Uncategorized Archives - Atlanta Dental Implants

Should I get my implants from ClearChoice?

Posted on July 21, 2021 by iowasmiles.

I need some advice. I do not live in your area, so would not be a potential patient for you. That is why I am writing you, in the hopes of getting an unbiased answer. I am needing to get dental implants. I was about to go to a seminar for the ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers when I came across some reviews about them being unethical and that has me worried. Do you have an opinion?

Carol

Dear Carol,

Implant overdentures

Bear in mind that each ClearChoice Center is a little different, though there are some consistencies overall. First, their dentists tend to be decent dentists. Some of the major complaints about ClearChoice are more about claiming they have high-pressure sales tactics, their one-size-fits-all treatment philosophy, and lack of follow-up care. If you NEED all of your teeth removed and to get the All-on-4 dental implant procedure, then they may be a good option. All-on-4 is their go-to procedure. Do try to talk them down on their price before agreeing. Depending on the center, I’ve known people to get them to drop $10,000 from their price. Though, that varies from center to center.

However, if you are not in need of that one specific procedure, you may be better off with a private dentist. If you just need individual dental implants for a few teeth, ClearChoice probably is not for you. We have heard that they’ll often try to pressure you to remove healthy teeth to fit their treatment philosophy. If you do need to remove all your teeth, my first choice in treatments would be to get implant-supported dentures. It is a better, more flexible treatment. Plus, if something goes wrong with one dental implant only that implant will need to be replaced. With All-on-4, the entire unit will have to be replaced.

Finally, I have heard reports complaining of a lack of follow-up care. If that is true, that does bother me. It is a signal that they are more interested in drawing in patients than in the outcome of your case. Replacing teeth, especially with any kind of surgical procedure is complicated and I am of the opinion patients need someone who will be there for them to make sure everything has gone according to plan once the work is done.

Bottom line, talk to Clear Choice if you need All-on-4 and get their pricing. Then, go to a private dentist for any other implant procedure. Though, even for the All-on-4, it might help to get a second opinion to get another price quote and get a feel for the difference in care you might get.

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

Metal Allergies and Dental Implants

Posted on December 6, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve always looked after my teeth carefully. I’ve never even had a cavity, so I’m feeling a bit out of my depth here. I was in an accident that caused me to lose one of my teeth. I know I need to replace it and I know that dental implants are the best replacement option. What I don’t know is how that is impacted when you have metal allergies. My understanding is the implant fixture is metal. Would it be unsafe for me to get an implant?

Paula

Dear Paula,

You didn’t mention what type of metal allergies you have. The most common metal allergy is nickel. There is no nickel in dental implants. Dental implants are made from titanium, which is highly biocompatible. It has been used in many types of prosthetics in the human body for decades. You’ll be safe with that replacement.

Though titanium allergies are extraordinarily rare, if you happen to be someone who is dealing with that, you there is still a way for you to replace your tooth with an implant. Some dentists are now using zirconia implants. These are metal-free. Zirconia is known as ceramic steel. This is strong enough to do a fine job.

Not as many dentists use this option so you may have to search around. It’s not that they are not as good. It’s more that they are new and we don’t have as much data on their longevity simply because they haven’t been around as long.

Jn your place, if you don’t have a titanium allergy, I would just get the traditional dental implants that have the data behind them. The other important factor would be the dentist who does the procedure. You will want to make sure they have extensive post-doctoral implant training, as well as a good amount of experience.

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

Dental Implants after Years of Dentures

Posted on January 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have had dentures for over ten years. I have hated them from the beginning but wasn’t in the position to do anything else. Now my circumstances have changed but I’m wondering whether it is too late to do anything since it has been so long.

Kater

Dear Kater,

It is never too late to improve our dental health. In this case, the upgrade can literally save your jaw. When your teeth were removed, your body started a process known as facial collapse. This is where it removes the minerals in your jawbone are resorbed to be used elsewhere in your body. It’s your brain’s way of being the most efficient to the resources available. Because you no longer have teeth, it makes the assumption you no longer need the jawbone to retain the teeth roots. After about ten years, it becomes difficult to keep your dentures in place. Eventually, you’ll lose so much jawbone, you won’t be able to keep your dentures in at all.

The way to prevent facial collapse is by placing a series of prosthetics in your jawbone that mimic your teeth roots. This tells your brain there are still teeth there and you will need that jawbone fully in-tact. The best tooth replacement option for that is to get dental implants.

When you are missing all of your teeth, it is too expensive to replace each tooth with a dental implant. However, there is a great solution. You can get implant overdentures. This places between four to six dental implants and then secures them to a denture.

It’s not at all like wearing removable dentures. Because they’re anchored to the implants, they’re completely secure. You’ll find your chewing capacity goes up significantly with the implants. Best of all, you’ll never have to worry about facial collapse.

Because you have already been in dentures for at least ten years, you likely are beginning to experience some of the problems associated with facial collapse. You are probably going to need to have some bone grafting done to ensure you have enough bone structure to retain the dental implants.

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

Is All-on-4 Dental Implants My Only Option?

Posted on November 6, 2019 by writeradmin.

My husband went to the dentist to get some information on dental implants. He’s had dentures for a while but hates them. The dentist said he could only have the all-on-four procedure. We’re were hoping for the more traditional procedure. Should we get a second opinion?

Kami

Dear Kami,

All-on-4 dental implants

Yes, I recommend you get a second opinion. I am always especially leary of dentists who only offer one option. There are always options. If he said you can only get an all-on-4 procedure because of a lack of jawbone structure, that’s not your only option. With the all-on-four position, they angle the implants so “technically” it doesn’t require as much bone.

Howeever, you can get traditional implants if you have have bone grafting done first. This is an outpatient procedure which can take your own bone from another part of your body to graft into your jawbone. Or, you can get porcine or synthetic bone to graft there. This enables you to have enough bone structure to retain traditional dental implants.

If you are replacing all your teeth, you will get between four to six dental implants and then secure a denture to them. Obviously, the more dental implants you have, the more secure everything will be.

Having more dental implants also helps prevent you from any further jawbone loss, leading to facial collapse.

Why Your Husband’s Jawbone Shrank

Image of a woman before and after the affects of facial collapse

Wearing dentures leads to a condition known as facial collapse

When your husband’s teeth were removed, his body recognized that and, in an effort to be efficient, began resorbing the minerals in his jawbone to use elsewhere throughout his body where it perceived they’d be more useful. This has the effect of slowly disintegrating his jawbone. After a period of time, there won’t be enough jawbone left in his body to even retain his dentures. This is known as facial collapse.

The solution to this problem is to place dental implants into his jaw after you’ve built the structure back up with the bone grafting procedure. The implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots and signal to the body he still has teeth there, which prevents any loss of minerals.

Whichever dentist you end up using for your procedure, it is important, if the dentist doesn’t do both the surgery and the restoration, that they communicate with the surgeon before the surgery about the placement. This will prevent the surgery from just jumping forward and placing the implants in the wrong spots. There are many dental implant horror stories that resulted from this.

Best of luck to you.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Why are my gums bleeding?

Posted on March 14, 2018 by AllSmiles.

I wanted to write to ask about my gums. I have noticed recently that they are bleeding more often when I floss them. I usually have some bleeding when I floss, but this seems more than normal.

Frances in Florida

Hi Frances,

Unfortunately, no level of bleeding gums is “normal” when you are flossing. It is good that you are flossing regularly. And it’s also good that you are noticing it and asking the question because it could be a sign of periodontal disease.

Many people don’t know that one of the reasons it is recommended that we see the dentist twice a year is so that gum disease can be diagnosed and treated early before it has a chance to cause real damage.

When it comes to dental health, our gums are just as important or even more important than the state of our teeth because while cavities are fairly easily treated with fillings, gum disease can be more problematic unless it is caught and treated quickly.

Gum disease usually begins when the plaque that naturally forms on our teeth after we eat is left to harden into tartar. Tartar can irritate the gums and cause inflammation, and when this inflammation becomes severe, the teeth and their supporting structures get broken down. This is when gum disease becomes a periodontal disease, and one of its signs is bleeding gums.

At this point it would be a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist, so you can get a diagnosis and proper treatment if it is needed. Remember also that medications can also sometimes cause bleeding or inflamed gums, so if you are taking blood thinners, contraceptives, high blood pressure medicine, or even some over-the-counter pain medications, be sure to tell your dentist at your appointment.

Good luck to you in your journey to a healthy dental future.

This Blog is brought to you by David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.

Is non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease possible?

Posted on March 1, 2018 by AllSmiles.

Is non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease possible?

My dentist recently referred me to a periodontist because he detected some signs of advanced periodontal disease. I’m afraid of surgery, and I’m wondering if non-surgical treatment is possible. I’ve had some bad experiences with surgery, so I really appreciate any information you can provide.

