dental implants Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

In Massive Pain After Root Canal

Posted on November 25, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had an accident that resulted in a facial injury, a broken rib, as well as fracturing two of my front teeth. I first went to the ER. The next day, I went to the dentist who wanted to wait a couple of weeks for things to settle down. I was in a ton of pain with my rib and face anyway. When I went in, I was not in any pain but the right front tooth had started to turn darker. The dentist said that he only felt dried blood so I wouldn’t need a root canal treatment, just crowns for the fractured teeth. A few months later, I was in severe pain and scheduled an emergency appointment. He said I now needed a root canal treatment. He wrote me a five day prescription for amoxicillin and had me return in a week to finish out the root canal. When I first started taking the medicine I felt relief from some of the pain after the first day, but it returned a couple of days later. Even after the root canal, the pain did not cease. I went back and he decided to root canal the front tooth next to it because he couldn’t understand why there was still pain. Still no pain relief after the second root canal. My guess is that one wasn’t necessary, but maybe it was and there’s an additional problem. Should I just extract these two teeth and get implants?

Desiree

Dear Desiree,

The first thing I am going to say is that you need a new dentist. When you first went in and there was dried blood, that was an obvious sign that you needed a root canal treatment. Had they done it then, it would have been a much simpler treatment because there would have been no infection to deal with. You could very likely have avoided the emergency dental appointment.

A second issue comes when he did do the tooth infection. You said he gave you amoxicillin for five days and then finished the root canal seven days later. First, that wouldn’t be the best drug for that, but the bigger issue is that he let the medicine run out before doing the rest of the treatment. This essentially allowed the infection to flare back up and then he trapped it in there. It makes no sense to me. He should have given you enough antibiotic, preferably something like Clindamycin, to get you to several days after the treatment.

I would not extract these teeth yet. I’d like you to see a root canal specialist (an endodontist). Call and tell them what you’ve just told me. They may still be able to save your teeth. If not, then dental implants are the best tooth replacements. Let’s not jump there yet. It may still be possible to save your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James Williams.

Should I Replace My Metal Implants with Zirconia?

Posted on August 4, 2025 by writeradmin.

I have two dental implants that are made from titanium. I need another dental implant. I recently read an article online that titanium can cause neurological problems. I’m thinking I should get a zirconia implant this time. Are they a good replacement for the metal ones? If so, should I also replace the other two?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

I’m not aware of any studies that show titanium causes neurological problems. It’s been used for decades not only in dental implants but also in prosthetics of all kinds, including hips. It is very biocompatible. I’d love for you to send me the article you read so I could read the studies they sited. If they didn’t site any legitimate scientific studies, then their article is probably just click bait. There is a lot of that online. Not every article you read is accurate.

There is nothing wrong with the zirconia dental implants if that is what you want for your new implant. However, I do not recommend that you switch your existing implants. It is not as simple as taking out the old implants and putting in new ones. Instead, the procedure that removes the implants will leave a hole in your jawbone. That bone needs to be replaced. Otherwise your new implants will fail. You’ll need a bone grafting procedure done in order to build back up your bone.

After that has had time to heal, you’ll need to then have another surgery to place the new implants. At each of those stages, something can go wrong. If you have stable implants, I’d leave them alone. You don’t want to risk dental implant failure when you already have great implants.

Some people reading this may wonder whether titanium or zirconia implants are better. There isn’t a great answer for this simply because zirconia is much newer and we don’t have long-term data yet. But, from what we know so far they are equal to the titanium. That could change as we gain more information.

Be aware that not all dentists will have the zirconia implants. Your best option would be to see a metal free dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James Williams.

Can I Have a Pretty Smile After Twenty-Seven Years in Dentures

Posted on February 28, 2025 by writeradmin.

Today marks twenty-seven years that I have had dentures. Twenty-seven years being ashamed to smile because my teeth look obviously fake. Is it too late for me to get something prettier, like dental implants?

