Decatur AL Dentist Archives - Drake & Wallace Dentistry

Two Teeth Broke Off Denture

Posted on March 13, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have a removable partial denture which replaces five teeth on my upper arch. I accidentally dropped it and two teeth broke off. Can this be repaired or am I going to need to purchase a whole new unit?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

removable partial dentures — Removable Partial Denture

In almost all cases, either your dentist or the lab where they were made can repair them at a nominal cost to the patient. In rare circumstances, the dentures are so badly damaged they can’t be repaired. Based on your description, I don’t think that’s your problem.

Whatever you do, don’t try to superglue them back on. It’s very likely that you’ll have to get them completely re-done in that case. Take it back to the dentist.

A Benefit of Broken Dentures

I like to take advantage of life’s little annoying challenges and find some way to turn them around for my benefit. Let’s say you have a worst case scenario and they can’t be repaired, we can turn this to a benefit to you.

Re-evaluate how you feel about your smile at the moment. Are you happy with it? Are you proud to flash your smile? If not, this is your opportunity to something about it.

The most affordable way to remake a smile quickly is teeth whitening. It makes patients look years younger in a flash. Then, as you have to have your dentures remade anyway, they can simply remake them to match the new brighter color of your teeth.

A frustrating accident is now an instant smile makeover.

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

Dental Care During Cancer Treatment

Posted on October 8, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’m in the middle of chemotherapy. Everything in my body hurts. I know I’m supposed to make sure I go to the dentist during treatment because they say the treatment is bad for my teeth, but the idea is terrifying. I’m already hurting so much. Is there anything which could make this easier?

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

A dentist shouldn’t make you want to hide!

You are so brave. I know how hard it is to deal with cancer treatments. The fact that you’re even trying to find a way to care for your teeth is incredible. It’s worth the effort, though. Your doctors are correct. The treatment you’re undergoing will wreak havoc on your oral health. You may even develop sores in your mouth which will make your treatment even more challenging.

For people in your situation, I always recommend finding a dentist who will cater to your situation. You’ll ideally want to have some form of dental sedation. At the beginning of your treatment, nitrous oxide and a gentle dentist will be enough. As treatment progresses, you may need a full-fledged sedation dentist.

Finding a Dentist Who Will Give Gentle Care

The first thing I’d do is an internet search using one of the following three terms:

Gentle Dentist
Sedation Dentist
Cater to Cowards Dentist

Once you’ve found a few in your area, check out their reviews on places such as Yelp! or Google Reviews to see who really lives up to what they advertise. Then, call those who are left to and let them know your situation. Make sure they offer oral conscious sedation. This will be for the times you’re in the most pain and need work. It’s a simple pill you’ll take before your appointment. Most patients will sleep through the entire procedure. The only downside is you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you until you’re lucid again.

The benefit is you can get a lot of work done without any pain whatsoever.

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

My Mother Won’t Wear Her Dentures

Posted on September 20, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’ve taken over care of my mother after I discovered her nursing home was neglecting her. One of the first things I did was take her to a doctor and dentist. Both areas were in sore need of attention. She was malnourished and dehydrated. On top of that, we weren’t able to save her teeth. They had to be extracted and we’ve gotten her dentures, but she’s absolutely refusing to wear them and keeps taking them out. I can’t tell what’s bothering her about them and she hasn’t said much since we moved her to our home. Do you have any insight you can offer?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

It sounds like both of you have been through a lot. It may take her a while to communicate well again. In the meantime, here are some things your dentist can check on your mother’s dentures to see where things are not ideal and can be adjusted.

Too Tight/Loose

It’s a strange thing that dentures can fit fine in some places and not others. Often you will get a spot which is too tight compared to the other spots. However, the only way for the dentist to know that is through communication from the patient. I know your mom is not communicating at the moment, but the dentist can look at it to see if there are any obvious tight spots.

Another common issue is the dentures become loose. That’s often because there is swelling after the procedure which goes down. Then, suddenly, the denture is loose. Her dentures can be relined to make them fit more properly.

Poor Fit

Sometimes a pair of dentures are just made poorly. The can rock back and forth causing sores and other injuries to the patient. It’s okay to tell a dentist they’re not good enough. It’s not worth injury.

Won’t Stay In

Occasionally you have a patient who naturally thrusts with their tongue pushing out their dentures. You mother may be doing that either intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes it takes patients a while to adjust to dentures. But, if she can’t help thrusting her tongue, you may look at implant supported dentures which will keep them anchored in her mouth.

If you’re worried about the healing time required for traditional dental implants, you could also look at the teeth in a day procedure.

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

Do Dentists Advertise as Affordable Just to Get You in There?

Posted on August 27, 2018 by writeradmin.

I had a tooth which bothered me a few months ago. I knew it was a cavity from a previous dental visit but I didn’t have the money to deal with it. My dentist wanted a fortune. Recently, it started hurting again so I decided to just deal with it. I called around to find the most affordable dentist in my area. One dentist said he’s much more affordable than other dentists because he doesn’t overcharge the way they do. I thought, “Finally, a dentist who admits they overcharge.” I booked the appointment. When I got there he told me I don’t need a filling but a crown. Now instead of saving money I’m spending a small fortune, way over what my original dentist quoted for the filling. I left angry and told him I didn’t like the bait and switch. Now I’m not sure if I should just get it or get a second opinion. But, a second opinion means paying for MORE dental appointments. How could it get that bad in such a short time?

Amber

Dear Amber,

There’s a difference between affordable and cheap dentistry.

There are a few things going on here. The first thing I’d address is the difference in the cavity. Now, I don’t know the dentist you went to or his reputation, but the change in suggested treatment doesn’t necessarily mean he did a bait and switch. You already had a cavity for some months. These things can suddenly take off and become serious without much warning. It doesn’t mean yours has, just that it is a feasible situation. If the cavity grew, it may be too large and a crown would be necessary. If it grows even larger, you could end up with a root canal treatment as well.

