Archives for November 2021

Options for Treating an Infected Tooth

Posted on November 13, 2021 by writeradmin.

I had a filling on a tooth that kept hurting me. I took ibuprofen every day straight for over a month and finally just decided something else has to be wrong and went back in to see the dentist. He took an x-ray and said that the tooth is infected. He wants to do an extraction next week. I have a couple of questions. Can you tell me if that is my only option? What consequences are there for that or any other option I may have?

Louisa

Dear Louisa,

You definitely have other options. However, if you are on any kind of government insurance, they will only cover the cheapest option, whether or not it is the best one for you.

Generally, when a tooth is infected the dentist will want to do everything they can to save the tooth. That can be done with a root canal treatment. That would be the best option for you. If the tooth is beyond saving, then an extraction would be necessary, but that also means replacing the tooth.

If you don’t replace the tooth, the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the open area. This will throw off your bite. That can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and even TMJ Disorder, so you really will need to replace it.

You have several options for tooth replacements these days, but the hands-down best option is a dental implant. This is the closest to having a healthy, natural tooth because it implants a prosthetic tooth root in your jaw. This makes it a permanent and stable replacement. They are pricey, though.

If a dental implant is out of your reach, here are some other options in descending order of good to “if you must”.

Dental Bridge: This suspends a false tooth between two dental crowns, which means the adjacent teeth will have to be ground down whether they need it or not.
Removable Partial denture: There are several ways these can be made, but the biggest downside is the removable bit as well as loss of jawbone structure.
Dental Flipper: Like a denture, this is removable. In the case of a flipper, it is designed to be temporary, while you work on financing for the better options.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace Dentistry.

Why Are Clear Choice’s Prices Arbitrary?

Posted on November 7, 2021 by writeradmin.

Several years ago I agreed to have all my teeth extracted by a dentist who felt they were too much work to continue to deal with. I wish I had not listened to him. He fit me for a denture and told me I could have it anchored down the road. I HATE this denture. After a year of going back and forth with fittings trying to get it comfortable and not make me gag, I am left toothless and only wearing the top denture when I am in public to save myself humiliation. I recently went to Clear Choice Dental Implants. They said they could give me the all-on-four procedure for $67,000. Then, when they learned I’ve recently hit the senior citizen magic number lowered it to $56,000. Does that mean non-senior citizens are being drastically overcharged? Either way, it still seems like a lot of money. I don’t want to make a second/third mistake with my teeth. What do you recommend?

Angie

Dear Angie,

All on Four Dental Implants

One of the reasons that Clear Choice prices are so high is they are pricing them to compete with people who need bone grafting. However, they don’t actually have to do the bone grafting, which dramatically increases their profits. They do the all-on-4 dental implant procedure which angles the implants enough so that they are more secure without the bone. It can work, but if one part of the unit fails then the entire thing has to be redone.

My recommendation is to talk to a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants and get their opinion on your situation. If you haven’t been in dentures that long, you may not even need the bone grafting, which will save you even more money. A dentist will normally work with you financially. You pay out implants in two stages. Once when the implants are first placed and then another payment when your restoration is placed.

Implant overdentures may be a better fit for you. By the way, even though the restoration uses dentures, it doesn’t feel in any way what you are experiencing with your removable dentures. There is no denture plate, so no gagging. Plus, the denture is anchored to the implants so it is completely secure and comfortable.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Will Supersmile Whiten Dental Bonding?

Posted on November 3, 2021 by writeradmin.

A friend of mine got porcelain veneers and her dentist told her to use Supersmile whitening toothpaste to keep them white. My dentist told me nothing will whiten my dental bonding, but now I’m wondering if the Supersmile will work on bonding too.

Carol

Dear Carol,

Most whitening toothpastes that you get over the counter work by having an abrasive that scrubs off any stains. Unfortunately, this also damages the enamel on your teeth. It is even worse with cosmetic work because the abrasive will scratch the polished or glazed surface and ruin the dental work. Supersmile is different. It enzymatically removes the stains using a protein pellicle. Because of that, there is no damage to the tooth or the dental work. This is why your friend’s dentist recommended it as a way to keep her porcelain veneers nice and shiny.

What it doesn’t do is whiten teeth the way teeth whitening does. It is simply a safe stain remover. Whether or not that will work on your dental bonding will depend on the type of stains you are dealing with. If your bonding just has surface stains, then yes, Supersmile will safely remove those. However, if your bonding is old or damaged and the polish is gone, the only thing that will get them white again is re-doing them.

Dental bonding is made from composite and does not last as long as porcelain veneers so I would plan on replacing it every five years or so.
I hope this answered your question.
This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.