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Dental Implants

Jan 08

How soon after my prosthodontist gives me implants can I use a hookah?

By Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I am planning for implants this summer. I get 5 weeks of vacation and every year I take off those weeks in the summer. So I think this is a good time to for me to get implants. I won’t have to worry about working OT or being offered to go out when I can’t due to implant healing time. I am not a regular smoker but in 2014 I was introduced to the hookah. It’s a social thing that I do with friends that I really enjoy. I find it super relaxing. 2 or 3 times a month I get together with friends and we use the pipes. Now I am interested how long after implants I will have to wait before I can use the pipe again. I saw one prosthodontist already and he told me I shouldn’t use it at all. That’s not the information I need. I just want to know how long I should wait before I can use the hookah. Thank you. Dixon

Dixon – In 2005 The World Health Organization conducted a study on waterpipe (called “hookah” in India) tobacco smoking. Some of the findings are below.

The origin of waterpipes dates back four centuries or more to indigenous peoples of Asia and Africa. Smoke from the hookah delivers addictive nicotine, as well as toxins. These toxins contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

Waterpipe sessions usually last longer than cigarette smoking sessions. While five to seven minutes may be spent smoking a cigarette, a single hookah session usually lasts twenty to eighty minutes. Also while eight to twelve puffs of a cigarette are taken in a single session, fifty to two hundred puffs are taken during waterpipe smoking. In some cases, it would take one hundred cigarettes to equal the amount of smoke consumed with the pipe.

Clearly, the social nature of this type of smoking often prolongs the exposure to nicotine and other harmful substances.

Hookah Smoking Can Affect Dental Implants

What does this mean for dental implants? Any type of smoking interferes with the healing process of dental implants. Many implant dentists recommend that patients stop smoking one, two, or more months before implant placement. It is recommended that you not smoke during the entire healing process, which lasts for several months. Any prosthodontist or implant dentist will advise you not to smoke while your implants heal.

Even periodic smoking can interfere with the healing process. The suction process of smoking can dislodge clots at the surgical site. Remember that even though hookah smoking involves water, it still exposes you to smoke and toxins. This can result in infection or failure to heal. Additionally, the custom of sharing a hookah can introduce bacteria from someone else’s mouth into yours, creating another opportunity for infection.

If your implants fail, they will need to be removed and replaced. But before they are replaced, the previous implant sites need to heal.

We urge you to do your part in helping the healing process go smoothly. Avoid smoking of any kind before and after your implant surgery.

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

Nov 24

3 implants failed. How do I know if my dentist used cheap implants?

By Affordable Dental Implants, Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

I received 4 dental implants in March of this year. Everything seems to be going okay in June. I noticed some swelling and pain in 3 of them. I scheduled several appointments with my dentist who explained it away by saying sometimes the healing takes longer for some patients than others. This month the implants are starting to get loose and my dentist decided that they are going to fail. Before things got worse, he recommended that they all be removed. The explanation I was given was that for some reason my body is rejecting the implants. I am not sure that there is a basis for this explanation. How do I know if my body is really rejecting the implants? Could it be that cheap implants were used? How can I tell? Thank you. – Andrius

Andrius- You won’t be able to tell if substandard implant fixtures were used. Nor can you determine if your body is rejecting the implants. You need a second opinion—and perhaps a third opinion—from a skilled, experienced implant dentist.

You should request copies of your dental records, including diagnostic studies. The dentist(s) from whom you receive a second or third opinion will use the information, in addition to an exam of your fixtures and the implant sites, to determine why your implants have failed. If necessary, new 3-D x-rays will be taken.

The implant placement, implant fixtures, or your body’s reaction to the implants may be a cause of the failure. Lack of bone density, improper maintenance, smoking, and periodontal (gum) disease can also cause failure. But to be certain of the reason for your case, investigation is needed.

Don’t delay getting the second or third opinions. An infection will worsen until it is treated. If you are still eligible to receive dental implants, after the failed fixtures are removed, there will be a healing period before they can be replaced.

