Skip to main content
Monthly Archives

April 2018

Can a pediatric dentist prevent a parent from accompanying a child with dental anxiety?

By Pediatric Dentist

I have been looking for a new pediatric dentist for my 8 yr old daughter. We recently relocated to Illinois from Indiana. Two of the offices I called have policies that don’t allow parents to accompany their children in the treatment room. When we lived in Indiana, there was no problem with me going with her into the room during the appointment. She has anxiety and I just sit quietly with her without interfering. My being there makes a big difference in how she responds to the hygienist and dentist. Is it normal in Illinois for pediatric dentists to prevent parents from accompanying their children? – Ezra

Ezra – Some offices may have policies that don’t allow parents in the treatment room, but you can find a dentist for your daughter who welcomes you to accompany her.

You Can Find a Pediatric Dentist Who Understands Dental Anxiety

Both you and your daughter need to be comfortable with the dentist you select. Many parents choose not to leave their child alone with other adults. It’s important to many dentists to ensure a child’s dental anxiety is properly addressed. The right dentist will want you and your child to have pleasant dental visits so that dental care will be something she looks forward to—and not wants to avoid.

Both of you should have trust and confidence in the dentist you select. What can you do next?

  • Keep searching – Continue to call around to find a dentist who will allow you to come into the treatment room with your daughter. Any of our pediatric dentists would be happy to see her and welcome you to join her during the appointment.
  • Schedule consultations – Regardless of which pediatric dental practice you choose, we recommend that you schedule a few consultations first and take your daughter with you. It will give you both a chance to see the office, meet the staff, and determine if you are comfortable with the dental practice.
  • Ask questions – During the consultation, specifically ask if you are able to accompanying your daughter in the treatment room. Also ask the dentist how the practice ensures the comfort of children who have anxiety about dental appointments.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Anthony LaVacca of Naperville Dental Specialists and the pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry.

Will I ever be able to get affordable dental implants?

By Affordable Implant Dentistry No Comments

I signed up for a discount dental plan in hopes of eventually getting affordable dental implants because most of my teeth are missing. On my first appointment I completed forms that I thought asked for more information than usual. I was told to wait a few minutes and really in less than 5 minutes the receptionist told me that I qualify for financing. Why were they trying to qualify me for financing before my teeth were even cleaned? After I got the x-ray and cleaning, the dentist came in. He didn’t look at my teeth at all. He told me that I needed several fillings and 4 crowns. Then they gave me this crazy cost of $4000 which I really though sounds excessive even though I don’t know how much crowns cost. I was really shocked and didn’t say much. When I was checking out, the receptionist was trying to schedule me for the fillings and crowns appointments but I told her I would have to call back to schedule. Of course I am not going back to the office at all. If I really need the dental work they say I do, it will be 3 or 4 years before I can even get affordable dental implants. Besides all that, I don’t have enough healthy teeth left to invest in them. I prefer overdentures. Today I got a call from them to schedule my appointment for the dental work. I haven’t been to a dentist in 3 years so I can believe that I might have cavities but is it normal for a dentist to tell you that you need all this work if he hasn’t even looked at your teeth? – Abrielle

Abrielle – Your dental appointment was unusual. In addition to your cleaning and x-rays, your teeth should be thoroughly examined by the dentist before treatment is recommended. The dentist should also be specific about what dental treatment is needed and why. High fees for treatment can make even the most affordable dental implants out of reach.

How You Can Get Affordable Dental Implants

  • You are wise not to return to the office. Consider contacting your dental insurance company to explain the situation and avoid any problems with coverage due to possible duplication of treatment.
  • Find a prosthodontist to examine your teeth and make any treatment recommendations. You may want to visit the office first or request a consultation with the dentist before you receive an exam.
  • Affordable dental implants can be made possible through financing or payment plants.

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

My dental implant dentures make me look and feel old

By Dental Implants No Comments

I’ve had dental implants since 2004. The current dentures on them make me feel old. They look old, even though I’ve only had them for about 18 months. I am tired of explaining what I want to my dentist. I couldn’t believe it when he put his hand on mine and told me to remember how lucky I am because some people can’t afford to secure their dentures with dental implants so they have to go about life with loose dentures or no teeth at all. I am insulted. This is a dentist that I’ve seen since childhood. I think it’s time to move on. I know I’m fortunate, but I don’t have an endless supply of money to keep getting new dentures because he can’t make them look youthful. There has to be something better than dentures that age me by at least 10 years. What do you suggest? Am I going to need new dentures? Judith

 

Judith – It is not unusual to receive dentures for their dental implants that look like, as many people call them, “false teeth.” Your experience is unfortunate, but not unique.

