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April 2016

Apr 30

If I have a treatment plan from Clear Choice is a second opinion necessary?

By Blog

I went to ClearChoice and got a full exam and x-rays. The whole process was very thorough. I have a couple of friends who have implants and from their description what they experienced was nowhere near as comprehensive as Clear Choice. I can’t imagine what another dentist could come up with to beat the in-depth prep that was done there. My wife is a stickler for second opinions and she pretty much told me that I was increasing the risk of something going wrong with my implants if I didn’t get a second opinion. It’s just that I feel very confident about my visit with them. I even have a treatment plan. Is a second opinion really needed? Thanks Thom

Thom – Usually, a patient has several options that will resolve his or her dental issue. Clear Choice is known for offering a single solution to a patient, and quite often, that option is the same from one patient to the next. Their high-pressure sales tactics are very convincing for many patients.

While All-On-4 dental implants may be an option for your case, multiple standard implants may also work well. Ensure you know and understand your options as well as the pros and cons for each of them.

The dental implants process requires an investment of time and money. Ensure you understand what is involved your treatment. Ask Clear Choice for your options and information on how they compare.

We do recommend that you seek a second opinion from a skilled implant dentist who can exam your diagnostic studies and let you know your implant options. You may decide that you want to proceed with All-On-4, but a Clear Choice second opinion will increase your comfort level about your decision.

This post is sponsored by board-certified implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVaca.

 

Apr 27

What matters most in preventing dental implant failure?

By Dental Implant Failure, Dental Implants

I’ve decided to get dental implants this fall. I need 4 of them so this is really going to be a big expense for me, but I know it will be worth it. I know that a specialist is needed to place the implant and a dentist is needed to the crown on the implant. After reading online about dental implant failure, I am a little confused about which dentist is more important in preventing the implants from going bad. What matters most to get implants that will last? Is it the work of the surgeon or the work dentist who places the crown and the lab that is used? Marvel

Marvel – Good question. As you likely know, the process of receiving successful dental implants starts with careful planning and diagnostic studies. But quality implant fixtures, surgery, and a restoring dental crown are also crucial to the success of implants.

After implant surgery, the jawbone must properly heal and fuse with the dental implant. When it heals, the lab creates the restoration (dental crown) that is secured to the implant. The quality and fit of the dental crown prevents an improper bite. This can affect how long your dental implant will last.

If you receive a well-made implant crown and it’s placed incorrectly by your dentist, the implant may still fail if it wasn’t properly placed during surgery. This emphasizes the importance of finding a skilled implant surgeon and a restoring dentist.

Many people recognize the skill level required for quality dental implants and crowns and choose to find a board-certified prosthodontist. A prosthodontist has advanced training in implant placement and in proper crown creation and placement.

Before you choose a provider, we recommend that you visit several implant dentists. Get information on the credentials of the implant surgeon and the dentist who will be placing the crown. Even if you choose to prosthodontist for your care, verify his or her experience first.

 

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

Apr 19

Can You Get Affordable Dental Implants at a School for Dentists?

By Affordable Dental Implants

For years I have been saving for dental implants. I’ve had some unpredictable employment issues lately and have been forced to save more money for family emergencies than I have been able to save for dental implants. So now I am exploring other ways to get implants. Most recently I have been checking into dental schools. I know the schools are regulated and students have to meet some hefty criteria and the work is checked by instructors, so I figure this is a safe controlled environment for me to get dental implants. I am just wondering if implants from a dental school are affordable. – Edmond T.

 

Edmond – Much of the success of dental implants depends on the skill of the implant dentist. Skilled practitioners have a 90% success rate. There is insufficient information on the success of implants that are placed by dental students.

While dental students are supervised by their instructors, they are not skilled implant dentists. The results you will receive are unpredictable. Students are still learning and although guided by an experienced dentist, they can make mistakes. Dental implant treatment is one aspect of oral health where mistakes can be costly and take months to correct.

If you select a dental school for your implants, keep in mind that your provider will be less experienced, which can increase the risk of difficulty in implant placement and healing. Thoroughly check for information on the reputation of the dental school and its implantology program before you make a decision.

Consider checking with credentialed prosthodontists in your area to find out how they make implants affordable for patients. At times work can be completed in phases. Financing and payment plans may also be available.

A discount on implants is not worth the risk. Insist on quality care from a skilled implant dentist.