Cheap versus Affordable Dental Care

Another thing I want to address is price shopping for dental care. While there are ways to safely get affordable dental care, price shopping isn’t one of them. What if you were having surgery? Would you call around to several surgeons and just go with the cheapest or would you rather know their skill and success rate?

Cheap dentists are often cheap for all the wrong reasons. One is they’re new. That one isn’t such a bad reason. We were all brand new at some point. They may have lower prices to draw someone into their practice and build up clientele. While some newbies are extra cautious and go above and beyond, others miss things because of their inexperience.

Another reason for unusually low prices is a dentist who is just bad at their job. They can’t keep clients because of how bad they are at their profession so they constantly have to draw new ones. Severely undercutting the competition is one way to do that.

Thirdly, a dentist can have low prices by cutting corners. Instead of purchasing the high-end materials, they get the cheapest. You may think, What’s the big deal about that if it saves me money? The big deal is it may end up costing you money. The high-end material may cost you $500 but last 7-10 years, while cheap material costs $300 but lasts 3-5 years. In the end, the pricey material was more affordable.

We see this most often when patients price shop for dental implants. They think they’re going to save thousands of dollars, but one infection and a dental implant failure later, they have to re-do the whole thing. Plus, now they need an additional bone grafting procedure costing them more than double.

It’s much better to look for a quality dentist who’ll give you options and work with you on payments than to go to a dentist you’ll regret.

All that being said, if your gut is telling you this guy isn’t honest, it’s perfectly within your right to get a second opinion. You also have the right to bring your x-rays from the “affordable” dentist so you don’t have to pay for those twice.

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

Feel Beaten Up After Dental Implants

Posted on August 15, 2018 by writeradmin.

I don’t know if my dentist mislead me or if something went wrong during my dental implant procedure, but I feel like I’ve been battered by a boxer. My dentist said it’s an easy peasy procedure and I’ll be back to work first thing the next morning. I have massive swelling and am in constant pain. Is this okay?

Karen

Dear Karen,

Woman hitting man in jaw wearing boxing glove

What’s Normal After Dental Implants?

I’m terribly sorry you’re in so much pain. I can’t say that’s okay, but I can say the swelling, though not common, happens often enough to be considered a “normal” side-effect. I’m a little concerned your dentist minimized what you’d go through in order to encourage you to get the dental implants.

While most people do fine, it is surgery. Every person’s body responds differently to being cut into. In general, the worst day of pain should be the second. After that, you should see it go down a little day by day. If it doesn’t, it can indicate an infection is developing and you’d need to call your dentist right away.

Aiding Your Dental Implant Healing

Make sure you follow your dentist’s post-operative instructions. It’s also important you take good care of yourself. I know when you’re feeling poorly it’s likely the last thing you think about, but do try to eat and stay hydrated. Your body needs that so it can focus on healing.

Because you’re in pain, it’s okay to take some pain relief. If your dentist didn’t prescribe any, call and let them know what’s going on. You shouldn’t have to suffer through the healing process.

If you are a smoker, it might be a good idea to cut back during this time period. Smoking increases your risk of gum disease and lowers the blood flow in your gums. Both of those things put you at great risk for infection and dental implant failure.

Again, if you don’t see improvement soon, call your dentist and demand to be examined.

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

My Dentist thinks I’m Crazy

Posted on August 8, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’m getting used to having medical people think I’m nuts, but at this point in my life, I know my body. Every time there is metal involved, I feel awful. I want to get rid of my metal fillings. I think they’re giving me problems. I took a Clifford’s test and it did show I have quite a few metal sensitivities. My dentist feels like it’s bunk. So, what I’m asking is will every dentist feel this way and I just have to deal with it or is there a chance there’s a dentist out there who will take me seriously?

Cara

Dear Cara,

I understand what you’re going through. Many dentists still find the Clifford’s test to be controversial. Notice I said many, not all. That’s the good news for you. There are dentists out there who will take you seriously and work around your metal sensitivities.

Your best option is to find a metal-free dentist. However, the limitation for you is to find one who also knows how to safely remove amalgam fillings.

Removing Amalgam Fillings Requires a Special Procedure

Make sure you ask whatever dentist you’re considering whether or not they know the procedure for sanitary amalgam removal. The mercury in the silver fillings causes a danger to you. You want your dentist to know the steps to prevent you from swallowing the pieces or inhaling any mercury vapors. Most mercury-free dentists know how to do that.

Are Metal-Free Fillings Safer?

I’m guessing your dentist quoted to you the fact that the ADA has proclaimed after numerous studies that amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. What he probably didn’t mention is there are as many studies done by other groups which say they aren’t. Much of the difference has to do with the conditions under which the tests were performed. For instance, the ADA’s tests were done under static conditions, whereas the other tests were done under real-world conditions.

Regardless of the amount of release of mercury from the fillings, that’s not your actual problem. You’re allergic to the metal. They could be perfectly safe for millions of people, but that doesn’t change your allergies.

What Metal-Free Services are Available?

In addition to metal-free fillings, which are worlds better for your teeth than their silver counterparts, you can also get all-porcelain dental crowns or Zirconia Crowns. You no longer have to get a metal-based crown. In fact, most dentists should discourage them on front teeth. They are remarkably unattractive looking, which isn’t what you want in your smile. Plus, they always develop a gray line at your gumline. Also not a pretty smile feature.

Additionally, you can now get metal-free dental implants. Using zirconia instead of titanium you can have a dental implant which won’t affect your allergies in any way whatsoever.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur Dentists Dr. Drake and Wallace.