Archives for May 2018

Worried Affordable Implant Dentist is Not Safe

Posted on May 31, 2018 by writeradmin.

I signed up for this certain dental insurance plan in my area because I have a dental phobia which resulted in me losing most of my teeth. I’m hoping to get affordable dental implants. I went to one of the dentists listed on the plan, who advertises as an implant dentist too. The very first thing they had me do is fill out financial forms with something called Care Credit. They came back and told me I qualified and then gave me paperwork to fill out my dental/medical history, etc. So, I first wondered if they’d have treated me if I didn’t “qualify” for financing. They did the cleaning, which wasn’t pleasant. The dentist never did a check up but told me I needed a crown and two fillings. Then I can get implants. I’m not sure I trust this dentist. He didn’t even examine me and is agreeing to expensive surgery, etc. What do I do?

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

I completely understand your concern. I’m especially appalled that they were more interested in your financial viability than your dental health. Combine that with the fact your dentist never bothered to examine you before giving a diagnosis and I would advise you to run away from this dentist.

I want to address your dental phobia and then we can set up a plan for you to get affordable dental implants.

Dealing with Dental Anxiety

One thing that’s quite helpful to patients who aren’t fond of the dental chair is to use sedation. This is different from the type of sedation you get with a surgical procedure. You’re not unconscious. It’s called oral conscious sedation. Basically, it completely relaxes you enabling your pain medicine to work more efficiently. In fact, it relaxes you so much that most patients prefer to just sleep through the appointment.

The only downside is that you’re a bit on the loopy side and will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Plus, they’ll likely need to stay with you until the medicine wears off.

Affordable Versus Cheap Dental Implants

Too many people make the mistake of looking for the cheapest implant dentist around. That often ends disastrously. If someone is significantly less expensive than the other dentists in their area, it’s usually from one of two reasons.

One, they’re new to the procedure and need to draw in patients in order to gain more experience. That could work out fine. Everyone has to start somewhere. But, bear in mind they don’t have a track record of successful procedures yet or experience when things don’t go just as expected.

Another common reason for lower prices is cheaper materials. While implants can cost several hundred dollars in the United States, they can be purchased overseas for just a few dollars. The problem with that is the standards. Many of these end up causing infections or even breaking in the patient’s jaw.

Instead of looking for the cheapest, look for options to give you quality implants at a reasonable price. If you’re getting implant supported dentures, you don’t have to get a full set of implants. You can start out with just four strategically placed for maximum security and benefit.

Bear in mind you normally won’t have to pay for the entire procedure up front. Because it’s done in stages, you can usually spread out the payments as well.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey.

Gums disappearing

Posted on May 25, 2018 by writeradmin.

I don’t go to the dentist much, mostly because they terrify me. However, lately, I’ve noticed my gums seem to be disappearing and going upward. Is this a dental emergency? My gums look healthy other than that. They’re the right color and I’ve only had one cavity in my entire life. I don’t know what’s going on.

Amber

Dear Amber,

You Don’t Have to Fear the Dentist

It sounds like you’re describing receding gums. There are several causes for this. The two main ones are gum disease and aggressive brushing.

A Dentist Can Help Find the Cause of Recessive Gums

Gum Disease

A dental exam can tell you right away if the cause is gum disease. This is the most serious reason for gum recession and it needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. If left untreated, it will lead to your teeth becoming loose and falling out. Then, you’ll need tooth replacement procedures such as dental implants.

I do realize you have dental anxiety. I’d like to help you with that. There are quite a few dentists these days who offer dental sedation. It is a huge help to patients who would rather be anywhere else than a dental chair. It’s so helpful, in fact, that many patients simply sleep through their appointments. Finding a compassionate sedation dentist can switch dental appointments from being something you dread to a time where you look forward to a nice nap.

Aggressive Brushing

If you use a hard bristled brush or press down too hard while brushing your teeth, this can also cause your gums to recede. It wears them down a little at a time.

Pinhole Technique to Restore Gums

There’s a fairly simple solution to restore your gums. There’s a pinhole gum surgical technique which is scalpel-free and suture-free. It’s patient-friendly and you can get back to your life much quicker because you don’t have the same type of healing time needed with more traditional surgical techniques.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey.

Dental Implants with Metal Allergies

Posted on May 12, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’ve been sick for years. I finally went to a doctor who would listen to me and he ran a bunch of tests. He determined I have a severe metal allergy. I convinced my dentist to remove my amalgam fillings and switch them with composites. I even had my dental crowns switched to all-porcelain crowns. The only thing that’s left is one dental implant. Yet, my dentist insists nothing can be done about that. He also says that he knows of no patients who have a metal allergy to titanium. That being said, I do have an allergy to titanium. So… is there anything I can do or am I stuck with something I’m allergic to? I know I could get a bridge, but I really like having an implant. It’s like having a real tooth again.

Corinna

Dear Corinna,

Metal-free Zirconia Dental Implants in three shapes

Zirconia is metal-free and dubbed “ceramic steel”

I’m sorry for all you’ve suffered and very glad to hear you found a doctor who actually listened to you! I’ve had friends with mysterious illnesses themselves and they struggled to find medical practitioners who would listen to them. When they finally did, it was like a balm to their bodies and encouragement to their spirits.

I don’t know where your dentist has been, but there are metal-free dental implants. Zirconia hasn’t been used in implants for as long as their titanium forbearers, but they’ve had remarkable success and are as strong. In fact, they’re often nicknamed ceramic steel because of their strength.

I’m not telling you to leave your dentist but I do think you’d be better served by a dentist who keeps up with dental developments. It’s their job to give you all your options. To do that well, they actually need to know them.

Replacing Titanium Implants with Metal-Free Dental Implants

I know you’ve decided against getting a porcelain bridge. That’s absolutely fine. I understand why you’d want to keep the comfort and convenience of implants. I just want to be certain you have all the information. It’s not simply a matter of taking out the current dental implant and replacing it with the zirconia one. You won’t have enough bone to just pop in the new one.

You’ll start with removing your current implant. The next step will be to have bone grafting done. That’s now a one-day procedure, which is quite simple. The technology has greatly improved. Once your bone grafting is healed, then you can start your new dental implant procedure. It will take a skilled dentist to do all of these procedures correctly, so do your research on the dentist’s training and success rate.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey.