dental implants Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

My Dentures Will No Longer Stay In My Mouth

Posted on July 31, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am hoping you can help me. I’ve had dentures for about 17 years. They’ve served me well, but now I just can’t get them to stay in my mouth. I’m guessing they’ve stretched out over the years and I need a new one. Do I need to start the procedure over or can my dentist just copy the old records? I’m not even sure my old dentist is still in practice any longer.

Brent

Dear Brent,

Your denture is not falling out because it is stretched out. What you are dealing with is known in dental circles as facial collpase. When your teeth were first removed 17 years ago, your body recognized that you no longer had any teeth roots. In an effort to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible it immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body where it perceives they will be more needed.

While very useful in supplying your body with the resources it needs, it has the unfortunate side effect of shrinking your jawbone. After a number of years, as you are discovering, there is no longer enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. I wish your dentist would have warned you about this before you got dentures because there is a way to have prevented this.

The good news is that there is a solution for your situation. The first thing you will need to do is to have bone grafting done. This will build up all the bone structure that you lost over the years. Then, after a period of healing, you then have a choice. First, you could just go ahead and get new removable dentures made. Just be aware that you will find yourself back in the same spot as your minerals again begin to be resorbed. A better option, if you can do it, is to get implant supported dentures.

With this procedure, you will have four to six dental implants placed in your jaw. After the bone has had time to integrate with the implant, then a denture can be build that will be anchored to the implants. These are known as implant overdentures. They will not only completely secure them, but will also prevent facial collapse.

One thing you will immediately notice is your quality of life going up. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Now, with implant supported dentures, you can eat whatever you want and never have to worry about them slipping or sliding again.

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

Can I Charge a Venue for My Emergency Dental Visit

Posted on July 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

I was at a small venue I have attended many times for a concert and drinks. A fight broke out, which I was not involved in. Yet, the bouncer seemed to target me anyway and I was punched in the mouth. Because I was bleeding and my tooth felt funny, I scheduled an emergency dental visit. Now I find out that I need a root canal treatment. This is all become bloody expensive. I’m not from the U.S. so I don’t know what rights I have in this situation. Can I sue the venue to pay for my treatment?

Benedict

Dear Benedict.

First, let me say I am glad you had the wisdom to see a dentist right away. You could very well have saved your tooth. Great job! As to whether or not the venue will be held accountable to pay, that is a legal issue. What I can tell you is to find out if there is a record of the incident. Then, start by going to them directly and just explaining to them what happened, exactly as you did to me. Ask them to help cover your expenses. They may step up and do the right thing, saving you the trouble of a court battle.

If they say no, you may, of course, consult an attorney. I am not a lawyer so I hesitate to give out legal advice.

I am sorry this happened to you and I’m glad you had the wisdom to get an emergency dental appointment. Too many people put this off and end up losing a tooth they could have saved. It is much more expensive to replace a missing tooth than to repair a saveable one.

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

Titanium Allergy

Posted on February 10, 2022 by writeradmin.

Can you help me? I have recently been diagnosed with a titanium allergy. I have had three crowns placed and have had a dull ache since then. Is it possible I have a titanium post and that is contributing to the dull ache? When my dentist looked at it he said everything looks fine. But, it doesn’t feel fine. I don’t know what to do?

Adina

Dear Adina,

I’m sorry about your titanium allergy. It is a rare allergy (<4%) and too many dentists just write off allergies and sensitivities altogether. Generally, a post is not placed in a crown unless you have had a root canal treatment. This is to help retain the build-up material that is used to retain the crown, sort of like beams and cement in a home. If these crowns are from a root canal treatment, I would start by asking your dentist what material your post was made from. There should be a record in your file listing what type of post was used.

It used to be that the posts were all pretty much stainless steel, but between 10-20% of people have an allergy to nickel, which is in stainless steel. Because of that, many dentists switched to using titanium posts because they are much more biocompatible.

If your post is made from titanium, then yes, that could be contributing to your dull ache. Other things for your dentist to look into are the occlusion of this crown and also whether your crown is made from any metal. If you find it hard to get your dentist to take this seriously then you can go to a holistic dentist. They are much more open to considering the whole body and not just the teeth.

One other thing. If you ever end up needing a tooth replacement and want to get a dental implant, there are now options to the titanium implants. Tell your dentist you want the zirconia implants. These are metal-free.

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

Dentist Doesn’t Want to Fix Her Teeth

Posted on November 10, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have really bad teeth and have all my life. I take care of them and go to the dentist but there always seems to be issues to fix. Recently my dentist said I’d be better off just removing my teeth and getting dentures. I’m only 32, surely we can fix these teeth?

Karlyn

Dear Karlyn,

I am going to say right off the bat that you are too young for completely removable dentures. When your teeth are removed, your body deals with that by resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use in other places in your body that it feels they will be more useful. While it is great for natural conservation, it has the unfortunate effect of shrinking your jawbone. After ten or so years, you will look decades older and will not even be able to keep your dentures in place. This is known as facial collapse.

