Dear Rick,

A dental implant can last a lifetime if you keep up with good brushing and flossing techniques as well as visiting your dentist every six months for your dental cleanings. If you develop poor dental hygiene habits over the years you can start to lose bone around your teeth as well as the implants causing them to become loose with the possibility of losing teeth as well as the implants. If this happens, sometimes bone grafting can be done and a new dental implant be put into place, however if too much bone has deteriorated bone grafting may not be an option. It sounds like your dentist is saying everything is healthy, therefore keep up with your good hygiene habits, regular check-ups, and feel good about the stability of your dental implants.

Thanks, Robbie

Dear Robbie,

We are very proud of the fact that you subsided your drug use and that you’re getting your life turned around for the better. Since money is not a factor here your best option would be dental bridges supported by dental implants, however the placement of an implant is also dependant on how much bone the implant dentist has to work with. Dental implants are made of titanium and placed in the jaw bone. Once healing of the implants take place an abutment is screwed on the implant for a dental crown to be placed and in your case a dental bridge. This entire process takes about 6 months from start to finish but can take longer if bone grafting is needed. Usually in a situation when one has this procedure done 4 to 6 implants are placed in the jaw bone for the dental implant bridges to attach to. This is the best option for you to have a permanent restoration of your upper teeth and will look very natural esthetically. We recommend you visit a dentist who has advanced training in the placement and restoration of dental implants for a consultation to see if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants.

This blog is sponsored by Chicago implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Jamie,
That must have been an interesting experience, to hear the dentist swearing while you are under the surgery. That makes it seem like things were not going well, and makes me think that maybe he did do something wrong.

We would have to do an examination to find out more – there isn’t enough to go on here to tell what went wrong. Yes, it is possible for people to have body chemistry problems and reject dental implants. There are also a number of surgeon errors that could have happened.

If the implant fixtures are infected and loose, however, adding bone grafts after the fact is not the right way to go. The implants would need to be taken out, then grafting could be done. After the new bone has healed, that is when new implants would have to be placed. It sounds like the surgeon is doing this part backwards. I’d get a second opinion from a dentist with credentials either from the ICOI (International Congress of Oral Implantologists) or the AAID (American Academy of Implant Dentistry).

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Thanks, Kent

Dear Kent,

Unfortunately there is a risk of gum disease with a dental implant just like any other tooth, however is easily preventable with good oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings. Dental implants can last a life time if taken care of properly. Implants are placed in the bone taking anywhere from two to six months for the bone and implant to bond. After this time an abutment is placed on the dental implant which your new tooth will attach to. There are different types of implants and some implants have this abutment attached already so the second visit may not be necessary. Your tissue will look normal and your dental implant will feel natural. Dental implants are a great option for a missing tooth and a better restoration then a dental bridge. We recommend you consult with a dental implant dentist to evaluate you to see if you are an ideal candidate for a dental implant.

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Thanks Meryl,

Dear Meryl,

We all know smoking is bad for our heath including dental health however probably not the cause of the bleeding you recently have noticed. The dental implant is new and your tissue is still healing. Brushing too hard by the implant site could have caused the bleeding. Dental implant failure is common and some of the symptoms would be pain, mobility, and bone lose around the implant. Quitting smoking is a personal choice, however would be best for your overall health if you could quit. Smoking causes many health issues and is a risk factor for gum disease. Signs of gum disease are bleeding gums and bone lose around the teeth. We recommend you address this concern with your dentist and have your gums and implant site evaluated to rule out an infection. 

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Thanks, Nichole

Dear Nichole,

We understand your concern about your daughters smile, however she is too young for dental implants because she is still growing and has several baby teeth in place. A good option for the time being is to take her to an orthodontist to evaluate her for orthodontic treatment. The orthodontist will most likely recommend having an appliance made to keep the spaces open where her lateral incisors would have been in order to make room for the implants at the proper age. These appliances can have acrylic teeth placed on them to replace your daughters missing laterals. When she reaches the age of about 15 you should take her to an implant dentist to see if she is a good candidate for dental implants at that time.

