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November 2017

Nov 30

Will I still be able to get dental implants if my gums are really swollen after getting teeth pulled?

By Dental Implants No Comments

I got 3 teeth pulled Monday that are in horrible shape. I’m going to get dental implants at some point. It’s been 2 days, and my gums are very swollen. My left cheek is swollen too. I wasn’t expecting this much swelling. I’m worried about getting an infection and not being able to get dental implants. Should I call my dentist about this or just give it more time? Ashlyn

Tooth Extraction Before Getting Dental Implants

Ashlyn – Swelling after an extraction is normal; it’s part of the healing process. It’s the result of white blood cells and fluid moving to the area of extraction to start the healing process. After an extraction, your gums, and the area around your mouth and cheek can swell.

Swelling is usually at its peak two days after the extraction, and it should decrease within a week. This should not interfere with your ability to get dental implants. Your implant dentist will ensure the extraction site has sufficient bone density and is clear of infection before implants are placed.

While you’re healing from the extractions, your jaw may also get stiff. You will feel some pain that, like the swelling may peak in two days, but gradually decrease within a week or so. The extractions were completed two days ago, so the symptoms should gradually improve over the next few days.

While the extraction sites are healing, there are some things you keep in mind:

  • Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth
  • Drink plenty of water, but don’t suck through a straw.
  • Avoid vigorously rinsing your mouth and excessive spitting.

These activities can cause the clot to dislodge, and the site may bleed. You can apply ice packs to your jaw to control the swelling. After a few days, if the swelling or the pain gets worse, or the site bleeds excessively, call your dentist’s office.

Don’t delay getting dental implants

Also, you didn’t mention if you have implant surgery scheduled, but try not to prolong it. Jawbone shrinks in the location where teeth are missing. If you lack bone density, bone grafting will be required to ensure the implants are well supported. This will involve more time and money.

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

Nov 30

When dentures don’t fit anymore or keep falling out

By Dentures No Comments

My dentures don’t fit anymore. They have been relined at least 5 times but they are still loose. My dentist doesn’t seem to be concerned. He just keeps relining them. I’m worried that the dentures will need to be relined so many times that I will wish I had just gotten a new set. Is this normal? I’ve been wearing dentures for about 16 year now. Maybe there is a certain brand of dentures that is known for fitting better. If so will you please let me know about it? Thanks. James

James,

When all of your teeth are missing—even if you wear dentures—your jawbone begins to shrink. This happens regardless of the brand of dentures you receive. Missing teeth are a signal to the body that bone is no longer needed in those places, so your body resorbs the bone and uses the minerals from it elsewhere.

After fifteen to twenty years of jawbone shrinkage, there is no longer bone to support your facial muscles, and you experience facial collapse. Jawbone shrinkage also makes it difficult to keep dentures in your mouth. You may find them slipping more often, even falling out.

The slippage of dentures and jawbone shrinkage can be prevented by securing your dentures with dental implants. Snap-on dentures secure dentures with just two dental implants. But there are other options available.

The cost for securing your dentures is per implant, but thee more implants used, the more secure your dentures will be. You will quickly notice that with implants, it is easier to eat and speak with dentures. They will feel more like your natural teeth.

 

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

Nov 17

4 Common Causes of Dry Mouth (xerostomia) and What Can Be Done About It

By Dry Mouth No Comments

No matter how much water I drink, my mouth is always dry. I work out a lot and sweat, but I don’t think that’s causing it. I don’t drink coffee or alcohol. It seems that I have to suck on cough drops all day just to keep some moisture in my mouth. I hate that because of the sugar in the cough drops, but I don’t want chemical sweetener either. What’s causing my dry mouth? Thanks. Katia

Katia,

Dry mouth occurs when your salivary glands don’t work properly and the amount of saliva in your mouth is decreased.

What are some of the causes of dry mouth?

  • Prescription medication – This is the most common cause of dry mouth. More than 400 prescription medications can contribute to dry mouth. Some of them are antihistaimes, antidpressants, antihypertensives, painkillers, diuretics, and tranquilizers. Check the list of common side effects for your medication to see if it may contribute to decreased saliva production.
  • Radiation therapy or chemotherapy – Radiation therapy—particularly to in the areas of the head and neck—can damage salivary glands and result in a decrease of saliva production. The glands may partially recover in about a year after the therapy is complete. Some types of chemotherapy can damage salivary glands. Glands often recover in about three months after chemotherapy ends.
  • Hormonal changes – Hormonal changes and the medication taken to combat them can result in decreased salivary flow.
  • Diseases such as AIDS, Sjögren’s Syndrome, and diabetes can affect the salivary glands and decrease saliva production. Alzhiemer’s disease and stroke patients may also experience dry mouth.

