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December 2015

Why does my 5 yrs old’s breath smell so bad?

By Oral Health, Pediatric Dentist

My 5 yr old daughter has horrible breath. It even takes my breath away sometimes when I smell it. It’s not an oral hygiene thing. At least I don’t think it is. I floss and brush her teeth morning and night. I also make a little baking soda mouthwash for her to gargle with every day but it doesn’t help. When I take her to the dentist, even she talks about brushing out the ‘bad breath monsters’. Really I have done all that I know to do. I asked the pediatric dentist and she keeps saying that I should brush and floss my daughter’s teeth. I do that already. This is really bothering me and I know that eventually my daughter will start being teased because the smell of her breath is really horrible. I am wondering what else I can do or what can be causing the problem. thank you – Oksana

Oksana – You can start by having a conversation with your daughter’s dentist. Let the dentist know your daily routine for your daughter’s oral hygiene. Then ask the dentist for an exam to help determine what’s causing the bad breath. Also ask if the dentist has any ideas for what is causing the problem. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, you may need to choose a new dentist.

Also, ask your family doctor or pediatrician about the problem. At times, there are medical factors that can cause bad breath in children. We are by no means diagnosing your daughter’s case, but listed below are some causes of bad breath in children.

  • A medical condition – Allergies, sinus issues, tonsillitis, or other medical conditions can cause bad breath.
  • Dry mouth – Certain medications can cause dry mouth, and so can a lack of saliva production. Ensure your child drinks plenty of water to keep his or her mouth moist.
  • Oral infection – Cavities or a mouth sore can cause bad odor.
  • Food – Certain foods have odors that linger, including garlic and onions.
  • Bacteria on the tongue – It’s important to gently brush the tongue, too. A buildup of bacteria on the tongue will cause a foul odor. A tongue scraper can be carefully used.
  • Breathing through the mouth – This will quickly dry out the mouth and cause odor. If your child breathes through his or her mouth due to sinus or allergy issues, addressing the issue can make breathing with the mouth closed much easier. Give your child plenty of water to drink.

The above causes are possibilities. An examination from your child’s pediatric dentist and medical doctor will help identify the cause, as well as the best treatment.

 

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

What are my options until I can afford dental implants?

By Affordable Dental Implants, Cosmetic Procedures

I had a 2nd root canals on 2 different teeth on the same day. I think my dentist didn’t know what she was doing so she messed up both teeth and make them weak. 3 weeks after the root canals my teeth, face and eyes started hurting horribly. I was sick to my stomach. I had to go back to the dentist’s office and as soon as she started working on the first tooth, she said it cracked. I asked her to stop working on my teeth and I left the office. My wife made some calls for me and I immediately went to an endodontist who had to extract both teeth and is recommending dental implants. I have 2 missing teeth and certainly was not planning on spending thousands of dollars on dental implants. I am wondering what my options are until I can afford dental implants, because I kind of felt like the endo was just pushing implants. Thanks Gerard.

Gerard – An endodontist specializes in tooth replacement with dental implants, and dental implants are the most effective means of replacing missing teeth. So naturally, the specialist would recommend the healthiest and most effective option for replacing your teeth.

A dental bridge can replace the white portion, or biting surface, of your missing teeth, but since it won’t replace the tooth roots, your jawbone will begin to shrink where teeth are missing.

It is possible that your dental implant placement can be done in two phases. One tooth can be replaced, and after you pay for that implant, work can start on the second implant. The phased treatment can make the implants more affordable.

Another alternative is to consider no-interest financing based on your budget. This allows you to receive both implants with scheduled payments.

Speak with the financial representative at the specialist’s office to learn more about your options. Also, as with any surgery, it’s good to seek a second opinion from another specialist—a prosthodontist or an endodontist—to discuss your options.

Of course, the final choice is yours, and if you definitely not interested in implants at this time, be sure to find an artistic cosmetic dentist or prosthodontist who can provide you with a natural-looking dental bridge.

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

Can all on 4 implants be removed?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

I want to have my dentures locked down and I saw 2 different dentists who recommend all on 4. I saw a 3rd dentist who just recommended regular dental implants. She said that she would secure the dentures with 6 to 8 dental implants and I still don’t need bone grafting. The dentists who recommended all of 4 said the advantage was a faster placement time. It would just about be done and over while I would still be waiting for 6 to 8 implants to heal. I have done some research on both types of implants of implants. I am wondering if I decide to go with all on 4 and I don’t like it, can the implants be removed and can I then switch to the 6 to 8 implants? Thanks Ezra R.

Ezra – Based on your question, we recommend that you ask for more information from each implant specialist to get clarification on the differences between standard dental implants and All-On-4 implants. Ask questions to ensure that you understand the process and healing for each. Ask about the differences in stability for All-On-4 versus standard implants.