Victor in Atlanta

Hi Victor,

The simple answer to your questions is yes. In fact, non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease is not only possible, but it is also very effective and allows much faster healing times than surgical techniques do. Remember that this is Blog is only meant to be informational, and a periodontist will need to make a complete examination in order to provide you with the best treatment options, but we can at least let you know what non-surgical gum treatment looks like.

Non-surgical gum treatment is also called deep cleaning or scaling and root planing. The purpose of this treatment is to clean out pockets of bacteria and debris that are undermining the structures that support the teeth, namely the soft tissues and jawbone.

Because scaling and root planing takes place below the gumline, where it is not possible to see without special instrumentation, many periodontists now use a perioscope. This instrument allows the periodontist to see what is going on below the gumline. And very often dental lasers will be used to make the procedure even more comfortable because they work with both light and water to make the treatment relatively painless.

When plaque hardens into tartar, it can begin to cause irritation and inflammation in the gum tissues. If left untreated, this inflammation will actually break down the gums, the jawbone, and the tooth roots themselves. The only option that was formerly available was a surgical procedure which moved the gums out of the way so that the deep pockets of disease could be cleaned out.

Now, with the help of the perioscope and dental lasers, non-surgical treatment no longer requires incisions, sutures, or the longer healing times that used to be needed. With the non-surgical approach, there is actually less risk that the gums will pull back or recede. And the newer approach helps the body generate new bone materials, making the teeth stronger.

Finally, many periodontists have found that non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease is effective enough to allow them to forego any further treatment. However, most patients will continue to need periodontal maintenance, or skilled periodontal cleanings, every two to four months moving forward.

Hopefully, this will help you overcome your fear and move forward with the treatment you need. Remember that if you are still afraid, you can seek out a periodontist who also offers different levels of sedation. You really can have healthy teeth and a beautiful smile with the right care.

Good luck in finding what you need for a healthy dental future.

This Blog is brought to you by David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.

What is periodontal maintenance?

Posted on February 13, 2018 by AllSmiles.

What is Periodontal Maintenance?

I recently had scaling and root planing performed by my periodontist, and now she wants me to come back four times a year for periodontal maintenance. I am a little concerned because I have always heard that you should go to the dentist for cleaning and maintenance twice a year. Why the extra maintenance?

Michael in Florida

Hi Michael,

It’s great that you got your periodontal disease treated with scaling and root planing, but it sounds like maybe your periodontist just didn’t provide enough information about the follow-up treatment. Periodontal maintenance is needed to keep your periodontal disease from returning. So let’s see if we can’t give you the reassurance you need to continue keeping your teeth healthy.

Periodontal disease is a chronic condition. There is no “cure” for it, but with proper treatment and continued maintenance, you can keep it from loosening your teeth and causing other health problems.

Scaling and root planing is usually performed to eradicate the current causes of the disease: these are pockets of bacteria that form under the gums that undermine the underlying structures that support the teeth. That is why this disease is so damaging. It breaks down the tooth itself as well as the soft tissues and bone that hold it in place.

Once scaling and root planing have removed the current sources of disease, it is imperative to maintain the new state of health. You can see in this illustration how plaque builds up and eventually begins to undermine the soft and bone tissues under the gums, where we can’t see what is going on. The left part of the tooth in this diagram shows healthy tooth, bone, and gum, and the right part shows what happens in periodontal disease.

Periodontal maintenance is a two-fold process with both at-home and in-office steps. The at-home steps involve effective hygiene. This means that you will need to be very careful about brushing and flossing every time you eat. Once you have periodontal disease, you can no longer afford to skip this step.

The corresponding in-office step is the maintenance cleanings your periodontist recommended. They need to be more frequent to prevent the disease from returning. In addition, these maintenance cleanings require that the hygienist have more training and skill, and you can expect that they will take longer as well.

Think of it this way: if you do all you can to keep up with your at-home hygiene and return regularly for your maintenance cleanings, you may never have to experience another scaling and root planing procedure or the more severe aspects of untreated periodontal disease.

Good luck to you in maintaining your dental and overall health with regular cleanings.

This Blog is brought to you by David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.

Bone grafts for dental implants

Posted on February 2, 2018 by AllSmiles.