Dry mouth and your oral health

Decreased saliva can make speaking, chewing, and swallowing more difficult. Saliva reduces the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth and helps prevent tooth decay. It also keeps oral tissue healthy. Without saliva, your teeth will decay faster, and you will be more likely to lose teeth. Your teeth will need to be restored with composite fillings, dental crowns, or dental implants.

If you are experiencing dry mouth, pay close attention to the symptoms associated with it, and tell your dentist about it. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can also chew sugar-free gum. Your dentist may prescribe mouth rinse or saliva-producing medication.

Remember that persistent dry mouth should not be ignored.

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

Nov 15

Sharing a Clear Choice Review for My Wife

By Blog No Comments

I’m writing in today to talk about what happened to my wife. We have been very cautious about her dental treatment, even reading Clear Choice reviews beforehand to make sure we weren’t taking unnecessary risks.

My wife has had more than her fair share of dental problems. I’m not going to get into specific details, but suffice it to say she is missing about half the teeth in her upper jaw, and several of the remaining ones aren’t doing so well.

We knew that it wasn’t going to be cheap based on the Clear Choice reviews we’ve read, but we had prepared for that, and were okay with it as long as the quality of the work was good. My wife was understandably anxious about the consultation, but the lady on the phone explained what to expect, and all seemed well.

Fast forward to the day of the appointment. As soon as the dentist came in, he started pushing her to get some kind of denture instead of just replacing the missing teeth. Now, I understand that I’m not a dentist, and maybe I don’t understand everything that’s going on here, but he wanted to pull all her remaining teeth. That just seems wrong to us. We thought he’d suggest some dental implants, or maybe a mixture of dental implants, bridges, and/ or a partial denture. And, he did say these were possible options, but every time we brought them up, he talked about why she should pull her remaining teeth. His argument: She’s going to lose them anyway.

I probably don’t have to explain this, but that was very upsetting for my wife to hear. He was talking about her like she wasn’t even a person, like she was some hopeless case, incapable of caring for her remaining teeth. She cried in the room, on the way home, and for most of the night.

She and I talked it over and we agreed we need to go someplace else that would work with her requests, without the judgments and pushback. But here’s the thing. We’re now on a contact list where they call us all the time and send us letters about getting treatment done. I’ve told them we’re not interested, but we still get calls and letters. At this point, it feels like harassment.

I knew based on the Clear Choice reviews we saw, that they were known for having pushier sales tactics, and I was prepared for that. I can hold my own. But, nothing prepared us for the way they made my wife feel or for the incessant calls after. We haven’t found a new dentist yet, but we wanted to share this experience and also ask if there is a specific chain or office that’s recommended.

Thank you,

Richard

 

Dear Richard,

We’re sorry to hear you and your wife had such a tough time. As far as finding a new practice goes, you may do better to start by getting referrals from people you know and trust. We don’t know your location, so it’s difficult to direct you to specific implant dentists. You can also check online reviews. You may receive more personalized care when you work with a single doctor rather than a chain that’s known for providing a specific type of service.

Next Steps After Disappointment with Clear Choice

We suggest that you schedule appointments for consultations with a few dentists who have several of the following qualifications:

  • Advanced training in implant dentistry
  • Board certification
  • At least ten years of experience in implantology
  • Credentials from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry

A skilled dentist will conduct a thorough examination and let you and your wife know her options.

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

Nov 09

Should a pediatric dentist or a pediatrician apply fluoride varnish?

By Pediatric Dentist

Should a primary care dentist or a pediatric dentist do fluoride varnish on my kids’ teeth? I took my 2 kids for their annual physical and the doctor did an oral exam for both of them. She suggested that I schedule an appointment for them to get fluoride varnish on their teeth. Neither of the kids have been to the dentist yet. They are 1 ½ and 2 ½ years old. Did I wait too long to take them to a dentist. I’m not going to let a primary care doctor do any dental work. Is this common? Should I take them to a pediatric dentist or can they wait to get fluoride varnish? – Galina

Galina – Both pediatric dentists and pediatricians coat kids’ teeth with fluoride varnish. It’s safe, preventive care to help prevent tooth decay. The entire white surface of teeth is coated with the varnish.

