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Monthly Archives

January 2016

Jan 25

My son’s gums bleed when he brushes his teeth

By Gum Disease, Oral Health, Pediatric Dentist

I finally got our 4 yr old into brushing his teeth twice a day. He actually started liking it. I was surprised. 2 weeks ago he was brushing and I was helping and his gums started bleeding. I had him rinse his mouth and everything was okay. I figured maybe he was brushing too hard, so I told him to do it softly. That seemed to work until last week. He was brushing his teeth on 2 different occasions and the gums started bleeding again. I am trying to be calm about this because he is just comfortable with brushing his teeth and I don’t want him to freak out or think that brushing teeth means bleeding gums. I know that he isn’t brushing too hard any more. Does he have gum disease at 4? Thanks. Tuscany

Tuscany – There are several possible causes of your son’s bleeding gums. For an accurate diagnosis, though, schedule an appointment with your son’s pediatric dentist.

One possible cause is dry mouth. Does your son breathe with his mouth open? Does he drink plenty of water daily? Or is he taking medication that has dry mouth as a side effect? Any of these factors can cause the gums to become tight, dry, and more likely to bleed.

Vigorous brushing is another cause of bleeding gums, but you have mentioned that your son isn’t brushing his teeth tooth hard. Continue to monitor him to ensure that he isn’t brushing aggressively. A soft-bristled toothbrush should be used.

There are certain medical conditions, including some auto-immune conditions that can cause gums to bleed easily. Bleeding gums may be related to the beginning stages of periodontal (gum disease).

Again, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with your son’s pediatric dentist for accurate diagnosis and treatment. If you have already seen a pediatric dentist about the issue, consider getting a second opinion and speaking with your medical doctor about it.

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

Jan 20

Avoiding dental implant failure

By Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, each year about 500,000 Americans get dental implants. Although no one can guarantee the success of your dental implants, there are some precautions that can be taken to help avoid implant failure. We’ll review four of them. Consider them vital. If an implant fails, it needs to be removed. There will be a healing period before the implant can be replaced. Also, poorly placed implants can damage nerves, sinus and more.

Dental Implant Failure Precautions

CT Scans

There are dentists who perform CT scans on a limited basis, and for some implant cases not at all. But performing them for every implant candidate can help prevent failure. Why? CT scans reveal more and ensure accurate implant placement. Cysts, polyps, nerves, sinuses, bone density, and other structures can be clearly seen with 3-D scans. An incorrectly placed dental implant can result in pain, suffering, and implant failure for the patient.

Dental Implant Fixtures

Top implant dentists use high-quality fixtures. Implant fixtures that have strict quality-control guidelines give you confidence that implants won’t fail because they are cheap or poorly made. Some dentists try to save money by using less expensive implants, but the sacrifice in quality is costly to the patient. Some of the top manufacturers are 3i, Astrotech, BioHorizons, Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and Zimmer.

The Implant Dentist

Implantology is not an officially recognized specialty, so any dentist can take courses and start placing implants. Look for advanced training and credentials. Accreditation, diplomate, or fellowship status reflect extensive training along with scrutiny of the dentist’s implant cases. There are quality implant dentists who do not have these credentials, but when you find one who does, it will help ensure that you get the results you want—quality implants that will last a lifetime.

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

Jan 18

On my 3rd soft denture and it still isn’t helping

By Dentures

I’ve worn dentures since 2002. They fit pretty well in the past considering that they are dentures. About 10 years ago I got my first cosmetic dentures and I really like them. They actually look natural. So I am sold on them. Now the problem is getting dentures to fit and stay fit. I know that my jawbone is shrinking so my dentist switched me over to a soft denture. When I first got it, it felt really good on the sore spots on my bone. It just doesn’t last long. When I am at home and not eating I take my dentures out. If I don’t have to wear them, I don’t. My dentist is always willing to reline them for me but I am frustrated about this. Taking the dentures in and out is annoying. Maybe I just need to change my viewpoint and be glad that I can afford dentures. Before I resign to that, is there another form of lining that may help me get more comfort out of my dentures? Thank you. Agatha

Agatha – Soft-lined dentures are more comfortable, but they typically do not last as long as a hard reline. Those are the only options available for relining the oral appliance.

Your dentist may have had this conversation with you already, but it may be time to consider supporting your dentures with dental implants. The implants will:

  • Prevent the dentures from resting on your jawbone and accelerating shrinkage
  • Improve your chewing efficiency
  • Feel more like your natural teeth
  • Prevent the dentures from slipping around or falling out
  • Stimulate jawbone growth and prevent further shrinkage in the vicinity of the implants.