An understanding of the differences between the procedures can help you make a decision on which treatment you prefer. When an implant procedure is completely properly, there is no reason for you not to like it.

If you have a skilled implant dentist, regardless of the procedure you decide to receive, your implants should not need to be removed and replaced with a different type of implants. This is a situation that you want to avoid. Replacing dental implants is costly—in time and money. After implants are removed, a healing period is needed before new implants are placed. This scenario can be avoided by finding a skilled implant dentist to help you decide which treatment is best for your case.

 

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

nearest-clear-choice-location-blog

Nearest Clear Choice location is 150 miles away

By Dental Implants

I am seeking 3 opinions for dental implants. My dentist referred me to a endodontist who is part of a large practice in the area. The specialist recommended 6 implants for me. After seeing Clear Choice commercials I was interested in going there for another opinion, because they seem to be up to date with the latest techniques and have modern facilities. The problem is that the closest location to me is more than 150 miles away. I am not sure if I want or need to drive 2 hours or more for another opinion unless it’s really worth it. The reviews I saw online for the closest Clear Choice location look pretty good though. Would you recommend that I make the drive to that location or just stick with local specialists?  Thank you. Truman

Truman – We recommend that regardless of where you seek a second opinion, find skilled implant dentists who have many years of experience, and who participate in continuing education. If you can find experienced specialists closer to home, you can receive a reliable second opinion.

When you consult with each specialist, ask how many cases like yours he or she has successfully completed from start to finish. Ask if any complications were experienced, and how they were resolved. Ensure that you list the questions you want answered and record the responses so you can refer to them later. Ask about what each specialist does in advance, during, and after your dental implant procedure to ensure a successful outcome.

You may be able to find online reviews or patients testimonials on prosthodontists’ websites. Other than Clear Choice, there are many skilled implant specialists who can provide your second and third opinion. Check credentials for each of them before scheduling consultations.

 

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

My gums are swollen with temporary veneers

By Porcelain Veneers

I’ve been wearing temporary veneers for two weeks. I really like the look of the veneers but on Sunday I noticed that my gums were looking a little puffy. This morning when I looked in the mirror at my gums they are really swollen, and they feel irritated. Is it normal for gums to swell with veneers or could it be that I am having some sort of allergic reaction to the veneers or the bonding material?  Should I just go ahead and take the veneers off myself or is this something that a dentist has to do? Is this going to delay the process of me getting veneers? Or does this mean that I won’t be able to get porcelain veneers?Thanks Bella

Bella – When gums are swollen or irritated after porcelain veneer placement, the issue can be caused by the design of the veneers or the placement of the veneers. It is unlikely that the swelling is caused by an allergic reaction.

If the veneer is too thick or too deep under the gumline, it can cause irritation and swelling. If it is left untreated, chronic irritation can result.

Don’t remove the temporary veneers yourself. You can cause more irritation to your gum tissue, and possibly damage the tissue or your teeth while trying to remove the veneers. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to have the veneers removed.

If the veneers are removed and you continue to experience gum irritation, you should consider scheduling an appointment with a periodontist (gum specialist) for evaluation and treatment. After the inflammation clears, you may also want to get a second opinion for porcelain veneers from a skilled cosmetic dentist. An experienced cosmetic dentist will ensure that your veneers are properly designed, placed, and bonded to prevent the gum irritation issue from recurring.

 

This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca

My dentures are too white

By Dentures

I got new dentures in August and when I got them I thought they were too white. My dentist told me that it looked like a big contrast to me because my other dentures were dull. He told me to give it some time and I would get used to it. Well I am still not used to it. People even comment about how white my dentures are, and that’s what they say, ‘dentures’. So not only are they too white they look fake. The whiteness draws attention to the fact that they are dentures. Last week I told my dentist that I still am not pleased. He said that he will think about the options to darken them a bit for me, but he didn’t mention the options. My question is short of giving me new dentures, what can be done? Dorcas T.

Dorcas – After your dentures are fabricated, the color cannot be changed. The appropriate color will need to be determined and the dentures will need to be remade. Remaking the dentures and changing the color won’t change the characteristics of the dentures or make them look natural.

Cosmetic dentures are customized to have a lifelike appearance. The characteristics of the denture teeth look like natural teeth. This is something that only an artistic dentist can accomplish.

So you can ask your dentist to remake your dentures with the color change. You can also consider getting a second opinion from a cosmetic dentist or prosthodontist who is trained in the techniques required to give dentures a lifelike appearance.  A prosthodontist is also skilled in balancing color in dental restorations so the results are neither too dark nor to white.

You can increase the comfort of your dentures and stabilize them with dental implants, which also prevent jawbone shrinkage and facial collapse.

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

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