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Monthly Archives

August 2014

Aug 29

I keep getting blood in my mouth

By General Dentistry

Just randomly, I keep getting a significant amount of blood in my mouth. It doesn’t seem to happen with any particular event. It has happened when I am awake, asleep, in the morning, at night, eating or not, standing or sitting. I rinse my mouth then it seems to go away. It doesn’t happen every day, but it just happened a few minutes ago. What is going on? Is this an emergency? – Pam

Pam – When your mouth is bleeding, it’s usually coming from your teeth or gums. Gum disease can cause your gums to become inflamed, and they will bleed. If you bite your cheek and the wound is deep, it can cause continual bleeding, and stitches may be required.

Bleeding can also come from your tongue, cheek, or floor of the mouth. The cause of the sudden bleeding can vary, but it may be due to a bleeding disorder, or even a broken vessel in your mouth. Ongoing bleeding can cause your blood count to drop, and when the bleeding is in your mouth, it can be difficult to tell on your own how much blood you are losing.

Please make an appointment with your dentist immediately. If you don’t have a regular dentist, call an emergency dentist who will see you right away.

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

Aug 29

Is this prosthodontist right that energy drinks are ruining my teeth?

By Prosthodontist

My dentist referred me to a prosthodontist for 4 caps on my teeth. My dentist is uncomfortable placing them himself. He has done other caps for me but he wanted a prosthodontist to look at my teeth. After I a lot of questions from the prosthodontist about what is causing damage to my teeth, I told her that I drink a lot of energy drinks. I work nights and I work out as soon as I get off from work. The energy drinks help me keep up with my crazy schedule. The prosthodontist said that energy drinks are ruining my teeth. I just wanted to verify this with someone else because the energy drinks I use have artificial sweetener not natural sugar. Thanks. Drew

Drew – Although many energy drinks don’t contain natural sugar, they do contain large amounts of citric acid. Citric acid that remains on your teeth can damage your tooth enamel and lead to cavities and tooth decay.

A study published in a 2012 journal of General Dentistry shows that energy drinks contain twice as much citric acid as sports drinks. Your prosthodontist is right about the effects of energy drinks on your teeth. We recommend that you limit your consumption of energy drinks. When you do drink them, immediately after, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. If that’s not possible, chew sugar-free gum to increase the saliva flow in your mouth and neutralize the acid.

Although prosthodontists specialize in restoring and replacing teeth, they prefer that you maintain good oral health to preserve your teeth. Excessive use of energy drinks is a hindrance to maintaining good oral health.

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

Aug 26

Should I get a third opinion after seeing my own dentist and Clear Choice?

By Blog

My teeth are in bad shape. I have lost many of them to periodontal disease. I am being treated for the disease now, but in the next year or two, I am going to need dentures. According to my dentist, my options are complete removable dentures, implant dentures, or implants for each of my teeth, which is out of the question for me because of the cost. For a second opinion I went to Clear Choice and they recommended All-On-4 implants for my upper and lower teeth. The cost was only a few thousand dollars more than what my dentist quoted me. My dentist does not like All-On-4 for my case, but Clear Choice told me that it can be done with no problem. Now I am confused about what to do. Should I get a third opinion? Thanks. LaSean

LaSean – If you are confused about which treatment to receive, a third opinion from an experienced prosthodontist will help.

Clear Choice is known for its promotion of All-On-4 dental implants. An independent opinion will give you more insight on your treatment options and which are best for your case.

A prosthodontist has expertise in dental aesthetics and full-mouth reconstruction, which includes the placement of dental implants. A prosthodontist knows every option of tooth replacement available, and will work closely with a periodontist to ensure that your implants are successful.

An additional opinion from a prosthodontist will give you clarity to make an informed decision about your options.

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

Aug 20

Does your child grind his or her teeth?

By Oral Health, Pediatric Dentist

Teeth grinding is a common habit among young children—particularly those under 11 years old. It is so common that it should only be a concern if it happens at night, or if it is causing tooth pain or is wearing down teeth.

During intense concentration or stressful situations, a child may unconsciously grind his or her teeth. If you make him or her aware of the problem, and remind the child each time you see him or her doing it, it may be enough to help break the habit.

Often teeth grinding or bruxism occurs during sleep. Bruxism is common in young children who snore or breathe through the mouth while asleep. In these cases teeth grinding may be related to sleep apnea or enlarged tonsils.

When older teens grind their teeth, it may be done in association with smoking, or alcohol or drug use. Medication, trauma, and certain diseases, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and epilepsy may contribute to bruxism.

Most bruxism is related to some type of anxiety or stress. Be sure to have your child’s teeth examined regularly. If your pediatric dentist determines that bruxism is affecting your child’s teeth or bite, he or she may recommend a nightguard, or refer you to a specialist.

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

Aug 17

Why are dental implants recommended so often when most people can’t afford them?

By Affordable Implant Dentistry

I have 3 missing teeth and the dentist is recommending implants for them. My sister had a dental appointment last week and her dentist recommended dental implants. I know that implants can cost a few thousand dollars. Why do dentists keep recommending them when most people can’t afford them and insurance doesn’t cover them? Thanks. Faye

Faye – Dental implants are frequently recommended because they are the most effective and natural-looking form of tooth replacement. This is because implants have the same structure as a natural tooth. The stem of an implant mimics the root of a tooth, and a crown is secured to it as the biting surface of the tooth.

Another advantage is that the root form of a dental implant is surgically placed in your jawbone, so implants also prevent your jawbone from shrinking. Jawbone shrinkage occurs naturally when all of your teeth are missing.

Although dental implants are more expensive than a dental bridge or a partial denture, implants are permanent. Other forms of tooth replacement can last five to fifteen years, depending on how well they are maintained.

Your dentist can give you options for making treatment affordable for you, whether it’s dental implants or a bridge.

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

Aug 14
dentures-after-teeth-are-extracted-blog

How long is the wait for dentures after teeth are extracted?

By Dentures

I have lost more than half my teeth to gum disease. I was going to the wrong dentist. They kept doing deep cleaning but my teeth were still getting loose. My daughter finally got me to go to a periodontist. Now the gum disease is under control but I have lost so many teeth that I need dentures. The few remaining teeth that I have will pulled soon. This has been a very upsetting experience for me. How long will I have to wait for dentures after all of my teeth are pulled? Yolinda

Yolinda – The length of wait before you receive dentures depends on the type of dentures you receive. Customized dentures are fit about three to six months after your teeth are extracted. This allows time for your gum tissue to heal. The waiting period ensures that the dentures will fit properly. While you wait for the gum tissue to heal, you will wear temporarily wear immediate dentures.

Immediate dentures are placed immediately after tooth extraction. When all of your natural teeth are missing, your jawbone will automatically begin to shrink. Immediate dentures will need to be refit or relined. If you choose immediate dentures to be your permanent dentures, they will need to be refitted several times to fit your shrinking jawbone. Some patients still require a new denture.

If you choose to have your dentures stabilized with dental implants, permanent dentures are secured to the dentures after the jawbone heals and bonds to the implants. The healing period is four to six months. In this case also, temporary dentures will be attached to the implants.

We recommend that you find a dentist who experienced in dental aesthetics or cosmetic dentistry. He or she will provide you with customized dentures that look natural when you smile.Your options for dentures will be thoroughly explained.

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

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