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

Apr 15

Disappointed With Prosthodontist’s Reaction to a Broken All on 4 Implant

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I knew I wanted implants for my dentures and I decided to get 6 regular implants. After listening to my dentist over and over again talk about All on 4, I gave in. I got All on 4 in Feb. 2015 and 2 weeks ago when I was eating I heard an felt one of the implants snap. Now I am told that the implant will need to be replaced. The old one will have be taken off and I can’t get a new one right away. We have to wait until the area heals and there is a possibility that I will need bone grating and maybe one of the other implants will need to be redone too. I am disgusted and this whole thing is ridiculous. I dropped a lot of cash on these implants and you would think that somebody would ensure the implants are in mint condition. The prosthodontist I have is too casual about the whole thing too. It’s just kind of a ‘we’ll fix it’ attitude without any explanation. I want to know what happened. Why would an implant snap? Thanks Romia

Romia – We are sorry to hear about the difficulty with one of your All-On-Four implants. There are several reasons that an implant may snap.

One cause is the skill of the prosthodontist. The implants must be perfectly aligned and accurately placed to evenly distribute pressure on the implants. The slightest inaccuracy can exert pressure on an implant and cause it to snap.

A second possibility is the quality of the implant. Low-quality implants are a fraction of the cost of FDA-approved implants, but they are also a fraction of the quality. The effort to save money can be costly and compromise oral health.

You can ask your prosthodontist why he thinks the implant snapped, as well as what is being done this time to prevent the problem from recurring. It may be wise to consider getting a second opinion from an experienced prosthodontist. After an examination and a digital x-ray, he or she will let you know why the problem occurred and how it should be treated.

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

Apr 06

Wondering if Clear Choice Reviews are Fake

By Blog

I need 4 implants. My dentist referred me to a periodontist and I saw a prosthodontist on my own. Within the past 3 months or so Clear Choice ads run heavy in my TV viewing area. I think it’s to get exposure because before the TV ads I didn’t know about Clear Choice. We live about 60 miles from the Clear Choice office. If I heard the name before I sure don’t remember. So I looked online for patient reviews for Clear Choice and some reviews were great but others were not positive at all. I am a skeptic so I am not really sure if reviews are real or if someone got paid to write them – good or bad. Dental implants are a big deal so if the bad Clear Choice reviews are true I need to stay clear of them. Then again if the positive reviews are true, I would be missing out if I didn’t choose Clear Choice. Have you heard anything about the reviews being fake for Clear Choice? Wagner

Wagner – Although many companies, small and large, have been the subject of news clips for having fake reviews, not all reviews are fake. ClearChoice is not one of the companies that has been marked for having reviews that are not legitimate.

ClearChoice does have a reputation for pushy sales pitches. If you look throughout the website at different review sources, you will find mixed reviews, depending on the doctor that provided the patient with treatment and the ClearChoice locations. Some patients have better or worse results with certain doctors or certain ClearChoice offices.

Find an implant dentist you can trust. Review his or her credentials and experience, and stick with a dentist who isn’t pushy. You should clearly understand your options before you select one, and avoid making a rushed decision. A second or a third opinion is always appropriate if you need more time or information to make a confident decision.

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

Apr 02

Does a pediatric dentist need to see my 13 month old for white spots on his teeth?

By Pediatric Dentist

Does a 13 month old need to go to the dentist? I stopped breastfeeding my son in January. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. I am noticing that he has white spots on his teeth. It can’t be related to anything thing that I am feeding him because I am making sure he has a clean, sugar-free diet. Is this normal or is it a reason to take him to a pediatric dentist for a checkup? I thought I would take him at 2 yrs old, but if he needs to go now I will find a dentist. Nadia

Nadia – White spots on teeth are usually a sign of decalcification, or tooth decay. Decalcification is caused by mineral deficiency in teeth, which causes them to weaken and decay. Your son may not have cavities yet, but if his teeth are left untreated, cavities can develop. A pediatric dentist may use fluoride treatments to strengthen the tooth and prevent decay.

Decalcification is not common in small children. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene as soon as teeth erupt. You can thoroughly clean your son’s teeth with a moist, soft cloth. This cleaning process substitutes for brushing his teeth—it’s too early to do that.

It’s not too soon to see a dentist, though. The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry recommends a dental visit as soon as the first tooth erupts. Early examination can detect potential problems, ensure teeth are erupting probably, and provide an opportunity for early intervention.

If your pediatric dentist isn’t able to find out the cause of the white spots, he or she will work with your son’s pediatrician to find the cause. Find an experienced pediatric dentist and schedule an appointment for your son as soon as possible.

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

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