Dental Implants Archives

Avoiding Dental Implant Failure

Posted on April 11, 2024 by writeradmin.

I am getting a dental implant on an upper front tooth and have a couple of questions. I am trying to choose between two dentists. The first one insists on a CT scan. Is this completely necessary in preparation for an implant? I am a bit concerned because I have had a LOT of x-rays in my life and the radiation exposure concerns me. My sister was recently diagnosed with cancer and it has me jumpy about everything. A second question I have is about the type of implant. The other dentist said he uses a brand called Southern Venturi, but I can’t get much information on it. I don’t want there to be a problem done the road if I need some adjustments.

John

Dear John,

You are asking some great questions. I’ll answer them, plus add a couple of other things to look out for as you prepare for your dental implant procedure. First, the CT scan. I would consider this an absolute necessity. The reason behind that is two fold. One, you have nerves that need to be avoided. Two, your upper teeth are very close to your sinus cavity. You don’t want the dentist perforating it. Placing dental implants is a three dimensional procedure and you really want three dimensional images so the dentist is able to target things accurately.

I am sorry about your sister’s diagnosis. I know that is scary. Today’s x-rays are much different. Dentists use digital x-rays. You actually get more radiation from walking outside than you will from the dental x-rays. While CT scans do use some ionizing radiation, it is minimal. I hope this puts your mind at ease.

As for the brand of dental implant, I would not be concerned about replacement parts or adjustments as much as the quality control of the manufacture. What concerns me about the one you mentioned is that I don’t know any skilled implant dentists who use that brand, which makes me wonder.

That brings me to a third issue. You want to focus more on the dentist doing the work than which brand. A skilled implant dentist will know much more about the manufacturers than you would be able to find online as a patient. You will want a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants. Additionally, because you are dealing with a tooth that is visible when you smile you also want a dentist who is an expert cosmetic dentist. I would start by looking for an AACD accredited dentist, then see which of them have dental implant training. It’s easier to find an implant dentist than a skilled cosmetic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Bone Grafting Did Not Work

Posted on February 17, 2024 by writeradmin.

I planned on letting my family dentist do my dental implant because he’s done hundreds of them even though he is not a specialist. He told me that I would need some bone grafting done. I went ahead and did that. After a time of healing, I was about to get the dental implant. When he went in he decided the graft was not ready and closed me up without giving me the dental implant. He told me I would need more grafting if I want the implant. I’ve had two surgeries and still no dental implant. I feel like this wouldn’t have happened if I went to a specialist to begin with. Do I need to give up on this implant or go to a different dentist?

Angela

Dear Angela,

Technically, there is not a recognized specialty in dental implants. However, some dentists have more experience than others. Though your dentist is likely very skilled at dental implants, he may be new at the bone grafting procedure. Don’t be too hard on him about that. There are two things I think are noteworthy about your dentist. The first is his willingness to broaden his skill set. There are still dentists who barely know dental implants at all. Your dentist is continually expanding his skills instead of just resting on what he knows. Adding bone grafting was the next step. Everyone starts off learning whenever they’re adding a skillset.

The second is integrity. To have to close up a patient and admit your procedure did not work took a lot of courage. There are many dentists who would have gone ahead and placed the implant rather than risk their patient losing confidence in them, even though the dental implant would fail down the line. You’d never know it was because of the bone grafting because it would not happen immediately. Your dentist was more invested in your procedure than saving himself embarrassment or money. That is a dentist worth keeping.

When it comes to a single tooth, both a dental bridge and a dental implant are great replacement options. If you still want the dental implant, you can get it, you’ll just need your dentist to recommend to you an oral surgeon with extensive experience in the dental implant procedure, including bone grafting. Just make sure it is your dentist who determines the placement of the implants and not the surgeon.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Should I Try to Keep My Last Two Upper Teeth?

Posted on October 25, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have most of my bottom teeth, but on the upper arch I only have the two front teeth. I can eat with them and they are still healthy. I wear a partial denture for the rest of the teeth, but really hate it because it is uncomfortable and hard to eat with. I also have an underbite. The bottom teeth are in okay condition. I am having a hard time dealing with the partial and at this point only wear them when I am going out for a social situation. I had one dentist tell me that I would be happier if I removed these last two teeth and got a denture. I was always under the impression that you wanted to keep natural teeth for as long as possible. Am I incorrect about that?

Bradley

Dear Bradley,

While you are correct that it is best to keep natural teeth for as long as possible, you are in a unique situation. However, let me give a disclaimer that I have not examined you and there might be some information that an exam and x-ray would provide that would change what I’m about to say.

