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December 2016

Dec 28
abscessed-tooth-is-pulled-blog

Should I expect complications when my abscessed tooth is pulled?

By Oral Health, Root Canal Treatment

I had a horrible toothache for about 5 months and finally went to the dentist. Well I went to an emergency dentist because I don’t have a regular dentist. She said that I had an abscess but she couldn’t get me numb to get the tooth out. I have antibiotics and another appointment late next week. I am worried that she won’t be able to get the tooth out even if she can get me numb. Should I expect complications my abscessed tooth is pulled? Janele

Janele – An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by an infection. A tooth abscess occurs in or around a tooth root.  It may or may not be painful.

If a tooth is injured, has a cavity, or experiences trauma, an infection can occur. When the pulp, or soft tissue inside the tooth, becomes infected and inflamed, the infection can spread to the tooth root, and an abscess will form.

Properly Treating an Abscessed Tooth

Instead of extracting an infected tooth, an abscess is commonly treated with a root canal treatment. The infection is removed from the tooth, the space is filled with a special dental filler material, and the tooth is sealed. A dental crown may be required to protect the tooth.

On rare occasions, root canal treatment isn’t enough to save your tooth, and endodontic surgery is required. A specialist can locate hidden canals in your tooth that may still harbor the infection. He or she will determine which methods are best to preserve your tooth.

And that’s the goal—tooth preservation. Based on the information you provided us, we don’t understand why there are plans to extract your tooth. We recommend that you receive a second opinion from an experienced dentist who will examine, and likely x-ray your tooth, to determine the best treatment.

Extracting a tooth leads to other issues, including bone shrinkage in the area of the missing tooth, adjacent teeth start to drift into the position of the missing one, and your bite may be affected and eventually cause jaw and facial pain. When a tooth is extracted, for optimum oral health, it will need to be replaced. No form of tooth replacement is as good as a natural tooth.

You would benefit if you take the time to receive a second opinion to find out if your tooth can be preserved.

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

Dec 24

How do I get a reliable second opinion after Clear Choice?

By Second Opinion, Dental Implants

How do I get a reliable second opinion after Clear Choice? I went to the Clear Choice dental implant center last week Tuesday and I can’t believe the quote I got for implants. I’m currently wearing complete dentures. $50,000! Is that a realistic quote? I was expecting much less particularly because all of my teeth have been extracted and this is Clear Choice after all. They do this all the time. Shouldn’t the rates be lower? – Gemma

Gemma – Many people are surprised with the quote received from Clear Choice. Perhaps the marketing causes people to think that Clear Choice is more affordable. A free CT scan is offered, while the fee for it at most dental practices is hundreds of dollars. The thought of receiving the implants in one appointment is also appealing. Clear Choice has skilled implant dentists, and the high fees enable the company to hire the skilled staff.

The technique that allows dental implants to be placed in one visit is called All-On-4. Implants are highly angled in the jawbone, which requires no bone grafting to support them. Treatment that requires bone grafting is comparable to the $50,000 fee that you were quoted. Although All-On-4 is riskier, it can be completed quickly, and it is quite profitable.

Things to consider when seeking a Clear Choice second opinion

  • Find a credentialed and experienced implant dentist from whom you can receive a second opinion.
  • Don’t settle for whomever offers the lowest cost for implants, because that is often an indicator that shortcuts will be taken—and shortcuts can lead to serious mistakes that will cost you even more money.
  • Look for a board-certified prosthodontist or a dentist with fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

The ultimate decision is yours; be sure to make an informed one. Read about how implant overdentures can secure your dentures with as few as two implants.

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

Dec 17

Will I get better results with overdentures?

By Dentures

In late December of last year I received new dentures. They cost so much that I was certain they would be beautiful. After being reassured by my dentist that they would be beyond my expectations, I had no doubts. But reality has hit, and I am almost in tears. The dentures are so very uncomfortable and they look fake. When I look in the mirror and smile, I’m embarrassed. My feelings and my pocketbook are hurt. At this point, there is no way that I can afford to replace my teeth with implants, but I am so very unhappy that I have to do something about it. I’ve been doing some research, and I read about using implants to support the dentures. Is this option worth considering?  – Ana

Ana – You have two significant concerns with your dentures. They are uncomfortable and they don’t look natural. An artistic cosmetic dentist can help. It is possible to get natural-looking dentures that fit your personality and facial features. A cosmetic dentist will listen to your preferences and design dentures that match them.

If you want your dentures to feel more like your natural teeth, implant overdentures are less expensive than individual implants. With the overdentures, two to eight dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone. After a healing period, your dentures will be secured to them.

Implants will add stability to your dentures. They will feel more like your natural teeth than removable dentures. And your ability to chew with them will improve.

Even if you decide to stick with the removable dentures, a cosmetic dentist will ensure that they are comfortable and beautiful.

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

Dec 13

How often do affordable dental implants go bad?

