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Monthly Archives

June 2017

Jun 28

How long can my teenage twins stay at the pediatric dentist?

By Pediatric Dentist

I have 17 yr old twins who still see their pediatric dentist. I’ve tried to encourage them to start going to my family dentist but they don’t want to do it. I’ve spoken with their pediatric dentist about it too but she doesn’t seem to see the need for them to change. I am concerned about the wisdom teeth stage and any other adult oral health problems that might come up and the pediatric dentist isn’t trained to handle them. Then the girls will have to switch to my dentist and there will be no transition time. Does this make sense? I’m trying to be reasonable about this, but at the same time just need to know if there are some factors I haven’t considered. Do we need to switch the girls to my family dentist? Miriam

Miriam – There are no age rules for when your teenagers have to switch from a pediatric dentist to a family dentist. Many family dentists see children from their early years through adulthood. As children mature, a pediatric dentist’s office environment and young patient base often make them want to progress to a new dentist. But if your children are still comfortable there, it’s not necessary for them to move on just yet.

Generally after age 18, a pediatric dentist will refer children to a general dentist. Some offices allow them to stay longer. Although it’s not the case with your children, some pediatric dentists even retain certain special needs patients.

Over the next year or two, on occasion, you can speak with your children about their transition to your family dentist. Ask them to come with you to a dental appointment so they can see the office and meet the staff. When the time is right, their pediatric dentist can also explain why it’s time to switch.

If your teenagers aren’t experiencing any major dental issues, it’s best to let the switch happen naturally. They will gradually become more comfortable with the idea of going to your family dentist.

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

 

 

 

Jun 22

I Can Only Get Affordable Dental Implants If I Switch Dentists

By Affordable Dental Implants

It doesn’t make sense to me that the only way I can get affordable dental implants is to switch dentists. I’ve had this dentist for 17 years. You would think that after I got 3 other consultations from other dentists and told her their price that she would be willing to go down on her cost. I think it’s ridiculous. She keeps telling me I need 3 implants but she is the most expensive of the 4 dentists. The thought of going to another dentist is making me a little nervous because my dentist knows my history and I trust her. I just want to go elsewhere for implants and return to her for my normal dental work. Am I risking my chances of being able to return to her as a patient? Thanks Jonah

 

Jonah,

There are no requirements for you to get your dental implants from the dentist you’ve had for years, but you should ensure that you’re getting high-quality, affordable dental implants. Your dentist is more familiar with your medical and dental history, and that has it’s advantages.

Most dentists’ rates in a given city are usually comparable. If your dentist’s costs are significantly more, you should find out why. There are several possibilities:

  • The actual services included in the rates might differ. Ask each office for the details.
  • The quality and cost of the implant fixtures might be different.
  • The type of dental implants used might differ (e.g., mini vs. standard).
  • Some dentists might take more precautions with 3-D diagnostic studies, while others just take x-rays only.
  • A dentist might have superior training, including board certification, or fellowship or mastership in a highly respected implantology organization.

We encourage you to dig deeper to learn why your dentist’s costs are higher. Also consider how much higher they really are and if it’s worth switching. Regardless of the provider you choose, ensure he or she is highly trained and experienced in implant surgery. You should also check the training and skills of restoring dentist (for implant crown placement).

If you decide to choose someone other than your current dentist for more affordable dental implants, it’s likely that she will be happy to keep you as a patient for ongoing care.

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

 

Jun 18

Why can Clear Choice do same-day implants but other dentists can’t?

By Uncategorized

I’m interested in getting 6 dental implants and now the information I received from Clear Choice has somewhat confused me about which option to choose. In May I saw 3 different prosthodontists and each of them gave me an estimate of how it much it will cost to do the work. On average it’s going to take about 4 months to finish all of the work. Of course when you’re going to make a major investment you start noticing ads and commercials about what you’re interested in. So although I’ve seen Clear Choice commercials before, after noticing a commercial 3 weeks ago I thought that maybe I should add them to my list of consultations. I went to the office and had an impressive tour, an exam, and digital x-rays. Clear Choice told me they can do the work in a day. So why the drastic difference between a day and an average of 4 months? I would like an independent answer because I’m afraid that either Clear Choice or one of the prosthodontists will try to convince me to choose them just because they want the business. Thank you. Bethany

Bethany – It’s great that you’ve had consultations with several providers. A prosthodontist is a dental specialist in restoring and replacing teeth. You made a wise choice in choosing prosthodontists for three of your consultations.

Clear Choice aggressively markets same-day implants, but their reviews from patients are mixed. Although they emphasize being able to do all of the implant procedure in one location, so can a prosthodontist.

Same-day implants include the implant procedures and temporary dental crowns. That’s the same service a prosthodontist provides. You will still have a healing period of several months before your permanent dental crowns can be placed.

Questions to Ask Clear Choice Dentists

When comparing providers—at Clear Choice and any other location—ask questions about the specific dentist who will be performing your implant surgery and preparing your dental crowns. Some of the questions are listed below:

  • Are you board certified in any areas of dentistry?
  • What training have you received in dental implants?
  • Do you participate in ongoing training?
  • On how many patients have you completed implants from start to finish?
  • How long have you been placing implants?
  • How many surgeries will be needed?
  • Do you use a surgical guide?
  • What is your success rate?
  • Will I need bone grafting?
  • Who does the restoring work (implant crowns)?
  • What is done to ensure my implant crowns look natural?
  • What precautions do you take to avoid dental implant failure?

The responses can help you choose a provider with confidence. Regardless of where you receive your implants, closely follow after-care instructions to help them heal properly.

