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January 2017

Jan 31

Will the bleeding around my tongue piercing stop or should I call a dentist?

By Oral Health, Tongue Piercing

I have had a tongue piercing for about 2 years. 3 weeks ago the area near the piercing started to itch. Then it became swollen. I have been rinsing my mouth with sea salt water and it calms it down again but only for a little while. This past Sunday I noticed that the area was bleeding. It isn’t a lot of blood but I can taste it and see it. I don’t have a regular dentist. My schedule is just too busy and I’m rarely at home. I’m a freelance artist and I travel a lot. Should the salt water help with the healing? Is there something over-the-counter I can buy to calm it down, or do I need to see a dentist? Thanks Cherise

Cherise – Yes, you should see a dentist. Itching for a few days is normal for a new tongue piercing while the area is healing, but not for a piercing that you’ve had for two years.

When an Established Tongue Piercing Is Bleeding

Bleeding around the piercing is a problem and it probably is a sign of an infection. Our tongues are covered with bacteria. Tongue piercing can introduce the bacteria into the bloodstream. Tongue jewelry—particularly if it is metal based—can cause an accumulation of bacteria that leaves you at risk for infection. It can also damage your teeth.

Unfortunately, if an infection occurs, it is not necessarily confined to the tongue. Infection can spread to other oral tissue and into your bloodstream. It can even lead to more serious conditions, such as hepatitis.

Although salt water rinses may give you some relief, don’t depend on them to heal your tongue—particularly if it’s infected. Make an appointment with a dentist right away. You can do an online search for an emergency dentist in your area. Be certain to explain that there is blood around the piercing. The dentist will see you promptly.

The dentist will have to remove the piercing to examine your tongue. If there is an infection, he or she will recommend that you not wear the piercing while your tongue is healing. Protect your oral and overall health by closely following the instructions for recovery.

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

Jan 24

Should I take my son to the pediatric dentist when he loses a tooth?

By Pediatric Dentist

I am wondering if I should take my son to the pediatric dentist if he loses another tooth. He is 7 yrs old and has lost 2 baby teeth this month. I am starting to worry that if he is going to continue to lose multiple teeth that something might be wrong. Am I over reacting or is this okay as long as the teeth that are lost are replaced with permanent teeth? Thank you. Danielle

Danielle – When a child loses a primary tooth naturally, generally there is no reason to see a pediatric dentist. If your child loses a tooth prematurely or from trauma, or if there appears to be unusual complications associated with the tooth loss, call your son’s pediatric dentist.

You might benefit from reviewing the Permanent Tooth Eruption Chart from the American Dental Association. It provides a diagram of the teeth and their numbers, and it shows when primary teeth are placed by permanent teeth.

As the chart shows, there are several permanent teeth that erupt between 6 and 7, and 7 and 8 years of age. Compare the teeth numbers on the chart with the teeth that your son has lost. This guide will help you determine if your son’s tooth loss is natural or if there might be an underlying problem.

At this point, it doesn’t seem necessary to contact your son’s pediatric dentist. But sometimes, peace of mind is the best resolution. You can decide if there are other circumstances that are causing your concern. Don’t hesitate to contact the dentist just to check for underlying problems with your son’s oral health. If there is a problem found, early treatment can prevent it from becoming worse.

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

Jan 20
cosmetic-dentistry

Should a Cosmetic Dentist Replace My Crowns?

By Cosmetic Procedures, Dental Crowns, Prosthodontist

Can you help me determine whether I should see a prosthodontist or a cosmetic dentist? In 2005, I went to the DR and got 6 new crowns. I didn’t like the way my teeth looked and I had visited several dentists in IL and couldn’t part with the money they were asking for. Since I got the crowns not a year has passed that I didn’t have problems with them. I am certain my bite is off. My neck hurts all of the time and I get toothaches almost constantly. I can’t floss between the crowns and I am beginning to wonder if there is an infection. I have been dentist hopping in nearby towns because I am always told that I need to replace the crowns. I didn’t think crown replacement was the problem but now I know it must be done. I recently saw a dentist who did digital x-rays and displayed them on a monitor in front of me while I was in the dental chair. I could see the mess my teeth are in. Now the dentist I saw has good technology in his office but I don’t trust him with the crowns. He does CEREC and I don’t want CEREC. I almost feel like he is being a little pushy, maybe to pay off the high price of the technology he probably went into debt for. I’m going to see a dentist who knows a lot about crowns. I’m not sure if a prosthodontist or a cosmetic dentist is the right way to go. Or does it matter? Thanks. Klaude

Klaude,

It’s good that you’re seeking options to restore your teeth. The longer your faulty crowns are left in place, the more you put your oral health at risk. Your experience is a reminder of how risky it is to get dental care outside of the U.S. When there is a problem with the dental work, return trips can become expensive and frustrating.