Eating on just those two teeth is placing a lot of stress on them. Plus, they will be butting against your lower teeth which causes further stress. The very best solution for a situation like yours is to replace the missing upper teeth with dental implant supported partial dentures. Then, you’d have secure tooth replacements on either side of your natural teeth. This would take some of the pressures off your front teeth.

You didn’t mention your budget, which is always a consideration when it comes to any type of dental care. If you cannot afford the dental implants, I believe you would be better off getting a complete denture. I would not say this if it were your lower teeth.

Your upper dentures are held in by suction. However, dentures for the lower arch rest on the bone ridge. When your teeth are removed, your body immediately begins resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. After ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse. In the case of bottom teeth, I would save as many as possible. If they are lost, do everything you can to replace them with dental implants, which prevents the loss of the jawbone.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

The Danger of Cheap Dental Implants

Posted on September 9, 2023 by writeradmin.

I’m writing both as a warning to other patients who might be reading this and to ask a question. I lost all my teeth because of dental anxiety. I avoided the dentist like the plague and now I am paying the price for that. I am so angry at myself. I wish I had found a way to get past my anxiety. Anyway, I didn’t want dentures because I have heard about facial collapse. I wanted dental implants but did know how pricey they can be. I happened upon this dentist who said he was new in the area and as a means of developing his practice was discounting his prices signficantly. I thought I’d hit the jackpot of great opportunities. What a disaster this ended up being.

The implant crowns keep coming off and I’m left with a bunch of screws and gaps in my mouth, which is bloody and I can hardly eat. When I tried to get this fixed and threated to get a lawyer, my dentist skipped the country. Now there are rumors going around that he isn’t really a dentist, though I have seen no proof of that. I will never again think of cheep dental care as a good thing.

My question is what can I do about this? Is there anyway to salvage this or get my money back?

Christy

Dear Christy,

What a dental implant horror story! I am sorry this happened to you. It sounds like you have encountered a dental crook. Unfortunately, if he has truly skipped the country, then there is no way for you to recoup your money. This can however be fixed. The first thing you will have to do is have your dental implant case evaluated in order to find out what went wrong. That will determine your course of action from there.

As you have already discovered from difficult circumstances, a cheap dentist is sometimes the least affordable one you can use. Dental implant procedures are among the most advanced procedures a dentist can do. Training from their dental school will not be enough. Look for a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants and then have them evalate your case. They can tell you what has to happen from there. Do not be afraid to see more than one dentist about this.

As for your dental anxiety. I know that your teeth are already gone. However, there may be people reading this in the same situation. I suggest those with real dental fear see a sedation dentist. It is lifechanging and can give you pain-free/anxiety-free dental implants.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Will This Sinus Perforation Prevent Me From A Dental Implant?

Posted on July 12, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have some questions. I just had a dental implant removed. It was only placed six months ago. Unfortunately, my dentist suspected the bone wasn’t filling in correctly. During the implant surgery he did perforate the sinus cavity by several millimeters but said that it didn’t have any bearing on the implant and that sort of thing is fairly normal and happens all the time. After the removal he told me it was super easy to remove because there was no integration with the bone at all. He said to use Flonase and don’t blow my nose. The perforation was cleaned up but not repaired. He said it would heal on its own and once that happens we can start again.

I ended up with a pretty bad infection after that, which I eventually received antibiotics for. Should he have given them to me to begin with? And, will that prevent me from getting a dental implant after it is healed?

Mary

Dear Mary,

I am sorry this happened to you. The lack of antibiotics to begin with is okay as long as there was not any sign of infection. There are two bigger issues here. First, is the perforation of the sinus cavity. While it does sometimes happen, it is far from normal and does not happen all the time. Additionally, a few millimeters is huge in the dental field. It makes me wonder what type of diagnostics he did before your procedure. There should have been a series of x-rays including three dimensional ones, such as a CT scan.

A second issue is the lack of osseointegration, meaning the bone integrating with the dental implant. This is essential for any successful outcome. Before you allow this dentist to do anything else in regard to another dental implant, he needs to give you a good reason for the failure of the first one.

I am a bit concerned that your dentist does not have adequate skill and training when it comes to dental implants. This does require post-doctoral training and not every dentist invests in enough to really develop the skill they need for this.

None of what happened will prevent you from getting another dental implant, but you will need some bone grafting done first in order to ensure you have enough bone to retain the implant.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Dental Implants with Metal Allergies

Posted on May 18, 2023 by writeradmin.