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Thanks, Alispa

Dear Alispa,

Most cardiovascular surgeons want their patients to stay on Plavix for a certain length of time following a heart attack without going off of it. We would recommend you consult your cardiovascular doctor regarding your dental implant appointment. If they think it will be fine for you to have your dental treatment completed they will have you go off your blood thinner medication for several days before your treatment because Plavix prevents your blood from clotting. Once your initial dental implant treatment is completed your cardiovascular surgeon will recommend you to start taking your blood thinner right away.

It is very important to also let your oral surgeon know of your new medication as well as your recent heart attack. It would be wise to have your oral surgeons’ office call your heart doctor to discuss your dental implant treatment so they can work together and have your health in their best interest.

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Thanks, George

Dear George,

Most general dentists are capable and qualified to loosen a clasp on a partial denture even though they are usually made at a dental lab. Most partial dentures are a little uncomfortable to wear in the beginning and we recommend that you follow the instructions your dentist gave you. If you have not had a follow-up visit after receiving your partial denture we advise you to call your dental office and tell them your concern. If you have been in your partial denture for at least a month it’s wise to have your dentist check the partial as soon as possible. If the clasp is left too tight for too long it could possibly cause damage to the tooth it clasps onto.

Remember that if you continue to have difficulty adjusting to your partial you do have the option to see if you are a candidate for dental implants to permanently restore your smile.

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Char,
You have a Clear Choice Dental Implants Center there in Houston, and here’s what I recommend about them.

They do provide a free initial consultation and CAT scan. If you go there and take advantage of that deal, after the evaluation, they will give you their sales presentation. While some people like the presentation, we have heard reports from around the country that they tend to be high-pressure pitches. So I would only go there if you’re good at resisting high pressure sales. They’ll tell you that you’ll get some big discount if you act now – don’t pay attention to that. If you think you’d have trouble resisting that approach, then I would avoid Clear Choice. They’ll make you sign a contract and put your money down and you won’t be able to get out of it.

Here are some of the complaints and comments I’ve heard about Clear Choice Dental Implants centers:

1. They usually want to extract all your remaining teeth, if you have any, even if they are good teeth. This does keep the treatment simple, and if you want all your teeth extracted, or all your teeth are already gone, that is fine. For some patients, that’s what they want. But be prepared for that. Most other implant dentists will encourage you to keep any strong remaining natural teeth.

2. They are expensive for what they do. They do this simplified “All on 4” dental implants technique which they can do in one appointment, and they charge from $20,000 to $50,000 per case, which is comparable to what other dentists charge for more complex and time-consuming treatment plans.

3. This All-on-4 technique can be risky. It involves really angling the implants to make them more resistant to coming out. But if you later have any problem with any one of the four, the whole treatment will have to be done over from scratch. So the technique is controversial among implant dentists. Some dentists refuse to perform this procedure because they consider it too risky.

4. The dentists that work at the Clear Choice Centers are generally very good, from what I’ve heard. They are also paid exceptionally well – I have heard reports of million dollar bonuses – that’s what I heard from a colleague in the Phoenix area. Their fees are high, and they do this short-cut procedure that enables them to produce a lot of dentistry a day, so they can afford excellent dentists.

5. If you do go to Clear Choice, I would always get a second opinion from a different implant dentist. Look for someone with implant dentistry credentials, such as studying at the Misch Institute, or membership in an implant organization such as the International Congress of Oral Implantologists or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Especially if they have credentials from one of those organizations, they will be pretty trustworthy.
Good luck.

This blog sponsored by Skokie implant dentist Dr. William Cohen

Click here to read reviews of Chicago Clear Choice dental implants

Thanks, Sabrina

Sabrina,

It is usually best to wait to have dental implants placed after braces because once an implant is positioned in place it will not move. If you have your implants placed before you have braces, your natural teeth will move into their proper alignment while the implants will not shift therefore leaving your implants compromising the entire dentition. There are some instances where implants are placed before braces to be used as an anchorage to move teeth however this is not too common. If the adjacent teeth next to where your implants are going to be placed during your orthodontic treatment are in their proper position and are not going to move you may be able to have your implants placed at that time. Discuss your concerns with your orthodontist who knows your dentition and who will give you the best treatment plan for you.

This blog sponsored by Chicago implant dentist Dr. William Cohen