Your issue is related to the function and appearance of your crowns. A prosthodontist is a specialist in tooth restoration and proper bite. A cosmetic dentist is an artist who will produce a beautiful smile.

The issue with your bite requires a dentist who can address the esthetics and the function of your crowns, and a prosthodontist is efficient at both. Here’s what we suggest:

  • Look for a skilled prosthodontist with extensive training in cosmetic dentistry.
  • Ask to see before-and-after photos of patient cases similar to yours.
  • Check patient reviews and ask friends or family members if they are familiar with the prosthodontist you choose.
  • Schedule a consultation with two or three prosthodontists, and compare your options, as well as the fees, before you move forward.

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

Jan 16

I should have listened to the Clear Choice reviews

By Second Opinion, Dental Implants

I want to let people know to be sure to read Clear Choice reviews for the office wherever they live. I know that all Clear Choice locations don’t have bad reviews but the one nearest me does and I should have listened. The reviews are accurate.

My experience has been horrible. I have lost $19,700 and I am left with an issue that is still unresolved. I am stressed about the amount of money it is going to cost to undo the damage. In November 2015 I decided to get implants to replace 3 decayed teeth. My dentist quoted me rates that I thought I could not afford. I had seen Clear Choice commercials before but really didn’t pay attention to them until one evening when I saw another commercial. I looked at review online and some were bad and others were good. I thought that’s normal especially for some customers who are impossible to please. I had a consultation at Clear Choice that I thought went pretty well and as expected, they asked me to pay up front. That’s what I read about in several of the reviews.

I got a loan with a moderate interest rate to make the down payment on the implants. I had the surgery but the implants are messing up my bite. Fortunately they are all on the same side of my mouth because the pressure of chewing sends pain throughout my jaw. Of course I contacted Clear Choice right away and an appointment was made. The dentist claimed he made an adjustment but I was still very uncomfortable. I gave it a week and called the office again. Another “adjustment” was made and I feel that the teeth are worse now than before. I don’t want to become obsessed with this, but I am certain that it feels worse. I called the office and didn’t get a return call back. So I went in person and after waiting about 30 minutes, someone came out to speak with me. I was offered an upgraded procedure for $8500. I am not a person who gets angry but the level of my fury was so bad that I felt like I would become violent so I left the office. I have called and asked to speak with my dentist, but he is always busy and I haven’t received a return call. Before I hire an attorney I wanted to contact a reputable implant office to find out how to handle this. Thank you.  – Dallas

Dallas – We are sorry to hear about the discomfort you are having with your implants and the difficulty getting a resolution. We suggest that you contact the Clear Choice corporate office and provide details along with dates of your attempts to contact your dentist. If the corporate office doesn’t offer to help, you can contact an attorney. It might be advisable to contact a consumer protection attorney anyway to ensure you correctly approach the issue with the corporate office. An attorney will also help you understand your rights.

Meanwhile, the issue with your implants needs to be corrected. If your bite is uneven, it can further jeopardize your oral health. It might be that your Clear Choice dentist doesn’t have the skill to find and correct the issue. We recommend that you schedule a second opinion with an experienced, board-certified prosthodontist. He or she can perform an independent exam and diagnostic studies to determine the cause of the discomfort in your implants and recommend treatment options.

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

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    Jan 11

    Why don’t my dentures don’t fit on my implants?