Bone Grafts for Dental Implants

I am in my early 40s, and I recently looked into getting a couple dental implants to replace two front teeth I lost when I was just 18. I have always had two removable false teeth that clipped in behind the two adjacent teeth, and it has always bothered me. So I talked to my dentist about getting a more permanent (and hopefully more aesthetic) solution. He told me I would need a bone graft for the dental implants, so now I’m wondering if it is too much trouble. I really want my front teeth to look more natural, but I feel like a bone graft will be too much pain to go through.

Arabella in Atlanta

Hello Arabella,

Many people who explore the possibility of a dental implant or implants end up needing bone grafting, and while it is one more procedure to go through and heal from, it should not deter you from obtaining the smile you want.

Let’s first talk about the reason you probably need bone grafting at this point, then we’ll talk through the procedure, so you understand what it entails and can calm your fears.

Reason for Bone Grafts

If you’ve had false teeth for 22 years or more, it is likely that your jawbone has atrophied and lost density in the area below those teeth. This is because false teeth, dentures, and bridges only replace the crown or visible part of the tooth without addressing the loss of the tooth root.

The body interprets the loss of a tooth with its root to mean that the supporting bone structure is no longer needed. It begins to absorb the bone-building minerals that once supported the tooth for use elsewhere in the body. This leads to situations like yours in which there is not enough bone structure left to support a dental implant. And in the case of the loss of all of the teeth, it can lead to facial collapse.

That’s why dental implants are a very good choice: they replace both the tooth root and the crown. In fact, a dental implant is a replacement root that is implanted directly into your jawbone, and it is strong enough to support a crown. As you can see from the diagram here, the tooth root form needs enough bone material to be stable. Only then can it support the crown.

Bone Grafting Procedure

So now that you know why, let’s talk about how. It’s easy to fear what we don’t really understand, so hopefully, a little more information will go a long way here. To begin with, the tissue used for the bone graft can be found in your own jawbone, and when this is not possible, it can be obtained from a tissue bank.

Because there have been many recent advances in techniques and technology, bone grafting is now a minimally invasive and safe procedure. Your periodontist will place the new tissue after making an incision, and because your body will recognize the graft material as its own bone, and will gradually replace the graft with more bone-building minerals. This way, through guided tissue regeneration, you end up with more of your own natural bone than you had before the graft.

And modern sedation and pain-relief methods will keep the procedure and healing period for both the bone grafting and the implantation of the tooth root form relatively pain-free.

It is a really good idea to explore all these topics with your periodontist or oral surgeon who will perform the procedures. This will help you build more trust and lessen your fear as well. You can look forward to a permanent and beautiful smile.

Good luck in finding the right solution for a healthy and happy dental future.

This Blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.

Why didn’t my dentist tell me about facial collapse?

Posted on January 4, 2018 by AllSmiles.

About 10 years ago, I was having a lot of trouble with my teeth. My dentist said I had periodontal disease and recommended that I have my teeth removed so he could fit me with dentures. I wanted to stop hurting and going to the dentist all the time, so I got the dentures. That same dentist always worked with me until recently, when I took my daughter’s advice to see a new dentist. Now I find out I have lost a lot of bone and I want to know why my first dentist didn’t tell me about facial collapse, what it is, and if I can prevent further bone loss.

Judy, Tallahassee, Florida

Hi Judy,

It’s unfortunate that you are just now finding out about facial collapse. Hopefully they are fewer and fewer, but there are some dentists who not only aggressively sell their patients on dentures, but also fail to fully inform them about the problems with dentures and especially about the bone loss that leads to facial collapse. But further bone loss can be prevented with dental implants. And with bone grafting, the effects of the bone loss you have already suffered can, to a large extent, be reversed. Let’s take a look at what facial collapse is, and then we can explain your options for treatment at this point.

What is Facial Collapse?

We tend to think of our teeth as just the visible crowns that appear above the gum line, when, in fact, our tooth roots are integral to our dental and overall health. The roots not only attach the teeth to the jawbone, they also keep the jawbone in place. In fact, as soon as we lose a tooth, the body interprets the loss to mean that we no longer need the bone that used to support that tooth. So it begins to “resorb” the bone-building minerals from that part of the jaw, because there is always a need for those minerals elsewhere in the body.

When we lose most or all of our teeth, this process of resorption proceeds quickly at first and then slows down, and over the course of just ten to twenty years, we can begin to see the signs of facial collapse. The illustration to the right shows four jawbones. The first one still has a full set of lower teeth, and you can see that the jawbone is still present and healthy. In the second jawbone, there has been some vertical bone lost. And finally, in the last two, so much bone has been lost that it would be impossible to even support dentures.

The corresponding appearance that accompanies facial collapse is the kind of sunken-in appearance with strong vertical lines around the mouth that we associate with old age.

Because you have been without your teeth for about ten years, it is likely that your new dentist can take remedial measures to prevent the bone loss from progressing further, and there may even be a chance of reversing what you have already lost with bone grafting and dental implants.

Preventing and Treating Facial Collapse

Because dentures only replace the visible parts of our teeth, they can never prevent bone loss. But dental implants are actually tooth root forms onto which dental crowns are fixed, effectively replacing both the tooth root and the visible part of the tooth. These tooth root forms are placed into the jaw bone during a surgical procedure.

As you heal from the surgery, a process that is the reverse of resorption takes place. It is called osseointegration, and it means that the body brings more bone-building minerals to the site of the implanted root and surrounds it with new bone. By the time you are fully healed, your jawbone will have fully integrated the implant, so that it ultimately becomes part of the bone. The resulting structure is strong enough to receive a crown and to withstand the pressures of chewing.

And if you no longer have enough bone left to support an implant, bone grafting can be used to reverse the bone loss process. Bone grafting can sound like a difficult procedure, but it is actually a minimally invasive surgery during which safe and effective grafting materials are placed. Your body responds to the implanted material by regenerating tissue, and will actually replace the graft with your own bone-building minerals.

The Role of Implant-Supported Dentures

Finally, you do not need to replace every single tooth with a bone graft and dental implant to have a great outcome. Implant-supported dentures are held in place with six to eight dental implants, and they can not only solve many of the problems many people experience with removable dentures, they can also prevent further bone loss.

Your next step should be to talk over your treatment options with your dentist, and if you do not feel that he or she is really comfortable discussing dental implants, bone grafting, and implant-supported dentures, don’t hesitate to do more research. You will eventually find the right dentist to provide you with the kind of outcome you are looking for.

Good luck to you!

This Blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Can you cure Periodontal Disease?

Posted on December 30, 2017 by AllSmiles.

My dentist told me I have gum disease. He gave me a short explanation, but I don’t really understand. Can you cure periodontal disease?

Carol in Atlanta

Hi Carol,

Periodontal disease can be prevented and successfully treated. And while there is currently no “cure,” non-surgical gum treatment and professional periodontal maintenance can help you live without further damage or negative consequences.

Periodontal disease has many stages, and without knowing what stage you are in, it will be difficult to pinpoint you most need to know. But an overview of the progression of the disease and an explanation of current non-surgical treatment and periodontal maintenance should give you an idea of what you might expect.

In general, if you have periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to talk over treatment options with your dentist or to seek out a well-trained and experienced periodontist, who will have the qualifications and equipment to provide the most effective treatment.

Periodontal Disease

Long before periodontal disease causes any damage to our teeth and their surrounding structures, lack of basic dental hygiene like regular brushing and flossing can lead to gingivitis, or infection of the gums. This can easily be treated with a good, professional cleaning and follow-up care.

When plaque is allowed to stay on the teeth and build up, however, it hardens into tartar, which causes inflammation of the gums. The gums withdraw, compromising the tooth root and the surrounding bone structure, as shown in the diagram to the left.

At this point periodontal disease is well established, undermining the health of our teeth and possibly also contributing to other health conditions. At this level, it is called periodontitis, and if left untreated, it will eventually dissolve away so much of the surrounding soft tissue and bone structure that teeth will become loose and fall out. This condition is the reason most adults begin to lose teeth as they age.

Periodontal Treatment

Treatment for periodontitis usually begins with scaling and root planing, a procedure that used to involve surgical techniques and call for a long healing process. Non-surgical periodontal treatment uses advanced instruments like a perioscope and a dental laser. The perioscope is a high-tech camera that allows the periodontist to see the extent of inflammation and damage that has taken place below the gum line. And dental lasers now make it possible to remove damaged soft tissue and bone without surgery, using both heat and water for a painless procedure.

Periodontal Maintenance

Once the initial treatment has been accomplished, you will need to continue with ongoing periodontal maintenance. You will have to have professional periodontal cleanings more than just twice a year, and you’ll need to be much more vigilant with your regular brushing and flossing. But the good news is that once treated and with ongoing maintenance, you can enjoy a health smile for the rest of your life.

Good luck to you in finding the best treatment for your dental health.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.