How Pediatric Dentists Apply Fluoride Varnish

It’s easy:

  • Your kids’ teeth will be cleaned and dried.
  • Varnish is painted on the teeth—from the gumline to the top.
  • The varnish will harden in a few minutes.
  • The varnish needs time to penetrate the teeth, so you’ll wait until the next day before brushing your kids’ teeth.
  • Although the outer layer of varnish will brush off, the varnish itself will have penetrated your kids’ teeth and help protect them from cavities.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist when their first tooth erupts. Tooth eruption allows a pediatric dentist to see if teeth are developing properly. The dentist can also look for signs of disease or improper spacing or eruption. Any problems can be caught early so permanent teeth can be healthy and correctly positioned.

Schedule Consultations

Schedule consultations with two or three pediatric dentists and take your kids with you. It will give you a chance to see the office, meet the staff, and determine if you and your children will be comfortable there.

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

Nov 06

Is my mom too old for All-on-4 dental implants?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants No Comments

My mom recently had a consultation for all-on-4 dental implants. She’s 76, and I usually go to all her visits with her. For some reason, she booked this appointment herself and had a friend take her. She’s been complaining about her denture for some time now, and I’ve tried to explain to her that dentures aren’t like her old teeth. They will always be somewhat uncomfortable but guess because she’s had this set for 15 years or so now, she wants to move onto something different.

In any case, I’m at least a little familiar with the process because I had one dental implant done two years ago. I’m happy with it, but I’m also in my 50s and am more tolerant of procedures and heal better. I’m worried my mom won’t do quite as well. Also, although my mom is in really good health for her age, she’s still getting up there.

I’m not sure this is going to be a good investment. Actually, I’m worried that it might diminish her quality of life. Obviously, it’s her mouth and she gets the final say. The doctor she saw told her she was a candidate for this, but I wasn’t there. I really doubt that he was looking out for her best interests. Is she really a candidate for All-on-4 dental implants, or should I try to convince her to stick with regular dentures?

Thank you,
Avril

Dear Avril,

Although you might feel your mom’s current dentures are sufficient, consider her reasons for her exploring her options, including All-on-4 dental implants. Your mom has an older denture that isn’t working for her.

A Patient’s Perspective

It probably goes without saying, but having teeth that function well, look good, and feel good are the foundation of eating well and keeping helping her feel confident. Teeth that aren’t functional would reduce her quality of life. So if she’s uncomfortable, or if her current dentures aren’t any good, she needs a better solution.

Additionally, her jawbone has likely been shrinking, so dentures won’t fit well. A more conservative approach would be to see if the dentures can be relined. If so, they’ll feel better, and the function will improve. If they can’t be relined, she needs new dentures. No one should have to live with uncomfortable dentures.

Is There An Age Limit for All-on-4 Dental Implants?

So is your mom really a candidate for All-on-4 dental implants? Here’s what we know:

1) The oldest patient on record to undergo dental implant surgery was 100-years-old. Her surgery was performed on December 2012. The surgery was successful.

2) Studies have shown that “dental implants and implant-retained and/or implant-supported prostheses are viable treatment options for older patients,” although doctors must understand how caring for an older patient is different than caring for a younger one.

3) Another study that tracked 133 patients who were at least 80-years-old concluded: “Implant treatment in the elderly patients showed treatment results comparable to those observed in younger age groups.”

In other words, your mom may be a perfect candidate. And if it’s within her means to have treatment, it could improve her quality of life, because she’ll eat better and feel better about herself.

Consult with an Implant Dentist

If you’re still unsure about the process, ask her if it’s okay if you talk to the dentist she saw. Due to patient confidentiality guidelines, he may require that she sign a waiver giving him permission to talk to you. He is the best one to talk to you about her specific risk factors and why he thinks she’s a good candidate.

You can do some homework to ensure the dentist is experienced and highly trained in implantology. You can also get a second opinion from a prosthodontist if it will give you more peace of mind. In any case, her age is not a factor.

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

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