    By Dental Implants, Dentures

    I’ve worn dentures since 2010. They were a nightmare since the day I got them. First I didn’t like the way they looked. They looked like plastic pegs. Also the way the dentures fit was driving me crazy. They were too big for my mouth and it was hard to keep them in. I paid so much money for them and had so many return trips to the dental center for them that I decided to tough it out. Last year I had enough of my dentures, so I started looking into new ones that look natural and fit well. I found a cosmetic dentist who also does implants. The dentures are beautiful. I had no problem with the implants healing correctly. The problem is that the dentures don’t fit right on the implants. The feeling is hard to describe, but it is very uncomfortable. It takes a lot of effort to snap them on and off the implants. Even my dentist has a hard time with it. My dentist calls it an adjustment period, but it’s been 5 months and I think by now I should feel comfortable with them. Why don’t my dentures fit on my implants? – Lyle

    Lyle – Your implants and your dentures need to be examined to determine what is causing the poor fit. There are several possible causes.

    Reasons Dentures Might Not Fit on Your Implants

    • The wrong attachments are used – It’s possible that the attachments used don’t match the snaps on the denture base. The attachments can be replaced.
    • The alignment of the dental implants or abutments – The dental implants or the abutments for snapping on the denture might be incorrectly positioned. Your denture needs to be adjusted to accommodate the angle, or it might need to be completely replaced.
    • The dentures – If the impression of your mouth wasn’t taken correctly, your dentures won’t correctly fit the implants. The snaps on the denture base might be in the wrong position. Depending on how long you’ve had your dentures they can be relined, or they might need to be replaced.

    Get Help Quickly

    It’s important to get the issue resolved. If dentures aren’t correctly secured to implants, it can result in damage to your dentures, the implants, or your oral tissue.

    We suggest that you get a second opinion from an experienced prosthodontist. Although your cosmetic dentist has receiving training in implantology, prosthodontists receive two years of post-graduate training in tooth replacement and restoration. Look for the following credentials:

    • A board-certified prosthodontist
    • Membership in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
    • Membership in the Academy of Osseointegration

    A skilled prosthodontist can evaluate the cause of the problem and make the adjustments needed to give your dentures a comfortable fit.

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

    Jan 06

    Do I have to get All-On-4 if bone grafting didn’t work?

    By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Bone Grafting

    I need some advice on whether or not I will have to get all-on-4 dental implants. My current dentist was recommended to me by my former dentist. My former dentist moved to Florida. Before she moved, my former dentist had given me a referral to a periodontist for a dental implant. I have a tooth that was damaged during a root canal by yet a different dentist and the tooth had to be pulled. I never made it to the periodontist because I couldn’t afford it at the time. Now that I can afford the implant my new dentist insisted on placing it because he had training in doing implants. When I asked him how many implants he had placed, he told me that he had done hundreds of implants. He also assured me that he could do the bone grafting too. The bone grafting is done, but when my dentist tried to place the implant 3 weeks ago, he said the graft couldn’t support the implant. He recommends a dental bridge instead. I asked for time for me to think about it. I knew that I should have gone to a periodontist. I don’t think I would have this same outcome. Is there any chance that I can go somewhere else and get it done, or will I have to get all-on-4 because bone grafting doesn’t work for me? Thanks Morris

    Morris

    It’s unlikely that you would have this same experience with a periodontist or a prosthodontist. Some dentists, including prosthodontists, have advanced training in implantology. They specialize in bone grafting and implant surgery. All-on-4 dental implants aren’t suitable for your case. That treatment replaces a full arch of teeth—not a single tooth. Even when a full arch of teeth is needed, an experienced prosthodontist can successfully complete bone grafting.

    It sounds like your dentist might have experience with dental implants, but bone grafting is a more complex procedure. He might not have sufficient experience in grafting to successfully complete your case. It’s good that your dentist isn’t trying to place an implant without sufficient bone density. That would be a disaster that leads to implant failure, so be thankful that he won’t proceed.

    Your dentist wants you to have a successful form of tooth replacement. He must feel confident about producing better results with a dental bridge than with an implant. If you really want a dental implant, we suggest that you get a second opinion from a prosthodontist. He or she will examine the location of your missing tooth and let you know your options for bone grafting. All-on-4 isn’t among your options for replacing a single tooth.

    Your current dentist might be willing to give you a referral. If not, schedule consultations with a few board-certified prosthodontists, compare your options and the cost, and decide which dentist will provide your implant.

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

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