Archives for April 2022

Are Dental Implants My Only Option for Replacing My Front Teeth?

Posted on April 30, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Dental implants imitate natural teeth

I lost my front teeth in an accident and scheduled an appointment with a dentist that a coworker recommended because I’ve lived in Maryland for seven months and had not chosen a dentist yet. The dentist recommended implants and said he would not place anything else on my front teeth because other options would wear down the teeth beside the front ones. Before I see another dentist and get the same response, do I have options other than dental implants to replace my front teeth? – Thank you. David for Bowie, MD

David,

Thank you for your question. The dentist you saw is concerned about your long-term oral health. We will explain your options.

What Are Your Options for Replacing Missing Front Teeth?

Your options for replacing missing front teeth are a partial denture, a dental bridge, or dental implants.

Partial Denture

A partial denture has an acrylic base with replacement teeth embedded in it. Metal or acrylic clasps on each end of a partial denture would wrap around each tooth immediately to the right and left of your front teeth. Over time, the clasps of a partial denture put pressure on the supporting teeth and weaken them.

Dental Bridge

Your dentist’s concern is that a bridge requires shaving down the two teeth adjacent to your missing front teeth so that the bridge will fit over them. Your replacement teeth would be in the middle of the bridge.

Dental Implants

Two dental implants can replace your front teeth. Your dentist would implant them in your jawbone, without using your adjacent teeth for support. After your implant and jawbone fuse, your dentist exposes the implants and attaches an abutment (connector) to them. After a few more months of healing, your dentist would attach dental crowns that match the color of your surrounding teeth.

You can make appointments with two advanced cosmetic dentists with dental implant training to discover their recommendations. A cosmetic dentist will produce the longest lasting and most aesthetically pleasing results.

This post is sponsored by Sugar Land, Texas, cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas.

Are Dental Crowns the Only Way to Adjust My Bite?

Posted on April 29, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Dental crowns fit over shaved-down natural teeth

I wore braces until I was 17 years and wore a retainer nightly for ten years. I am 32 years old now and no longer wear a retainer. My teeth look and feel fine. After a dental exam, x-rays, and cleaning three weeks ago, my dentist said that my bite was off, and he could fix it with crowns on all my teeth. I was shocked and asked my dentist to give me time to think about his recommendation.

Now I wonder if my dentist is trying to make money because I told him that I want teeth whitening. My dentist knows that I need sedation to get my teeth cleaned because I am so anxious. But I really want my teeth whitened. Why would he think I would agree to crowns? Now, I distrust him to sedate me because I am worried that he will begin preparing my teeth for crowns when I do not want them. Is it possible that my dentist gave me a fake diagnosis and wants me to get crowns instead of teeth whitening because crowns cost more? – Thank you. Kraig from Phoenix

Kraig,

Thank you for your question. Dr. Thomas would need to examine your x-rays for an accurate diagnosis, so we will not speculate about the reason for your dentist’s diagnosis. But if you do not grind your teeth or have teeth or jaw pain, earaches, or other TMJ symptoms, getting a second opinion is best.

Do You Need Crowns to Correct Your Bite?

Placing dental crowns on all teeth to correct your bite is a highly aggressive treatment. A dentist must shave the entire circumference of a tooth to prepare it for crowns. Although some dentists taper teeth conservatively for crowns, placing them on all your teeth (full-mouth reconstruction) is aggressive for correcting your bite on otherwise healthy teeth.

How Can a Dentist Adjust Your Bite?

If your bite is off, a dentist will determine the cause before recommending treatment. Adjusting your bite corrects its alignment, evenly distributes it, and eliminates pressure. If the issue is not complex, a dentist may take these steps for an occlusal adjustment:

Place articulating paper between your teeth and ask you to bite down on it
Mark the points of contact where your teeth bite and grind
Look for irregularities
Smooth only the necessary teeth to adjust your bite

Depending on the severity of misalignment, you may need braces or another form of orthodontic treatment. But you will need a second opinion to determine if your bite requires adjustment and what is causing misalignment. Schedule an appointment with a dentist trained in occlusion and bite function. Explain your anxiety during dental appointments, and the dentist will discuss your anxiety triggers and how sedation can help.

Dr. Siny Thomas, a Sugar Land, Texas dentist, sponsors this post.

Do I Need Another Root Canal on the Same Tooth?

Posted on April 15, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Hi. My dentist did a root canal on a top-right molar about 4 months ago, and I think it is infected again. It might seem crazy that I may have a root canal emergency and I am trying to get help by writing you. However, I do not trust my dentist and am afraid of going back to him to get my tooth fixed. I need some help within the next day or two because I am in so much pain that I have already taken sick time from work. Although I work from home, I cannot focus because of the intense pain. If I chew on the tooth that had the root canal, the pain is so severe that I am almost on my knees. So, I try to remember not to let anything touch the tooth. Is it unfair to switch to another dentist that can get it right this time? – Alec from Dallas

Alec,

Dr. Thomas would need to examine and x-ray your tooth for a diagnosis, but it does seem that your tooth is infected. It is important to see a dentist promptly to relieve your pain and then to re-do the root canal treatment.

It sounds as if the sealer material for the first treatment did not completely fill your tooth, or maybe your dentist did not remove all the infected tooth pulp. But your situation does not mean that your dentist is unable to correct it. If you are no longer comfortable with your dentist, you can get a second opinion.

It is important to see a dentist promptly to prevent the infection from spreading further. And it will continue to spread until a dentist removes it. You can do an online search for an emergency dentist and check their website to see whether the dentist has root canal experience. Otherwise, you can see an endodontist—a root canal specialist—for treatment.

Dr. Siny Thomas, a Sugar Land, Texas cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

My Dentist Wants to Replace My Implants with a Bridge

Posted on April 6, 2022 by AllSmiles.

My dentist wants to remove my implants and replace them with a bridge. He placed the implants although he saw during surgery that I didn’t have enough bone for the implants. Of course, we did not talk about it during surgery because I was half asleep from sedation. Now the implants will not heal, so my dentist wants to replace them with a bridge. How do I know if a dental bridge is my only option? – Thank you. Rodrigo from GA

Rodrigo,

We are sorry that you are having a challenging experience with dental implants. No doubt, you are frustrated. Your dentist is responsible in two ways.

Your Dentist’s Legal Responsibility

Your dentist is legally responsible due to the implied warranty principle. The implied warranty principle is that you pay for a service or product and receive it. But you paid for replacement teeth that you did not receive because your dentist placed implants in shallow bone, which will fail. Your dentist cannot meet the agreement to provide you with successful implants, so he owes you a refund.

Additional Financial Responsibility

Although Dr. Thomas would need to examine your dental records, it seems that your dentist did not take a 3-D scan to determine whether you had enough bone volume for implants. If your dentist had taken the scan, he would have known to include bone grafting in your treatment plan. Your dentist’s actions breached the standard of care, so he owes you a refund and the costs of risk, trauma, and inconveniences you incurred.

Can You Only Get a Bridge If Implants Failed?

Dental implant

When dental implants fail, a dental bridge is not your only option. Still, you need a 3-D scan from an implant dentist or specialist to measure your bone volume and where to build it up for implants. You can switch dentists for implants but look for a doctor with post-graduate implant training.

What to do next:

Ask your dentist for a refund.
Schedule a consultation with two different implant dentists to discuss your options.
Be patient with the process of getting bone grafting and new implants and allowing the implant sites to heal.

Dr. Siny Thomas, a Sugar Land, Texas cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.