While I haven’t examined you, I am not convinced that at least some of your teeth cannot be saved. Different dentists have varying degrees of enthusiasm for hard work and it sounds like your teeth are hard work. I want you to find a dentist who is passionate about saving your teeth. They are out there.

If there are teeth that cannot be saved. The better replacement for someone as young as you are would be to get a dental implant. This uses a prosthetic tooth root that will preserve your jawbone.

One thing you can do that you may not have tried is to limit your snacking. I don’t know if you are a snacker but that can derail oral health. This is because our saliva is the greatest defense we have against decay. If you don’t have breaks between meals without snacking, your saliva doesn’t have the time it needs to do its job. I would limit yourself to no more than one snack a day. You may already be doing this, but it was worth mentioning.

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

Dental Implants with a Metal Allergy

Posted on October 17, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am starting to get up there in years. Recently, I have lost a couple of back teeth. I live in terror of losing a front tooth. I don’t want to be one of those people who wears dentures. The problem I face is that I have some serious metal allergies. After some testing, it turns out I am allergic to nickel, cobalt, and tin. Is there any chance I could still have a dental implant? Do they make metal-free dental implants?

Chauncie

Dear Chauncie,

I am sorry about your recent tooth loss. That is always discouraging. I have good news for you. In fact, double good news for you. First, we’ll start with traditional dental implants. These are made from titanium. Not only was it not listed on your allergies, but it is one of the most bio-compatible metals around. It has been used for decades in prosthetics. Not just with dental implants, but also things like hip replacements. There is very little chance you would have any reaction to these. However, you could always get tested specifically for titanium just to be certain.

The second bit of good news is your second option. There are metal-free dental implants these days. Now, there is a zirconia option. This is very strong and will serve you well if you go that way. The only obstacle you may face is that not as many dentists offer this option. It is not because it is inferior, but more because we do not have as much data on its longevity. That is because they have not been around as long.

If you decide to go with the metal-free option, you may have to do some searching. I would start by looking for a holistic dentist. They are much more willing to work around patient’s allergies. Just be certain they also have post-doctoral training in dental implants. That is very importnat.

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

Can’t Keep My Dentures In

Posted on July 14, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am sixty-two years old and have been in dentures for close to thirty years. In recent months, I cannot keep them in for anything. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Jane

Dear Jane,

Your upper dentures are held in by suction, so those generally have less trouble staying in. The bottom dentures, however, simply rest on the ridge of your lower jawbone. The big problem with that is a condition known as facial collapse. When your teeth were first removed, your body recognized you no longer had teeth roots. To maintain efficiency in your body, it immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use in other places in your body that it perceives will be more useful. After twenty years or so, you will no longer have enough bone left in your jawbone to retain your denture. This is what you are currently facing.

The solution to this is to have a bone grafting procedure done. This can be done outpatient and will build up the missing bone. This will give you back the jawbone you need. From there, you will have two choices. The first option is to simply get a new denture to wear. It will stay in. The problem with that is you will find that you will again start losing bone structure. The cycle will start over again.

A better option would be to get implant overdentures. This uses four to six dental implants and then anchors a denture to them. The benefits of dental implants are significant. In relation to the facial collapse issue, the implants signal to your body that you still have teeth. Because of that, it will leave your jawbone intact and you will not have to worry about your jaw shrinking. You will also love the security that comes with them. They don’t slip and slide. You never have to worry about them falling out. Additionally, you will find that your chewing capacity increases substantially, allowing you to eat whatever you want.

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

Will Medical Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Posted on May 28, 2021 by writeradmin.

I had to get dentures on my upper teeth. I am having an almost impossible time with the dentures. The upper plate makes me gag. I think getting those implant dentures will help. However, I do not have a ton of money. Will insurance cover these. When I first had to lose the teeth, I got the dentures because they were cheap, but I don’t think I can live with them. I’m hoping my medical insurance will cover this because I can’t wear the dentures and I need teeth.

Phoebe,

Dear Phoebe,

Many patients struggle with the denture plate, especially those with a strong gag reflex. Getting implant overdentures will be a big help. There will be no need for a denture plate. You will feel like you have normal teeth. That’s the good news. The bad news is your medical insurance will not cover even a single dollar. If you have dental insurance, it will cover your dental implants in part. Don’t expect it to cover all of it. However, it will be worth it.

One thing to be aware of is you don’t want to let just any dentist do this procedure. It is not taught in dental school. Whoever does the procedure needs to have post-doctoral training in dental implants. In addition, you want to make sure they also have enough experience to document a reasonable success rate, which should be no lower than 95%.