Katie

Dear Katie,

You can absolutely get a beautiful smile with dental implants. You do have a couple of things to consider as you go forward with this. First, you have been in dentures a long time, which means that you’re likely showing symptoms of facial collapse. This is when your bone has shrunken to the point where it is getting hard to keep your dentures in. This eventually happens to everyone who is in completely removable dentures.

The dental implants needed for implant supported dentures will require that bone for them to stay in place. That means you will first need to have some bone grafting done to build back up the bone in that is needed. Another side benefit to this procedure is you will notice your repaired jaw makes you look years younger. Then, after that is healed, you can have the dental implants placed.

The second consideration is the dentist. Dental implants are an advanced procedure, so you will want a dentist who did post-graduate training in them. Additionally, you want to get an idea of how skilled they are with cosmetic dental work. I hate telling you this, but if the dentist who made your dentures had been a skilled cosmetic dentist, you would have had a pretty smile all this time. However, that would not have prevented the facial collapse which will have to be dealt with eventually whether you get implants or not.

Have the dentist show you images of cases they’ve done, so you have an idea of whether or not they can create a beautiful smile for you.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Shouldn’t Dentures Go All The Way Back?

Posted on November 22, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have dentures and I’m having the hardest time adjusting to them. Not only do they feel weird, but the dentures don’t go all the way back. I don’t have wisdom teeth there any more and I’m essentially chewing on my gums. I was hoping there was a way to get my dentist to fix this, but he said he put them the standard distance. I just want to double check. Is that accurate? Will I ever get used to these dentures?

Michael

Dear Michael,

Thank you for writing. While dentures have a lot of problems and some people never get used to them, this is something that is within the ability of your dentist to fix. My guess is that you’ve already paid for these and he doesn’t want to re-do them, which is what he’d have to do in order to fix them. It is fixable. Plus, what he did is not the standard procedure.

Your denture should actually cover the wisdom tooth area plus go just a smidge past that onto what is known as the retromolar pad. You don’t want it to go too far onto the pad, otherwise, the lower denture will cause problems with the fit of the upper denture.

You may not have much leverage if you’ve already paid for it, but you could appeal to his ethics and quality of his work. Feel free to show him this post if it helps.

Before you move forward, I will tell you that even with the dentures being extended, you will have problems. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%.

There is a bigger issue, though. I don’t know if your dentist mentioned about the issue of facial collapse, but it is very important you understand the risks of long term use of completely removable dentures. Once your teeth were removed, your body instantly recognized that you no longer have any teeth roots. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources, it takes the minerals from the jaw bone where you no longer have any roots and resorbs them in order to use those minerals elsewhere in your body where they will be more useful to your body. The human body is absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, this has the side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to even keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

There is a way to prevent this. It requires you to get about four to eight dental implants, then have your dentures anchored to them. This is known as implant supported dentures. Not only will it prevent facial collapse, but it is also will dramatically improve your quality of life. Your chewing capacity will increase and you’ll have no slipping and sliding around in your mouth.

If you are going to replace your denture and you can afford to get dental implants, I strongly suggest that you get them. If you can’t afford them right now, then replace the dentures, but do the best you can to save up for the implants, because eventually dentures will not be an option.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. J. E. Williams.

Can’t Stand Going to the Dentist

Posted on October 31, 2024 by writeradmin.

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I cannot stand going to the dentist. I know you are just doing your jobs, but if feels like you are just trying to hurt people. Every single dental appointment I have have ever had has been excruciatingly painful. My dentist said it is because I have a high tolerance to Novocain. Because of this I haven’t been to the dentist in a while and I am starting to get concerned about my oral health. Is there any way to get the care I need without feeling like I’m being tortured by a psychopath?

Stanley

Dear Stanley,

I’m not offended. In fact, I understand what you are going through. Even better, I know the solution. It isn’t as much that you have a high tolerance for Novocain as it is that your dental anxiety, which is justifiably real given your experiences, is burning off your numbing medication.

The solution is to see a sedation dentist. They can provide you with a medication that will completely relax you. Once you are relaxed, then the numbing medication will work to its full effect. There are levels of sedation that you will read about on the page I linked to. Normally, I would suggest that someone start with the lowest form of sedation. Instead, given all that you have been through, I would like you to use oral conscious sedation.