As few as two implants can be used to stabilize your dentures, but the more implants you receive, the better results you will get. If you can only start with two implants, your dentist can help you plan to receive another set in the future.

If you decide to receive implants be certain to find a highly trained and experienced implant dentist to do the work.

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

Jan 16

Need a 4th opinion. Clear Choice was my 3rd

By Dental Implants

I don’t know if my case is complex or not but it has me in a dilemma. I have severe overjet that seems to be getting worse as I age. I’m 59. I also have 3 missing teeth. On the left upper, the second premolar and first molar are missing. Also on my lower right, the first molar is missing. I am not sure if these things are making my overjet worse but my top teeth completely cover my bottom teeth and I can feel them resting in my lower mouth. So my former dentist always recommended new crowns for my front teeth but she never addressed the overjet issue. I did get new crowns probably five years ago, but of course my overjet didn’t go away. The crowns do look better than the old ones, though. A friend suggested that I see a cosmetic dentist. That dentist recommended dental implants and new crowns. She said that in order for my overjet to be fixed, I would need jaw surgery. I got another opinion early in 2015 from a different cosmetic dentist who recommended Invisalign to partially correct the overjet, but she agreed that I would really need jaw surgery to get it completely right. Then she says I can replace the missing teeth with implants. This second cosmetic is still my regular dentist but I haven’t had the recommended work done yet. Next I went to Clear Choice who advised me to replace the missing teeth with dental implants right away because my jawbone is shrinking and then if I choose to get Invisalign, I can do so later. So I am going back and forth with this. How bad is this overjet in terms of my oral health? I know it looks bad. Do I really need jaw surgery? Can the implants wait? What do you advise? – Marlo

Marlo – Based on the different recommendations you have received, we understand your concern. Dr. LaVacca would need to examine your mouth, bone structure, bite, teeth, and diagnostic studies before making a treatment recommendation.

Keep in mind that Clear Choice is a dental implants center, so their focus is on dental implants. Some patients say they have received somewhat aggressive sales pitches from Clear Choice. That may explain why you felt a sense of urgency to get dental implants from them.

A skilled prosthodontist can project how bone grafting and dental implants will affect your facial structure, in addition to orthodontic treatment.

It’s best to schedule an appointment with a prosthodontist for a full examination. You can discuss the recommendations you received from previous providers, ask questions, and compare you options. It will help you make a more confident decision about oral health.

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

Jan 12

I’m losing my 5th tooth from root canal failure and chemical sensitivities

By Root Canal Treatment

I am really frustrated about my teeth. 2 years ago I had an apicoectomy on a molar tooth. The tooth is giving me problems again and an endodontist did the work. 3 weeks ago I had 2 teeth pulled and I am told that I have to have 2 or 3 more pulled on the other side. I can’t tell you how traumatic this is for me. The end result is that at 38 years old, I will have none of my molar teeth. I have to wait until summer to get implants to give time for my gums and bone to heal properly. I have a new dentist who told me that my body has rejected 2 previous root canals. She said there is no point in getting another root canal because my immune system is rejecting the filler. I do have a lot of allergies and chemical sensitivities. What really scares me is that I am not sure yet what is going on with my teeth and why they keep decaying. I floss morning, night, and after eating anything that I think might potentially get lodged between my teeth I floss again. I keep floss in my purse. I brush morning, night, and after every meal. I know this sounds strange, but I have these flossing and brushing habits because of the root canal problems and problems with my teeth. It’s making me nervous to think that the only way to resolve a bad tooth for me is to have it pulled. Is that really my only option? Cassandra

Cassanda – We sympathize with you and know that this difficult situation must be very frustrating for you.

We cannot say whether or not your only recourse in the future is to have teeth extracted and replaced with dental implants. An examination and review of your medical history is required. We do recommend that you find a dentist who works with patients who have allergies and chemical sensitivities and tries to find alternative treatment for them.

Some dentists use the Clifford Materials Reactivity Test (CMRT), although its reliability is controversial. CMRT is a laboratory screen process used to identify your sensitivities. Bases on the results, the dentist will seek dental materials that are biocompatible for your case. Often the test is not performed in the dentist’s office, and the patient is given information to order it. The results are used for your dental treatment.

If you already know your sensitivities, you can call a few prosthodontists’ offices to ask if they work with patients who have chemical sensitivities. You may also ask each prosthodontist if he or she is willing to work along with your medical doctor to help identify the cause of the ongoing problems with your teeth. You can also choose to search online for a holistic dentist. Be sure to check his or her credentials, along with patient reviews.

We sincerely wish you well in finding answers and the right help.

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

 

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.

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