In most cases, you would pay for this procedure in two payments. The first when you start the implant procedure. The second when it is time for the dentures. If cost is still an issue, there are dentists who will be willing to work with you. They often advertise as affordable dentists. They will allow you to break up payments even further. Some have in-house payment plans. Some work through Care Credit, which is a very affordable medical credit card.

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

Dentist Insists on Titanium Implants

Posted on May 5, 2021 by writeradmin.

I want to get dental implants but I would like the zirconia ones. It is important to me that I don’t put metal in my body. However, my dentist says the titanium ones are better. Is that true?

Monica

Dear Monica,

There is a growing availability of metal free dental care.

I would not say that the titanium are better. It is more that they have been around longer and therefore we have more data on their longevity and potential side effects. There are some dentists that prefer to stick with what they know. You will be able to find a dentist who offers the zirconia. I would do an internet search for either a metal free dentist or a holistic dentist. Either one of them will be willing to give you zirconia implants.

The important thing will be that you find a dentist who has dental implant training. It won’t matter which kind you have if the procedure fails. You’ll want to be certain they have some post-doctoral training in placing implants.

I am not trying to sway you either way with which implants to use, but I wanted to clear a couple of things up that I hope will put your mind at ease. The first is about metal and your body. Our body naturally has metal in it. One major example is the iron you find in our blood. In fact, that is so important that is you don’t have enough iron, it can cause serious negative health effects, including heart failure.

As for titanium, it is one of the most biocompatible metals there are. We’ve been using it for decades for prosthetics. Not just dental implants, but things like hip replacements. It is very rare for someone to have a reaction to titanium.

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

Do I Have to Pay for a Badly Done Denture?

Posted on February 27, 2021 by writeradmin.

I needed to get my implant denture re-done. I spoke to a dentist and explained that I am transferring to a new city in twelve weeks and asked how long it would take him to make a new denture for me. He said three weeks. On week TEN they finally arrived, but it didn’t fit properly. It took a considerable amount of time for him to attach it. I ended up going back the next day because of the pain I was in and saw one of his colleagues, who said the holes needed to e re-fitted. I am completely out of time to get this re-done. Do I have the right to ask for a refund?

Andie

Dear Andie,

You are well within your rights to ask for a refund on this denture. He promised you three weeks, which is considered a contract. He was significantly late in his delivery and even then the denture was below the standard of functioning. However, with some dentists, just because they should refund your money doesn’t mean they will do so willingly.

In case that is what you will face, let me give you some points of leverage to encourage him to have more integrity about this. First, tell him you will be forced to leave a bad review in order to warn other patients from facing the same problems you have. It might help to tell him that if he cooperates you can leave a review saying that he had integrity and refunded your money when the work didn’t go as planned and you were moving.

If that doesn’t work, the second step is to tell him that you will go to the dental board. Most dentists would prefer to avoid that at all costs. The next step would be a lawsuit, but that is expensive and will eat up your time.

Three weeks is the right amount of time for him to make this denture. The fact that it took much longer makes me think it was the dental implant part that was throwing him. Dental implants require post-doctoral training. He may not have invested in that training. Too often, a dentist does not want to admit when they are in over their head so they will either try to talk you into a different procedure or give it their best shot (often with disastrous results).

I’m sorry this happened to you. Hopefully, after you secure your refund and get to your new location, you will find a dentist who has more experience and training with dental implants.

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

Metal Allergies, Dentures, & Dental Implants

Posted on September 30, 2020 by writeradmin.

I lost my teeth due to an extended illness. I have a severe metal allergy so my dentist said I wouldn’t be a good candidate for dental implants because they are made of metal. I thought I’d be okay with dentures. Better dentures than nothing. Unfortunately, I’m just not adjusting to them well. The plate makes me gag. Most of the time I don’t even put them in. Is there a solution for someone in my position?

Candace

Dear Candace,

There is a growting availability of metal free dental care.

You said you have a dental allergy. Do you know if that allergy includes titanium? The metal in dental implants is strictly titanium, which is quite biocompatible. It’s been used in prosthetics for decades without problems. It may be your dentist is just uncomfortable placing dental implants and therefore steered you away from it.

Let’s say for argument’s sake that you are allergic to titanium. That doesn’t mean you cannot have dental implants. These days zirconia implants are available. Not every dentist is using them yet because they haven’t been around as long os the traditional titanium ones, but I’m certain you’ll be able to find a dentist who is placing them.

I’d do a search for a metal-free dentist or a holistic dentist. They are both dentists who’d be more willing in your situation.

A Word about Dentures

You aren’t alone in finding it difficult to deal with dentures. Many patients do. The good news about implant overdentures is you won’t have to worry about that gag reflex because there will no longer be a plate necessary. You didn’t mention how long you’ve been in dentures. That will have an impact on whether you can immediately have dental implants placed or if you’ll need an intermediary procedure, known as bone grafting. The longer you are in dentures, the more your jaw bone shrinks. Make sure whoever you see does all the necessary diagnostics, including a CT scan.

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

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