This is strong. Really strong. In fact, you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment as well as stay with you afterward until you are lucid and steady on your feet. The side benefit is that whatever dentist you end up with will be able to get significantly more work done at each appointment than would normally be possible. You will be able to catch up on your dental work significantly faster than you would otherwise.

The sooner you get your work caught up the better because it gives you a greater chance at saving the maximum amount of teeth. If, by chance, there are teeth that you cannot save I would highly recommend that you replace them with dental implants. These are the closest to having your own natural teeth in your jaw bone again.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Being Scared of the Dentist Cost Me a Tooth

Posted on August 31, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have been scared of the dentist most of my life. Because of that I haven’t gone in years. The only thing that got me there was because I had a tooth hurting so much that I thought there was no way that I could be in more pain than I already was, so I went. He told me the tooth was way too far gone and there was no way to save it. Now I have to get some stupid removable denture. I’m too you for a fake tooth. He also said I have a few teeth that need a lot of work. I don’t want to end up with a mouth full of dentures. Is there any way to get past the morbid fear I have?

Cammie

Dear Cammie,

I’m sorry about your painful tooth! Don’t beat yourself up too much. You are definitely not alone in having dental anxiety. A large number of people do. Most of the time it is caused by trauma at the dentist when they’re young. Too often a child’s first experience at the dentist is with a dental emergency. Those are rarely pleasant experiences, as you’ve seen as an adult.

I have two pieces of good news for you. First, there is a way for you to have anxiety free and pain free dental appointments. If I were in your position, I would see a dentist who offers dental sedation. They can give you a medication that would actually allow you to sleep through your dental appointments. People who have been afraid of the dentist for years have found that dental sedation changed their life forever.

A second thing I’d love to tell you about is dental implants. These are a much better tooth replacement option than removable dentures. Because they are anchored to your jaw bone, they are completely secure and the closest thing to having healthy, natural teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Is Zirconia Radioactive?

Posted on April 26, 2024 by writeradmin.

I’m hoping you can help me. I need to get my first dental implant (and hopefully my last if I keep up with my oral healthcare). My dentist wanted to give me a titanium implant, but I was worried about that being metal and having that rust or something in my jaw. He assured me it wouldn’t be an issue. When he could see I wasn’t convinced, he suggested zirconia as an alternative. That sounded good until I read that there is radioactivity in them. Now I’m not sure what to do.

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

I am glad that you are trying to keep a careful eye on what you put into your body. That is always an important and healthy thing to do. Your dentist is correct that the titanium implants are perfectly safe to use. In fact, they’ve been used successfully for decades in more than just dental implants. They are also a tried and true standard in other prosthetics such as a hip replacement. Titanium is an inert metal and very biocompatible.

However, if you are still concerned, then zirconia is a fantastic metal-free dental alternative. I know you read about some radioactivity that has you worried. However, I’m willing to bet the article didn’t mention that most things we encounter have some radioactivity, including your own body. The type of radioactivity you will find in zirconia is equivalent to what you would find brick, stone, or even water. I hope that puts your mind at ease.

The most important part of getting a dental implant is making sure your dentist has post-doctoral training in placing dental implants and has experience doing them. It’s also important that if your dentist is sending you to an oral surgeon for the surgical part, make certain that you see the dentist first. It is the dentist, not the surgeon, that should determine the placement of the dental implant.

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

Do I Go To A Dentist or Oral Surgeon First for Dentures?

Posted on December 19, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have been afraid of the dentist since I was a child. As a result, I only went to the dentist when a tooth was so bad it needed to be removed. Now I am to the point that I need dentures. For the tooth extractions, do I go to the dentist or the oral surgeon?

Danny

Dear Danny,

Any dentist should be able to do the tooth extraction surgery for your tooth extractions. I would go to a dentist who could do both the extractions and create and place your dentures. You don’t want to go to two separate practitioners for this. Don’t call the office and ask them if the dentist is able to do the pre-denture surgery as well. Instead, just ask what the normal procedure is for that office. This way you are getting someone with experience and not someone who says that just to get your business.