By Affordable Dental Implants

I have family that lives in California and they are about a 3 to 4 hour drive from Mexico. Several of their friends go over to Mexico for affordable dental implants. They don’t all see the same dentist but I have been told that it’s easy to find a dentist who is U.S. trained and fluent in English. I visit my family every other year so I have met 2 of their friend who got dental implants for a less than half of what they cost in the U.S. I was ready to schedule an appointment but last week when I spoke with my cousin to schedule a time to fly out and visit, she mentioned that one of their friends is starting to have problems with his implant. It’s infected and his face is swollen. Now I am getting a little nervous, but as my cousin mentioned, the same thing could happen to a patient in the U.S. or anywhere else for all that matters. How do I know that the other people who seemed to have successful dental implants won’t start having problems, too? Is it common to have to replace dental implants?  How often do affordable dental implants go bad? Thanks ~ Dayo

Dayo,

When you are looking for options to make dental implants affordable and are considering options outside of the U.S., you have to consider the risks involved.

The U.S. regulates health care providers and medical devices. It’s a precaution that makes dental implants in the U.S. more expensive than other countries. U.S. providers need insurance, and they are accountable to a medical board. In certain countries, including Mexico, there are fewer regulations and greater risks. If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.

High-quality dental implants require careful planning, a lot of skill, and quality implant fixtures. Dental implants have a 98% success rate, but a wise patient doesn’t want to introduce variables that could reduce the rate of success.

We don’t know the reason for the implant failure of the person in Mexico whom you’ve mentioned. An implant infection could be related to the implant fixtures, the skill of the surgeon, or even a patient who isn’t a good candidate for implants.

We highly recommend that you find a few skilled prosthodontists in your area and request a consultation. A prosthodontist will discuss your options for affordable dental implants and let you know what you expect with of them. You will be given information on financing, payment plans, and where possible, doing the work in phases. Affordable dental implants from a skilled provider will last. Insist on quality.

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

 

 

Dec 09

Will I have to keep replacing my dental implants?

By Dental Implants, Second Opinion

In 2012 I lost 3 teeth to gum disease. I had several deep cleanings and was able to have the teeth replaced with dental implants in early 2013. By the summer, my dental implants started to get loose. My dentist kept doing the deep cleanings but my June of 2014 all of the implants were lost. My dentist replaced the implants in 2015 but over the past 2 months I have noticed some loosening again. So am I going to have to get new implants every other year just because I have gum disease? If so, I just want to forget about this. The surgery, recovery, and healing periods take so long that just about when it’s done it’s time to get new implants again. Do I have other options, but not a partial denture? Elaine

Elaine,

Your experience is alarming. We understand that it must be frustrating. You’re battling with gum disease, lost three teeth, as well as the implants that replaced them. You have advanced periodontal disease, that hasn’t been properly treating. The deep cleanings are clearly not enough. There are other ways to improve your the health of your gums that your dentist isn’t using, and perhaps is not aware of. We can’t say that your dentist is negligent, but you need the attention of a specialist.

You should have been referred a periodontist—a specialist in the treatment of gum disease. Periodontal disease must be well controlled before you receive dental implants. If your gums and bone can’t support your natural teeth, neither can they support dental implants

We recommend that you visit a prosthodontist for a second opinion, or ask your dentist to refer you to a periodontist. A periodontist will help you recover from gum disease. You shouldn’t receive new dental implants until the issue is addressed, and don’t allow anyone to try to convince you otherwise.

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

Dec 07

Can I get a pediatric dentist to do porcelain crowns for my 10 yr old’s front teeth?

By Pediatric Dentist, Porcelain Crown

My 10 year old had an ice skating accident 3 weeks ago and chipped her front teeth almost in half. The pediatric dentist put crowns on her teeth but they don’t look good. My daughter is self-conscious about her appearance. There is enough stress for kids in school without her worrying about her teeth. She is hesitant to smile because she thinks people are looking at her teeth. I guess our dentist did the best she could but I am really thinking about getting another dentist to do porcelain crowns for my daughter. Do pediatric dentists do porcelain crowns for front teeth? Thanks Elaynna

Elaynna – Our first concern is the health of your daughter’s teeth. When a tooth is broken in half, there might be nerve damage to it. If so, a root canal treatment is needed. Has the pediatric dentist determined if there is any internal damage to your daughter’s teeth? If not, you should request a thorough examination.

Most pediatric dentists are not trained in cosmetic dentistry. But you can visit a cosmetic dentist to receive ceramic crowns for your daughter’s teeth. Before you request certain cosmetic treatment, schedule an appointment for an examination.

Before you make a final decision, there are several things to consider:

  • As your daughter grows, her teeth and jawbone will also get larger. Porcelain crowns will need to be periodically replaced.
  • Your daughter’s natural teeth will need to be tapered so the crowns will fit over them.
  • Depending on the extent of damage, an alternative is to use direct dental bonding to restore the broken teeth. A talented cosmetic dentist can use bonding to seamlessly fill in the missing portion of each tooth.
  • When your daughter’s physical growth is complete, porcelain crowns can be used to restore her teeth—if that’s necessary at all.

We suggest that you schedule appointments with two or three cosmetic dentists or prosthodontists. Compare the options provided by each dentist to determine the best way to restore your daughter’s teeth based on her age.

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

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