 

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

 

Jun 13

Dental bonding made my toothache worse

By Dental Bonding

I got dental bonding in September last year and it’s been an ongoing problem. My dentist filled a cavity on the inside of my tooth, but the tooth has never stopped hurting. For some reason it hurts worse than it did before it was filled. He did the filling over again but the tooth still hurts. I went back last week and my dentist prescribed steroids. He said if it doesn’t get better he’ll probably have to extract the tooth. Somehow I feel like everything hasn’t been done to try to save the tooth. It’s not that I know what steps to take, I just feel like more could be done. I don’t know how to stop tooth pain, but is the extraction the last possible option? Laney

Laney – Your description sounds as if the dental bonding is the source of your pain. It’s common for a tooth to be irritated after a filling, but the irritation gradually calms down within a few weeks. It’s possible that the bonding was placed too high and is interfering with your bite (the way your upper and lower teeth fit together).

Tooth pain can be a sign of an infection. Steroids will make it more difficult for your body to fight the infection, so that’s not the right option in this case. If there is an infection, it needs to be removed and the filling needs to be properly replaced. If your tooth pulp in affected, a root canal treatment and crown will be needed.

We recommend that you get a second opinion from a skilled prosthodontist. He or she is a specialist in tooth restoration. Your tooth will be examined, your bite will be checked, and if needed, x-rays will be taken to determine the best way to preserve your tooth. It’s likely that the bonding just needs to be correctly replaced. You can also get advice on preventing tooth decay.

Ask friends or family members for a recommendation of a prosthodontist, or search online for a board-certified prosthodontist. Be sure to check patient reviews.

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

 

 

Jun 09

All-On-4 implants still hurt and I’m dizzy and nauseous

By All-on-4 Dental Implants

I got All on 4 implants after wearing full dentures for 15 years and seeing my face gradually drop and make me look 10 years older. I knew dental implants were the answer so I spoke with my general dentist and she referred me to 2 different specialists for consultations. My dentist and I worked together to decide which specialist really sounded like he was interested in me and my situation. I made the final decision with my dentist’s help. I thought I would need bone grafting with all of the bone shrinkage until I learned about All-On-4 implants. It seemed like an answer from above but now I’m beginning to wonder if it was actually a curse. I’ve had the implants for 5 weeks. I’m still in pain, still dizzy, and still nauseated. Of course I called the specialist. He examined my implants and asked me to follow up in 2 weeks. Meanwhile I’ve lost 15 pounds. Yes, I wanted to lose weight but not lightning fast. I do want to be able to eat. Does this 2 week waiting period sound valid? What else could I do to speed things along? Jordan

Jordan – In short, we recommend that you get a second opinion for your All-On-4 dental implants. You should not be experiencing the symptoms you describe. Your description indicates you have an infection or another condition that is making you dizzy and sick. You shouldn’t have the pain you describe either. You need to act quickly to avoid dental implant failure.

We’re not sure why your dentist would recommend a two-week waiting period. If anything, you are likely to get worse. Your symptoms should have prompted the specialist to take diagnostic studies or consult with another specialist if he is unsure of what’s causing the problem.

While You’re Waiting for an All-On-4 Second Opinion

  • Meanwhile, it’s important that you get enough nutrients. If your body is trying to fight an infection, it will struggle without good nutrition.
  • Even if you have to eat soft foods, soften protein in a blender, or drink nutritious shakes, your intake is important.
  • If your condition worsens over the next day or two before you can see another implant specialist, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. He or she can tell if you have an infection. Your doctor will also give you suggestions on how to build up your strength with proper nutrition.
  • Keep your general dentist informed of what’s going on.

Don’t wait two weeks to get help.

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

 

Jun 05

Will dentures flush down the toilet?

By Dentures

Will dentures flush down the toilet? I’m serious. That’s all these dentures are worth and I don’t want to see them again. I need to start all over. The denture center ripped me off. My gums hurt but the dentures are too loose. Does that make any sense? I just don’t want to cause any plumbing problems when I flush them. I want to be sure they will go straight to the sewer. To say I’m furious is an understatement. I only wear them when I have to leave the house and I’ve been staying in more than usual because of the frustration. Can I flush them straight down the toilet or do I have to go out and find a sewage drain to thrown them in? Malcom

Malcom – Your frustration is clear and understandable. But it’s not safe for your plumbing system to flush your dentures down the toilet. They would cause you even more trouble and money, and make you angrier. Before you throw your dentures out, we have a few questions you should consider.

  • How old are your dentures? – If they are new, don’t throw them out. They might need to be relined or remade. New oral appliances should have a warranty. If your dentures are more than five years old, depending on the quality, it might be time to replace them.
  • Did you purchase budget or high-quality dentures? – Were your dentures unusually inexpensive? If so, poor quality oral appliances don’t last long. If you received high-quality dentures, perhaps the bite is off, they need to be relined, or they should be remade.
  • What adjustments have been made to give them a better fit? – Have you taken the dentures back to the dental center? If not, ask for them to be examined, and describe the issues you are having. If they are still under warranty, they should be corrected with little or no cost to you.
  • When did you first start wearing dentures? – Depending on how long you’ve been wearing them, you might have experienced jawbone shrinkage. Bone shrinkage naturally occurs after many years of missing all of your teeth and wearing dentures. If that’s the case, it won’t be long before new dentures loosen. Implant overdentures will provide more stability and give you a better fit.

Before You Toss Your Dentures

Throwing your dentures away will leave you without a way to eat and speak correctly. Ensure you at least receive a temporary solution before you get rid of them altogether. Visit an experienced prosthodontist or implant dentist for an accurate assessment of what needs to be done to ensure you receive dentures that look natural and function well.

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

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