Your dentist’s response likely means that he has done his best in providing you with dentures for your dental implants. But you have the option of finding a prosthodontist, who specializes in dental implants and cosmetic dentures.

How to Get High-Quality Dental Implants and Dentures

  • You can find a prosthodontist with the training and artistic talent to personalize your dentures and make them look like they belong to you—not to someone else. Nor will they look like a generic set of dentures.
  • He or she will listen to your like and dislikes and take into consideration your facial features so you’ll have cosmetic dentures that compliment your smile.
  • Unfortunately, unless your current dentist has the talent to produce lifelike dentures, you probably need new ones. A prosthodontist will let you know your options for dentures that you will love.

Schedule a Consultation

Dental implants can last a lifetime. You should have natural-looking dentures that fit well. It affects your quality of life. We suggest that you schedule two or three consultations with prosthodontists—preferably those who are board certified. It will increase the chances of getting a smile that you love.

 

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

 

Pediatric dentist didn’t find an advanced cavity

By Pediatric Dentist

We have had a very long ordeal with our pediatric dentist. My five-year-old really struggles in the dental chair and won’t sit still for long. He isn’t bad. He just wiggles a lot and makes treatment a little more challenging. We started going to this practice a little over a year ago and had two visits. During the second visit, they couldn’t get x-rays completed, so they just did a visual exam and cleaning, then sent us on our way.

I assumed everything was fine. Well, about a week ago, my son woke up in the middle of the night crying and holding his mouth. He said his tooth hurt, but I couldn’t see anything wrong with it, so I gave him some Tylenol, brought him to bed with me, and called the pediatric dentist’s office the next morning. Apparently, they’re closed on Friday, so I called our family doctor who thankfully agreed to see him right away. They actually managed to get an x-ray of the tooth and the poor little guy had a bad infection. Apparently, he had a cavity brewing for quite some time and the pediatric dentist missed it. It had not only progressed to the point where he was in serious pain, but when I took him back to the dentist, they couldn’t save his tooth. My son is only five years old and he had to have a molar pulled, so that means he’s going to be without a tooth back there for several years. The office gave him a little nitrous oxide and worked with him to keep him calm and steady, then did the extraction then and there.

I am so incredibly grateful that my doctor’s office was able to identify the problem. But I’m also really mad at the pediatric dentist. I asked a lot of questions about the timeline to see if the pediatric dentist was at fault for not catching it, but my doctor wouldn’t say much, only that, “These things take some time to grow to this point.” So, he’s not saying the dentist is at fault, but he kind of is. It makes me twice as mad that they weren’t there when we needed them most. What recourse do we have on this? Thanks, Simonia

Dear Simonia,

We are sorry to hear your little one had such a tough time, but kudos to you for following your intuition and getting him squared away quickly. Kids don’t always recognize what’s happening with their teeth, so they don’t always display obvious symptoms and a big issue can seemingly appear out of nowhere.

However, as your doctor noted, it takes time for a severe cavity to progress to the point where it causes such severe pain and results in extraction. How much time it takes varies based on the child, genetics, his health, and his habits. It’s very unlikely this cavity developed after his last visit, but there are no x-rays to prove it.

Should You Take Action Against the Pediatric Dentist?

Before you take any action, consider the following:

  • You could theoretically take this to a dental board, but it would be challenging to prove the pediatric dentist missed something or did anything unethical.
  • It’s somewhat common to forego x-rays when a small child doesn’t make taking them easy. In these cases, the office will likely make note of it and try again at the next visit.
  • Kids normally are more cooperative around age 5 or 6 and become active participants in their care.
  • Unless children in a high-risk group (such as those who use bottles for an extended period of time or eat high-sugar diets), developing cavities is somewhat uncommon. So getting x-rays is not often forced with a challenging patient.
  • If your son was squirming or clamping down during the exam, it would be difficult to complete the images.
  • In hindsight, it might be easy to suggest that your son should have been sedated given a full exam and x-rays, but the pediatric had to make a judgment call about what was in his best interests and what would be less traumatic for him. It sounds like the dentist made the wrong decision, but that can only be surmised because we know the end result.

It’s highly unlikely that if you follow up with this through any legal action or authority, that you’ll get the results you want because nobody can prove anything about this particular case. You can, and should, mention it to the pediatric dentist though so hopefully another child doesn’t have the same issues your son.

 

This blog is sponsored by NDS Care; offering Naperville pediatric dentist services as well as comprehensive dentistry for the whole family.

 

magnetic dentures Naperville Dental Specialists

4 Things You Should Know About Magnetic Dentures

By Dentures No Comments

4 Things You Should Know About Magnetic Dentures Before You Request Them

Opposites attract. That’s one reason why magnetic dentures work so well. But what should you know about them before you ask your dentist to secure your dentures with magnets?