Because of your experiences with the dentist that led to your dental anxiety, I am also going to recommend you see a sedation dentist for your procedure. This is administered by a pill and will give you a pain-free/anxiety-free experience. There is no need to put you through any more trauma.

I do want to make sure you understand that your jawbone will begin to shrink after your teeth are removed. After about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left in your body to retain your dentures. The way to prevent that is to anchor the dentures to dental implants. This is something I would discuss with your dentist before making a final decision.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Should I Get Refunded If My Dentist Did Not Finish My Denture in Time?

Posted on October 31, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am in a tough spot. I called my dentist because I needed to replace the denture that fits over my four existing mini implants. I explained that I am moving out of state in three months and needed a time frame for how long it would take the denture to be completed. They quoted me three weeks. Fast forward two and a half months later and they finally called me to come in for my denture. When I did, the dentist had a horrible time getting it to fit. He forced the denture on and sent me on my way. I was in horrible pain the entire next day and could not even eat noodles. I called the office and they told me to come back in. I had to see a different dentist from their office because mine was off that day. He looked at everything and said he saw two problems. First, the denture itself was structured incorrectly and slanted to one side. Second, the holes around the attachements were not drilled out properly. He suggested I come back and they can start the procedure over. I told him I’d get back with him. The big problem, aside from not really having confidence in this office, is that I am just plain out of time. Their three weeks took ten and I only have two weeks left before I have to leave. Is it reasonable to just ask for a refund and have this done in my new area after the move?

Justin

Dear Justin,

Full sized versus mini dental implants

I am sorry this happened to you. Yes, you are being more than reasonable about this and are well within your rights to ask for a refund on both legal and dental grounds. First, they made an agreement with you to have the dentures ready in three weeks. They missed that timeline. In fact, they blew past the time and didn’t even keep in contact with you about the delays. This is a breach of contract.

Second, they were unable to get the denture to fit over the implants. Add to that the structural problems that, if left as they were, would have caused you to have jaw pain and could have led to TMJ Disorder.

I would start by just nicely asking for a refund. If they balk at that, then let them know that you will be leaving a bad review, speaking to the dental board, and (if insurance was involved) contacting the insurance company. At least one, if not all of those, should give him pause and encourage him to do the right thing.

When you get to your new location, make sure you have a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants take care of this for you. This way you know that you are getting a dentist who knows what he is doing this time.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. J.E. Williams.

Antibiotics and a Tooth Infection

Posted on September 30, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had a toothache that I just couldn’t get rid of. Normally, I would avoid the dentist like the plague but the pain became too much to bear. I went to see an emergency dentist. He gave me some prescription antibiotics to treat the infection. It did help at first. However, once it ran out I started feeling bad again. In fact, it got worse. Now my whole cheek is swollen. Would a second antibiotic finish off the infection or is it something worse than I thought?

Darrell

Dear Darrell,

Either there was a miscommunication and you didn’t hear that there needed to be some follow up action or the dentist who treated you has a serious lack of understanding in how tooth infections work. An antibiotic will only hold the infection at bay for a while, however, it will not cure the infection. There are two ways to really treat a tooth infection. The first is to do a root canal treatment. This is preferred because it saves the tooth. If that is not possible, the next option is to extract and replace the tooth. Hopefully, it will not come to that, but if it does the best tooth replacement is a dental implant.

I hope this was mentioned to you. My suggestion is that you call another dentist and get this tended to right away. People still die from tooth infections because they can spread to your heart, lungs, or brain, all of which are close to your jaw.

You are not the only patient to deal with dental anxiety by avoiding the dentist. Though, it is not the safest way for you to live. I believe I have a solution for you. I would like you to see an emergency dentist who also offers dental sedation. This is a way for you to have an anxiety-free/pain-free dental experinece.

Anxious patients, who have tried this, found that it completely changed their life. They were finally able to get their oral health under control and see the dentist without fear.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.