still occur even if you replace your dentures more often.

In order to prevent jawbone shrinkage, the bone must be stimulated. Dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone, and their effect is much like natural tooth roots. The implants stimulate the bone and prevent it from shrinking. Implants can be used to support your dentures. As few as two of them can stabilize your dentures and stimulate your bone, but if your goal is to prevent jawbone shrinkage, you’ll get better results with six to eight implants.

It is possible that your current dentures can be modified to accommodate dental implants. Before you ask for new dentures, speak with an experienced prosthodontist about the possibility of having your current dentures supported by implants. If your dentures are in good condition, it might be possible to use them. Schedule a consultation with one or two prosthodontists to discuss your options.

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

Nov 18

Dental implants and diabetes

By Dental Implants

I am 62 years old and after wearing dentures 8 years, I am ready for dental implants. I am already noticing some bone shrinkage and facial sagging so I feel that I need to act quickly. I know that dental implants are a great solution but I am a little hesitant and I have some concerns because I am diabetic. My worst nightmare is to go through the expense and time of getting implants only to find that they will not heal because I am diabetic. If I have an increased risk of not healing because of my medical condition, should I just stay away from the implants? Thanks. Dianna

Dianna – Diabetes can slow the healing process of any wound or injury, but it doesn’t mean that you should avoid dental implants.

Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, helps to control blood glucose levels. If the pancreas stops producing insulin (type 1 diabetes) or doesn’t produce enough insulin (type 2 diabetes), then blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels can become too low or too high. Why can there be a problem with healing?

High blood-sugar levels affect the healing process

When blood sugar levels are too high, it affects the body’s inflammatory response. Inflammation is needed to help the body heal, but if it is chronic, inflammation can be damaging to healthy tissue. When diabetes is not well managed, inflammation can become chronic. Dental implants in patients with poorly controlled diabetes can be successful too, but the healing process will be longer.

Managing diabetes – the key to healing

Well-managed diabetes control blood sugar levels and helps prevent chronic inflammation. If your diabetes is under control, you will likely be a good candidate for dental implants. Before you receive dental implants, your medical history is reviewed. Your implant dentist will ensure that your diabetes is well controlled first.

Dental implants can help a patient eat better, which in turn can improve the blood sugar levels. So implants shouldn’t be ruled out just because you have diabetes. Each patient case is different. Consult with a skilled implant dentist and your primary care doctor to determine if you are a candidate for this treatment. Your doctors will work with you to ensure your glucose level is sufficient to provide the best outcome for your dental implants.

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

Nov 14

Clear Choice reviews were good, but I can’t get my deposit refunded

By Uncategorized

I am getting implant dentures and after doing a lot of research I decided to go with Clear Choice. I saw more good reviews than bad ones. I don’t expect to see a 5-star rating from every patient. When I do, it makes me think that some reviews are planted. No company does everything perfect every time, so even if every client gives five stars, I believe that something might have been less than ideal for at least some of them if they really took time to think about it. Clear Choice has a good reputation among several of my colleagues too, so I didn’t think twice about going with them. I submitted a $1500 deposit and scheduled an appointment 3 weeks out. My husband, who is cautious about everything, asked me about the second opinion I had scheduled with another dentist. I had actually cancelled that appointment because I knew I was going with Clear Choice. He convinced me that I should reschedule the second opinion and push back the appointment even though I made a deposit. I saw the second opinion dentist last week. Surprisingly, he gave me more options and a much better price for the implant dentures. His credentials and his approach really make me feel more comfortable so I decided to go with him for the implant dentures. Guess what? Clear Choice won’t give me my deposit back. They told me it’s non-refundable. I want my deposit back before I move forward with the new dentist. Can they really keep my money? J.T.

J.T.,

Yours is not the only Clear Choice review that reveals issues with deposits made. Each location is independently owned. Although there isn’t an online policy about deposits and a refund, we recommend that you carefully read the paperwork you signed when you made the deposit.

