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October 2016

What to avoid when looking for affordable dental implants

By Affordable Dental Implants, Prosthodontist

I am looking for affordable dental implants, but I know I want them from a dentist in the U.S. My cousin is 4 years older than me and she lives in California. Since Mexico is close, earlier this year, she went there for dental implants. She found a dentist who was U.S. trained. She spent a year with the process of going back and forth for follow-up appointments, and everything went well. She really liked the dentist too. Her implants look great and she saved $3000 over the cost of getting them in the U.S. When I spoke with her last month, she said she is having trouble with one of the implants. She had been back to Mexico trying to get it straight. She still likes the dentist but she is worried that she will need to get a second opinion because she has pain and swelling around the implant. The dentist in Mexico is talking about taking out the implant and starting all over again. Since I am looking for affordable dental implants I don’t want to make the same mistake, even with a U.S. dentist. What should I look for or ask about to make sure I am not getting cheap implants? Thanks Antoinette

You are wise to insist on getting affordable dental implants from a dentist in the U.S. The regulations for implant surgery and materials are much high than many countries. U.S. implant dentists also have to purchase insurance. Those are some of the reasons that U.S. costs are higher.

In many countries, including Mexico, your dental implants are not regulated. The contract will be between you and your doctor. If you have problems, you might have little recourse, and have to follow-up with an implant dentist in the U.S.

Successful dental implants require quality implant fixtures and the skill of a highly trained implant dentist. The success of your dental implants, in part, depends on those factors. So as you start seeking an implant dentist, check his or her credentials first. The skill of the dentist should be your primary concern. A conscientious implant dentist will use high-quality fixtures.

Dental implants require a great deal of skill as well, and that has a major impact on how well they perform. Overall, they have about a 98% success rate, but doctors with more experience deliver better results.

Find two or three skilled dentists, compare their credentials, and compare the costs for implants. In that sense, you can find the dentist who provides the most affordable dental implants. Financing and payment plans might also be available to meet your budget.

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

My porcelain veneers keep getting stains on them

By Porcelain Veneers

I got porcelain veneers in June of 2013. I really like the way they feel and they are so comfortable that I forget they are on my teeth. In March of this year I noticed a stain on a left incisor. My regular cleaning appointment at the dentist was in June so I brought the stain to the attention of my hygienist and she cleaned it off with n problem. By august another veneer had stained. I called the office and they asked me questions about what I was eating or drinking but nothing points to the reason for the stains. So I went back to the office and had the stained removed. Last week I noticed that the first veneer that I had the stain cleaned off is stained again but in a different location. I am keep my teeth cleaned and flossed but these stains keep popping up. I have asked my hygienist about it and she only questions me about what I am eating, but I am certain that is not the problem. Why are the stains recurring? Thanks. Mylan

Mylan,

Porcelain veneers generally don’t stain. Porcelain is durable and virtually stain resistant. But it is possible for the outer layer of the veneers to be get microscopic scratches on it and attract stains.

Extra care must be taken when you receive a dental cleaning and polishing at the dentist’s office. Certain polishing pastes and dental tools can scratch the surface of your veneers. When that happens, debris from food and drink can build up in the tiny scratches and cause stains. Ensure that your dentist and hygienist have been trained in how to properly clean veneers.

Certain types of toothpaste can also cause stains. If you use whitening toothpaste or other types of abrasive toothpaste, fine scratches can be left in the veneers. Whitening toothpaste won’t brighten your veneers, but it will scratch them. Your porcelain veneers need to be closely examined for microscopic scratches. If your veneers are scratched, they will need to be replaced.

Sometimes avid coffee or tea drinkers, or avid smokers, get stains on the surface of their veneers. If the stains on your veneers are only on the surface, a skilled cosmetic dentist will be able to polish your veneers to remove the stains. Ask your dentist to examine your veneers to determine if there are scratches on them or if the stains are only on the surface. You also have the option of visiting an experienced cosmetic dentist for the examination and a second opinion.

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

Can I convince a dentist to give me All-On-4 dental implants?

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

I want all on 4 implants. I have 8 missing teeth and the rest are crumbling. I won’t go into the details about how this happened, but I am 37 years old. So you know all of this is happening prematurely. Rather than trying to restore crumbling teeth I think it is better for me just to get them extracted and get all on 4. I hope I can find a dentist who will respect my wishes and not try to get me to save teeth. I am really tired of the whole thing and have resigned myself to the fact that my teeth are ruined. I am partly responsible for it, so I will suffer the loss. I just want to know if due to my age I can anticipate any push back about getting this treatment. Thanks. Robyn

Robyn – All-On-4 dental implants are a good way to stabilize dentures and help them feel like natural teeth. The process is designed for people who have lost jawbone density.

If you choose an option to have your dentures secured by only four dental implants, your jawbone will significantly deteriorate in the areas where there are no implants. Over your lifetime of 40 to 50 more years, this might present a problem.

Although you might be able to find a dentist to provide you with All-On-4 dental implants, it might not be the best option for you. Find a skilled prosthodontist and schedule an appointment for an exam and diagnostic studies. A prosthodontist is skilled in tooth replacement and restoration.

An implant dentist who offers All-On-4 as well as other procedures will let you know your options for long-term oral health. If preserving your natural teeth is in your best interests, consider it seriously. All-On-4 might seem to be the simplest solution, but trust a skilled dentist to help you get the best outcome.