I need to get a tooth replacement for one of my back teeth. I’ve been told dental implants are the best option. However, I have some metal allergies and I understand that these are made of metal. Does this mean that I have to get a different replacement option?

Kurt

Dear Kurt,

I am glad you wrote. You are correct that dental implants are the best tooth replacement available. They are the closest thing to having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth again. While most of them are made of metal, that metal is titanium. This is a very biocompatible metal. These have been used in prosthetics for decades, including things like hip and knee replacements. While it would be completely foolish to say there are no titanium allergies, I’ve never heard of one. You can get a test to tell you whether or not you are allergic to titanium.

Let’s say on the off chance that you are allergic to titanium. This does not necesarily mean that you cannot have a dental implant. There are now zirconia implants. These are metal free, yet still strong enough to handle your bite. Some dentists do not do them because they are newer and we do not have the same amount of long term data that we have on their metal counterparts.

The important thing with dental implants is that you make certain the dentist who places the implants has the training necessary to do this correctly. Dental school alone is not enough or you could end up with a horror story. Also be aware if an oral surgeon will be the one placing the implant, it is important that it is the dentist who determines the placement, not the surgeon. It is imperative you see the dentist first, not the surgeon. Some dentists do both, but be aware of the importance of letting the dentist lead in this process. They are the ones with the bite training and you want your bite to line up properly or you will end up with a lifetime of pain.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Will The Metal Show By My Gums If I Get Implant Crowns?

Posted on March 1, 2023 by writeradmin.

Last year I lost both of my upper front teeth playing hockey. Yes I know, I should’ve been wearing my guard, and believe me I’ll never forget it again! Right now I’m wearing a flipper to fill that space while I’m healing. I’m leaning toward getting implants there, but I’m kind of worried about how they’re going to look. It seems like the metal of the implant will show near the gum line, maybe? Does this happen?

Thanks,
Jared

Dear Jared,

First off, sorry about your accident! The flipper is a great way to go as a temporary solution. Though, obviously, you’ll want a long-term solution. The great news is you picked the right one! Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option around.

Bone And Healing

It’s good that you’ve had some time for the sockets to heal and the bone to fill in naturally. The longer it goes without anything there, however, you run the risk of bone atrophy, where it starts to shrink away. Generally, there needs to be a minimum of one millimeter of bone around a dental implant. More is needed in certain situations, such as if the implant is to be situated in proximity to another implant or a natural tooth. More is needed in many anterior (near the front) cases as well. Some cases require the grafting of bone where there is not enough. Your doctor will be able to tell you whether you are a candidate for implants there or not.

Will The Metal Show By My Gums?

If you are a candidate, you’ll be delighted to know that anterior implants are among the most beautiful ways to restore missing teeth. They will be designed to appear to emerge from the gingiva (gums) in a most natural manner: assuring they are properly placed and cared for, and there will be no metal showing at or around the gums.

Because it is an anterior tooth, however, you want to make certain the dentist has post-doctoral cosmetic dentistry training. This way you will have a beautiful, natural-looking result. Once you have narrowed down a few qualified dentists who place dental implants, then look at their cosmetic skills. The top-of-the-line cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited, so if you find someone with post-doctoral training in dental implants that is also AACD accredited, you will have hit the jackpot.

What if I don’t have enough bone?

It is possible that in the time you are in your dental flipper too much bone will be lost. The good news is that does not mean that you are not a candidate for dental implants. You will just need one additional procedure done beforehand. Bone grafting can build back up the bone necessary to properly secure an implant.

If you decide you do not want to go that route, then your next best option will be to get a dental bridge. This requires two dental crowns be placed on the adjacent teeth as an anchor for the false tooth that will be suspended between them.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Moving in the Middle of a Dental Implant Procedure

Posted on February 3, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am getting dental implants. I had the bone grafting done. Now, I have just recently had the dental implants placed and am dealing with the healing process and something called osseointegration. I was thrilled with everything. Now for the glitch. I just got an offer for the job of my dreams. I cannot wait to accept. I am just wondering what to do about my dental implants. Can I continue them with another dentist or will I need to travel back and forth? It is quite a distance. If I can get them in my new state, how would payments work? I have already paid in full with my current dentist.

Martha

Dear Martha,

Congratulations on your dream job. That is awesome. First, you should be assured that this type of thing happens all the time and dentists are used to dealing with situations like this. He or she can share all their diagnostics and treatment notes. One thing I would do is have your dentist check the healing process now and again right before you move.

It sounds like you are pleased with your dentist’s work. In that case, I would ask him to recommend someone in your new area. If he doesn’t know anyone, then look for someone with post-doctoral training in dental implants to ensure the new dentist has the skills to do the job correctly.