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

 

Nov 20

Looking for a BYOI dentist for implants

By Affordable Dental Implants, Dental Implants

On and off for the past 2 months I have been looking for a BYOI dentist who will install dental implants that I will purchase. I don’t want to do anything crazy like go to Mexico for implants but I am an avid bargain hunter so I am confident that I can find them at a good cost. That has to knock off some of the markup cost for implants that a dentist has. In my google searches I haven’t been able to tell which dentists allow BYOI. Is there a particular way I should search to find one? How much more will I save with this method? What brands of implants does Dr. LaVacca recommend I purchase? Can you provide mid and high end implant brands please? Sorry for all of the questions but I really need implants and I am trying to get them as economically as possible. Thanks. Christopher L.

Christopher – You won’t be able to find an implant dentist who allows patients to bring their own implants. There are far too many risks involved.

A reputable dental implant distributor provides implants to skilled professionals. Patients lack the training and experience required to determine if they are receiving quality dental implants—or the brand of implants you intended to buy. If you bought dental implants, a dentist placed them, and later it was found that the implants are faulty, the dentist would be partially responsible. The implants would need to be removed and replaced with quality implants from the dentist.

Your goal is to receive dental implants and stay within your budget. There are ways, other than purchasing questionable implant s, to reach that goal. The work can be done in phases—depending on how many implants you need—you can receive one or two at a time, pay for them, and plan to receive more implants in the future. Also, payment plans and financing will be available through the dentist.

Schedule consultations with two or three skilled implant dentists to discuss your options for implants, and to find out how they can be made affordable for you.

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

Sep 25

Will mini implants be better for me if I have CRPS?

By Affordable Dental Implants, Dental Implants

I was diagnosed with CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) in 2013. I am in my 5th year of dentures and they are really uncomfortable. I want to stabilize them with dental implants, so I am thinking that since I have CRPS that I should do smaller implants. Will it be better if I do mini implants? Thanks. Malcom

Malcom – As you likely know, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) affects the central nervous system. The syndrome is rare (affecting approximately 26 out of every 100,000 people). It causes intense, chronic pain and usually occurs after injury (e.g., a bone break or a sprain), stroke, or heart attack. The pain from CRPS is disproportionate to the pain that is usually felt from the injury or surgery—and it is chronic. In addition to pain, CRPS can cause swelling, redness, sensitivity, and decreased mobility.

Dental implants—whether they are mini implants are standard implants—are surgically implanted. If you suffer from CRPS, you can anticipate pain that is more significant than usual at the implant site, and it can persist for life. In advance of surgery, many specialists recommend a local anesthetic nerve block to prevent the pain from the surgical site from entering the central nervous system.

Although we cannot advise  you as to what to do for your case, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with a pain specialist who is very familiar CRPS to discuss if it is advisable for you to receive dental implants at all, and if you are likely to experience less pain with mini implants.

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

 

Sep 21

Gums still swollen after dental implants were taken out

By Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

I had my 4 dental implants taken out 3 weeks ago because over a 10 mo. period there were too many problems with them. My gums stayed swollen and hurting. They are still swollen after 3 weeks. The surgeon told me they are still healing but I am not sure they should be swollen and hurting like this. Is this normal? – Quince

Quince – Even after your dental implants are removed, it is still possible to have some swelling and pain if there is an infection in your gums. We suggest that you get a second opinion to have the implant sites examined.

When implants are placed or removed, some pain and swelling is normal. When pain and swelling persist, there is a problem. Pain after removal should diminish within a week. A prosthodontist, a specialized dentist with training in implant placement and tooth restoration, can help. An examination will be required, along with diagnostic studies (x-rays), unless you’ve had them recently.

It will be helpful to bring your dental records along with you to the appointment. We hope that you get some and answers and relief very soon.

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

Aug 23

Dental implants have been nothing but trouble

By Dental Implants

Since the day I got them, my dental implants have been nothing but trouble and I want all of them out. When they started itching I was told that it was part of the healing process. When my gums started swelling 3 months after the surgery, I was told that was part of the healing process. Now I have an infection. These are implants I got in Feb. of this year. Is this part of the healing process too? I can’t count the times I have been back and forth to the oral surgeon with no reasonable answers. What are my options if I just ask him to take them out? Girard

Girard – Your frustration is understandable. The incidents that you describe are of concern. Before you ask the oral surgeon to remove your dental implants, we suggest that you get a second opinion from a long-time prosthodontist with a stellar record of successful implant placement.