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

How long will it take for my dental implants to heal?

By Dental Implants

Hi. I am gathering info on dental implants for 4 missing teeth. I have a trip planned in April 2017 and I want the implants to be completely done before I leave for vacation. I will be out of the country for a month so I won’t be able to get back to an implant dentist and I want to be sure that everything is okay before I leave the country. I know there is a healing period for implants and I just want to give myself enough time. How much healing time will I need? – Thanks. Bhari

Bhari – The process of getting dental implants, including the healing and recovery time varies with each patient. Your recovery time depends on several factors, including those listed below:

  • Bone grafting – Depending on how long a tooth is missing, the jawbone in that space will begin to shrink. If there is significant bone loss, the bone will need to be built up to accommodate dental implants. There is a healing period of several months for the bone grafting before implants can be placed.
  • The location of the implants – The bone in the upper arch of the mouth is shallower than in the lower arch, and implants there take longer to heal.
  • The number of implants placed – Each implant needs to heal on its own. The healing period for each implant can vary.
  • Tooth extraction – If teeth need to be extracted before you receive implants, you might experience discomfort for a longer period.

Schedule consultations with two or three implant dentists. Ensure you choose an experienced implant dentist or prosthodontist. Ask each of them how many cases they have completed. An examination and diagnostic studies will be needed to determine if you need bone grafting. After that information is received, your implant dentist will know if you need bone grafting. A recovery period will also be estimated. Tell your dentist about your vacation plans. He or she will let you know if there will be any conflict with your vacation plans for the spring.

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

 

 

Why is our pediatric dentist recommending a pulpotomy?

By Pediatric Dentist

I have 3 children and for the past 8 years have used the same pediatric dentist for each child. I have a good relationship with the dentist and have had to reason to distrust him. In our household we have a high standard for keeping our teeth clean so the latest results from our 5 year old daughter’s recent checkup have been disturbing. The dentist found 2 cavities in my daughter’s teeth and she is recommending a pulpotomy. I’m not sure that I understood her explanation of what this treatment in and why it is necessary for primary teeth. The dentist has been very clear in explaining other preventive care so I am wondering why this issue is foggy. Can you explain it simply? Thx. Marcy

Marcy – If there is infection in a primary tooth, a pediatric dentist might recommend a pulpotomy to remove it. Dental instruments are used to clean out the tooth and remove the pulp, or living tissue inside the tooth. The pulp is removed from the roots. The tooth is disinfected and a dental filler material is used to replace the pulp. A dental crown is used to protect the weakened tooth from further damage.

A pulpotomy is similar to a root canal treatment for adults. The procedure is used to save primary teeth. Although many parents question why primary teeth need to be saved, these teeth have an important role in reserving the space for permanent teeth and in guiding permanent teeth to the proper position when they erupt.

If a primary tooth needs to be extracted, a space maintainer might be used to keep the empty space intact. This prevent nearby teeth from drifting toward the empty space and interfering with proper position and eruption of the permanent tooth.

Ask your child’s pediatric dentist for a more thorough explanation of why a pulpotomy is recommended for your daughter. You can also ask to see x-rays of her teeth that reveal an infection and not tooth decay that might otherwise be treated.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, consider getting a second opinion from another skilled pediatric dentist.

This post is sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists.

Can’t find enough Clear Choice reviews like my case

By All-on-4 Dental Implants, Dental Implants

I’ve been reading a lot of Clear Choice reviews after having a consultation at one last week and I find the whole thing mind-boggling. All I see are mentions of the same procedure over and over again and it seems like most are good, but I find it odd that so many people needed the exact same thing. A lot of them hit on what I experienced- a big push to get signed up and scheduled then and there at the consultation. I didn’t bite. I went in knowing I wasn’t going to schedule there because I’d already heard about the tactics they use, but the procedure thing… that I didn’t notice until they told me I needed the same one and I went back to look again. Does this make them a specialist or should I get a second opinion? – Thanks – JT

JT – I am trying to make a decision about who to get my dental implants from and the Clear Choice reviews aren’t helping. I went to three dental implant practices and Clear Choice was my last visit. I liked the way I was treated there but the prices are off the charts. I felt more pressured to make a decision to go with Clear Choice. It has been 2 weeks since my visit and they have called me twice. I am taking my time and reading patient reviews on all the places I have visited. The problem with Clear Choice is that probably 90% of the reviews are about All on 4. I am not remotely interested in All on 4 but I am not getting enough information on their other options. I need 6 dental implants. Is there some other place I can get better Clear Choice rviews?

Finding the right dentist to replace several teeth is a serious decision. Although you can’t get a better form of tooth replacement than dental implants, the expense is great. Your efforts to do visit research and visit different implant dentists are vital to getting the best care.

Clear Choice reviews lean toward All-on-4 implants because that treatment is the most popular and most advertised among the company’s offerings. A dental treatment that works well for someone else might not be best for your case. Aggressively sales techniques can rush you to make a decision that you would later regret—or that is not the optimum treatment to replace your six missing teeth.

You’ve had consultations with three other implant dentists, so compare your options with those providers. In addition to the technical aspects of your treatment, pay attention how you are treated by each dentist and his or her staff. Ensure your provider is willing to listen to your concerns and thoroughly explains your treatment options. You need quality care as a patient with an implant dentist who has good chairside manner. Clear Choice reviews can’t provide you with the information you need to choose their services. So it’s best to find a dentist who can.

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

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