If you signed an agreement for a non-refundable deposit, it will be difficult to get your money back. You can call the location you visited and ask to speak with the office manager. Because each location is independently owned, you probably won’t have success by calling the corporate office. There is a chance that the office manager might agree to at least partially refund your deposit. But again, if the agreement is for a non-refundable deposit, you might not get the results you want.

Start by speaking with the office manager. Remain calm and polite. Keep in mind that depending on the agreement, Clear Choice might have the right to keep your deposit. Be reasonable and negotiate to get the best outcome.

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

Nov 07

Fillings from the pediatric dentist keep falling out of my son’s teeth

By Pediatric Dentist

My 8yr old had a dental cleaning appointment with his pediatric dentist in September and 4 cavities were found. I think this is excessive because I make sure he brushes 2 times and day and flosses every day. So one cavity would be a surprise, but 4 seems really suspicious to me. Within the past 2 months, 2 of the 4 fillings have fallen out. They fell out separately, so we have made 2 trips back to the dentist to have the cavities filled again. I am watching the teeth closely and checking them. Last night I noticed that one of the fillings feels loose. I am not sure if the fillings are being done correctly or if they are needed at all. Should I get a second opinion?

You didn’t mention it, but were your son’s cavities filled with amalgam or composite fillings? Composite fillings that are correctly placed bind to the teeth and are unlikely to fall out.

One of our pediatric dentists would need to examine your son’s teeth to determine what’s causing the problem, but it could be due to moisture on the teeth during the process of filling them. After decay is cleaned from a tooth, it should be completely dry during the filling procedure. Otherwise, fillings don’t bond well and are more liken to loosen or fall out. Cotton, air, and dental dams help isolate the tooth and keep it dry.

Children are often wiggly during dental appointments, and it might be more difficult to keep a child still and ensure the teeth are kept dry. Care must be taken during the process to ensure the process goes well.

A different pediatric dentist might get better results on your son’s teeth. Many dental offices have ways to distract children and help them relax during appointments. Before you have the loose filling replaced, speak with your son’s dentist and ask what he thinks is causing the issue, and what can be done to prevent additional fillings from loosening and falling out.

You always have the option of getting a second opinion from another pediatric dentist who will examine your son’s teeth and fillings and let you know your options.

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

Nov 03

Can a prosthodontist make my dentures look better?

By Prosthodontist

In June of this year I received dentures from a general dentist. At the time I knew nothing about a prosthodontist so after I had a consultation with 2 different dentists, I selected one of the dentists. I got my 8 remaining teeth extracted so that I could get dentures. I learned about dental implants but they are just way out of my budge right now, but I am saving for them. The time since June has been stressful. The dentures have no character. The teeth in them look like pegs so my smile is very generic. It looks like a block of teeth, not individual teeth. My dentist calls it a perfect smile because all of the teeth look the same. I think it looks fake. Several of my friends have asked me what I did to my teeth. If it’s a close friend, I have explained that I have new dentures. Their reply is kind of like, ‘Okay, I understand now.’ That shouldn’t be. The results I got from this dentist tell me not to look to him for any resolution. I don’t think he is capable. So know that I know about prosthodontists, I am turning to you for advice. Is there anything that can be done to my new dentures to make them look better? Bridget

Bridget – A smile is so personal that it can affect the way you feel about yourself. We are sorry to learn of your bad experience with dentures and the impact it’s had on you. A skilled prosthodontist can design a smile that fits your mouth, facial features, and personality so that it looks completely natural. You will get compliments on your smile instead of questions about what happened to it.

Unfortunately, a prosthodontist isn’t able to alter your existing dentures to give them a lifelike appearance. Altering your dentures would affect your bite and the way the denture teeth fit in the base. Your dentures just wouldn’t look good.

We recommend that you schedule a consultation with one or two skilled prosthodontists. Take along with you pictures of your smile before you received dentures. A prosthodontist will be able to create a smile with new dentures that looks natural and helps you smile proudly.

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

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