Because the new dentist will be doing mostly the restorations, I would take the additional step of making sure they are a skilled cosmetic dentist. This way the smile you get will be completely beautiful.

As far as payment goes, he will not bill the insurance until the job is complete. If you have paid your portion upfront, then he should not have any problem reimbursing you for this part.

I hope this helps you feel at peace about your new, awesome job. You are good to accept it and move to wherever the job takes you. You will not need to drive back and forth to your old dentist to complete this procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Dentist Won’t Give Me Dental Implants Because I Smoke

Posted on January 4, 2023 by writeradmin.

Admittedly, I haven’t been to my dentist in a while. However, when I went back I expected him to give me the treatments I needed. Instead, I got a lecture and a denial. I’ve lost a couple of teeth recently and wanted to get dental implants to replace them. He told me because I am a smoker he can’t give them to me. I know other smokers and they have dental implants. I told him that and then he blamed my gums. I think this dentist just doesn’t like me. Can he deny me treatment like that? I’m sure I can find another dentist, but I’m just mad now.

Ben

Dear Ben,

I can tell you are frustrated and I’m trying to put the full picture together just based on your statement. It sounds like this is a combination of issues. You said your dentist blamed your smoking and then when you gave him a counterargument, he mentioned your gums. Granted, I was not there and didn’t hear the whole conversation, but there is a connection between smoking and your gums. I’ll go over that with you and then answer your question in case that isn’t what he meant and your first impression is right.

Smoking and Dental Implants

The nicotine in cigarettes restricts the blood flow in your gums. In some cases, smaller blood vessels will completely close off. The problem with this loss of blood flow is it reduces the oxygen to your oral tissues. When dental implants are placed in your jawbone, it is important that the bone integrates with the implant in order for it to remain secure. This process can take months. With restricted blood and oxygen flow, the healing process necessary for this to happen is slowed down dramatically and in some cases never happens at all, leading to dental implant failure.

A second issue is what that restricted blood flow does to your gums. One of the main symptoms of gum disease is inflamed and/or bleeding gums. Unfortunately, nicotine masks those symptoms, which means you can have gum disease and not even know it. Left untreated, it turns into advanced periodontal disease and you can even start losing teeth as a result.

It is possible you have reached this stage. You mentioned you had not been to the dentist in a while so you may not have known that you were dealing with gum disease. Obviously, I have not examined you and do not know if this was what your dentist was referring to, but it makes sense. Does that mean you cannot get dental implants? It depends.

Dental Implant Options as a Smoker

If the issue is just you are a smoker, but your gums are healthy, then you could go forward with the dental implants as long as you acknowledge the risks and that you have a higher likelihood of dental implant failure.
If you have gum disease you do need to address that before moving forward with dental implants. Otherwise, you will continue to lose teeth and your dental implants will fail. There are temporary replacements you can get while you get your gums healthy.
You may want to consider quitting smoking, at least temporarily, to give yourself the best chance of success. Start a few weeks before the surgery and continue until your healing is complete.
Look at alternative tooth replacements such as a dental bridge.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Will My Face Collapse When I Extract All My Teeth?

Posted on December 7, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have had four pregnancies, all of which resulted in Hyperemesis Gravidarum. My dentist said the damage to my teeth is too extensive and I have to have all my teeth extracted. My question is everyone I know with dentures has a scrunched up face. Is there any way to prevent this from happening? I’m only 37 years old and am in tears about this situation.

Avery

Dear Avery,

The effects of facial collapse on a person’s appearance

The condition you are talking about is known as facial collapse. When a person’s teeth are removed, their brain recognizes that. In an effort to be as efficient as possible, your body resorbs the minerals in your jawbone because you no longer need them to retain your tooth roots. It does this in order to redistribute those minerals throughout your body where it perceives they will be more useful.

Unfortunately, after ten or so years you will no longer have enough jawbone left to even keep your dentures in your mouth. So, not only will your face be squashed making you look decades older but you will be a dental cripple unable to eat anything but soft foods.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

The best way to avoid this is to get implant overdentures. These use dental implants surgically placed in your jaw and then achors the dentures to the implants. The implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots, which tells your brain that you need that jawbone completely intact, thereby preserving it and preventing facial collapse.

Get a Second Opinion

Before you have all of your teeth extracted, I would like you to get a second opinion on the viability of your teeth. Some dentists are more invested in saving a patient’s teeth than others. I want to make sure that if you are going to go through all the trouble and expense of implant surgery that you actually need it.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.