In addition to an examination of your implants, gum, and jawbone, diagnostic studies will be needed to determine what went wrong and how. Whether it was the implant fixtures, the placement of the implants, or some other factor, finding out the real issue will help to resolve it correctly.

It will take time to resolve, and removing the implants may be the best option. But even if removal is required, choose your provider carefully. A second opinion will help you do just that. If you feel more comfortable doing so, ask for a consultation with the prosthodontist before the actual exam.

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

 

Aug 15

How affordably can I get an implant for the tooth next to my front tooth?

By Affordable Dental Implants, Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I have a tooth missing next to my left front tooth. I want an implant for it and I saw 2 local dentists who gave me a price of around $3000 for the implant and crown. Should I keep looking around and asking dentists for price quotes? How affordably can I get an implant for the tooth next to my front tooth? Thanks. Coleman

Coleman – The cost that you were quoted by both dentists is reasonable. The cost can be slightly lower or higher, depending on where you live in the country.

When you receive comparable estimates for dental implants, the primary concern over affordability should be the skill and experience of the implant dentist. Ask questions about the dentist’s training, experience, and how many successful implant cases he or she has completed.

Understandably, each patient has a budget to consider, but quality, successful dental implants help keep future costs down. Additional costs occur when implants are improperly placed or when implant fixtures are not of the highest quality. Be sure to factor these important issues into your final decision for the provider of your dental implants.

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

Aug 11

What will a prosthodontist charge for incomplete dental implants?

By Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I got a horrible infection from dental implants that were being placed 2 years ago. The whole process of getting everything under control took over a year. I never got the implants. So now I need the surgery done again but I am going to a completely different dentist. I gave up trying to get reimbursed for the work that wasn’t completed. I am just moving forward. I am wondering how much a prosthodontist will charge me to complete the dental implants. Thanks. Joan C.

Joan – An experienced prosthodontist will need to examine your implant sites and do diagnostic studies to determine what needs to be done to complete the procedure.

The extent of the work left and anything that may need to be corrected will factor into the cost. Schedule an appointment for a consultation with a few prosthodontists to discuss your options. Keep in mind that cost can only be determined after an examination and digital x-rays.

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

Jul 22

Why would a dentist recommend all on 4 if I can afford single implants?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants

I am one of the people who is fortunate enough to have enough savings for single implants. It is a blessing from God that I don’t take for granted. The dentist I saw prefers to do all on 4 instead of single implants. I even suggested doing 8 implants instead of 4 but she keeps referring back to all on 4. I am not understanding why this is happening. Can you give me a clue? Thanks. Violet

Violet – We cannot be certain as to why All-on-4 dental implants are being recommended for your case. It is possible that you lack enough jawbone density for individual implants. The All-on-4 procedure eliminates the need for bone grafting to build up your jawbone.

In any case, you should be given options and explanations of the pros and cons for each of them. A second opinion from a skilled implant dentist may help you to understand why your dentist recommends All-on-4. Or you may learn that individual implants are a good option for you.

If you can receive them, individual implants will provide the most natural-looking and natural-feeling results. You will feel as if you have all of your natural teeth again. The final decision is yours, but a second opinion—and a third opinion, if necessary—can give you the information you need to make a confident decision about your treatment.

 

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

Jul 14

Should my dental implants itch?

By Dental Implants

If I’ve had dental implants for 8 months should they still be itching? They don’t all itch, but 2 out of the 5 itch pretty bad. Thanks. Ron

 Ron – Swelling, pain, and itching at the implant site is normal as your dental implants heal. Itching is part of the healing process.

If you’ve had your implants for eight months, itching should not be an issue. There may be some irritation or an allergic reaction that is causing the itching. The only way to identify the cause of the problem is to have the implants examined by your implant surgeon.

Don’t delay the examination. If the problem is due to sensitivity to the implants, prompt attention can prevent the problem from getting worse.

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

 

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