1. Magnetic Dentures Are Implant Overdentures

Magnetic dentures are a type of implant overdentures. Dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone. An magnetic abutment, or connector, is placed on top of the implants. Often, a healing period of several months is allowed before your permanent dentures are placed. Magnets in the base of the denture lock into place on the abutment.

2. Advantages of Magnetic Dentures

  • Stable magnetic force – Strong magnetic forces guide the denture to the right position and keep it in place. Close contact between the denture base and implant abutments is not required for the dentures to lock into place.
  • Easy handling – They are easier to place and remove by patients with impaired motor skills.
  • Better oral hygiene – There are no holes or notches in the denture base, which decreases the chances of food and debris getting trapped around them.
  • Less impact – The magnetic force limits lateral movement of the denture. This relieves some of the pressure that a denture can put on your gums, bone ridge, and dental implants.

3. What Are They Made Of?

Although magnetic denture systems often have the magnet enclosed in a capsule, some systems contact a trace of nickel. Some magnets are enclosed in a stainless steel case or are coated with ceramic to limit nickel exposure and add resistance to abrasion and corrosion. Let your implant dentist or prosthodontist know if you have metal sensitivities or allergies. Some dentists use magnets made of the minerals samarium-cobalt or iron-neodynium-boron. If you have concerns about the types of metals used, ask your implant dentist about it.

4. Request a Consultation

Before you choose any method of stabilizing your dentures, request a consultation with a skilled prosthodontist. Prosthodontists are specialists who, after dental school, completed two years of specialized training in restoring and replacing missing teeth.

After an examination and 3-D imaging, the doctor can let you know the following:

  • If you have adequate jawbone density to support dental implants, or if bone grafting is needed
  • The minimum number of implants needed to support your denture
  • The best method for stabilizing your denture

Magnetic dentures might be right for your case, but don’t insist on this method unless you understand the pros and cons. A conscientious prosthodontist will let you know the results you can expect with various methods for securing your dentures.

We recommend that you schedule at least two consultations with different prosthodontists so you can compare the options, costs, and methods of achieving the results you want. Keep in mind that the lowest fees aren’t always the safest and healthiest option for your smile.

This blog is sponsored by Naperville award-winning prosthodontist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Schedule an Appointment Today

    Should I Get a Clear Choice Second Opinion Before Signing the Contract?

    By Blog No Comments

    I’m wondering if I should get a second opinion on a Clear Choice treatment plan I was given. I’m expecting a relatively large tax refund this year, which I plan to spend on dental care. I really struggle to save throughout the year and getting this lump sum makes it possible for me to get everything out of the way all at once. Unlike others who write about getting Clear Choice second opinions, I haven’t necessarily had a bad experience with them. They recommended I get the All-on-4 dental implant procedure done, which is what I wanted anyway, and I was already familiar with the costs, so it seems fairly straightforward.

    I’m still apprehensive about officially signing up to have the work done. I don’t know if it has to do with the place or the amount of money I’m spending. I’m considering scheduling a consult with another dentist to at least verify what Clear Choice told me. At the same time, I’m wondering if that’s really fair to the second dentist, particularly if I’m already mostly sold on Clear Choice. I don’t want to offend anyone or waste their time, but I would like to go be confident about my decision. Is it ok for me to see another dentist although I probably won’t retain his services? How do I explain it to him in a way he won’t find offensive?

    Thanks for your time. TM.

    TM,

    It’s wise to consult with a dentist who provides Clear Choice second opinions—not necessarily because Clear Choice isn’t trustworthy—but because you’re making a major investment and are having second thoughts. When people receive All-on-4, they’re usually looking at a treatment plan of $10,000 or more. You wouldn’t buy a new car without reviewing all your options and doing comparisons. You probably wouldn’t purchase a home appliance or furniture without doing some research, and none of those things are as personal or sensitive as medical or dental care.

    A Clear Choice Second Opinion Will Help You Make an Informed Decision

    You are not doubting what Clear Choice has recommended, nor are you questioning the treatment plan you were given. You just want to know if you’re making a good decision. Most dentists are glad to consult and confirm a recommendation because it means you trust them. Although they would prefer that you choose them for the treatment, they also understand a patient’s need to make educated and informed decisions. If you can take your x-rays and treatment plan in with you, it will be easier for the dentist to efficiently provide a second opinion on the Clear Choice recommendation.

     

    This blog is sponsored by Dr. Anthony LaVacca, a Naperville, IL dentist. Dr. LaVacca offers reliable Chicago Clear Choice second opinions and comprehensive family dentistry services.

     

    Close Menu