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Duluth, GA 30097

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Should I Get All-on-Four Dental Implants?

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I am overseas and my husband went to see a dentist about getting dental implants. The dentist said because of his bone, the only option was an all-on-four dental implants. It is a bit more money than we were expecting. I wonder if we’d be better off traveling to Portugal to have this done. What are your thoughts on this procedure?

Callie Anne

Dear Callie Anne,

all-on-4 dental implants

I am a bit wary of any dentist who only gives you one option. There are almost always options. If he is saying the problem with your bone is there is not enough, then all-on-4 is one possibility. Another is to have bone grafting done in order to build up the needed bone for you to have traditional dental implants.

It is not likely to be any less expensive than the all-on-4, but it will be more reliable. The all-on-4 has a higher failure rate. Plus, if one part of it fails, the entire unit has to be replaced.

If cost is the main prohibiting factor, there are other options. You can get as few as two dental implants for Snap-on dentures, or you can get some mini dental implants to help secure a dentures. Neither will be as great as full implant supported dentures, but they will prevent facial collapse.

Again, I am not comfortable with the very limited options your dentist gave you. Do your husband a favor and get a second option. No matter what type of implants you decide to go forward with, make certain that the dentist you choose to do it is qualified. Dental implants are not adequately taught in dental school. It is important that they have post-doctoral training on the procedure. Take a peak at Dr. Marion’s bio to get an idea of the training and experience you will want from a dentist doing your husband’s dental implant procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

A Case of Dental Incompetence

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I had a dental implant placed. A few weeks after it was finished I noticed it felt a bit loose. I went back to the dentist. He felt that it was just the crown that was loose and all it needed was to be re-bonded on. That sounded like good news to me but he started having trouble getting it off. Then, he tried with this special tool. When he pulled on the crown, the entire dental implant came out. Is this normal? Is there a way to fix this?

Danny

Dear Danny,

metal and zirconia dental

I would love to hear how your dentist explained that! No, that is not normal. It was obviously not your dental crown that was loose, but the dental implant the whole time. When the crown did come off when he first tried, he HAD to know that it was really the dental implant that was loose. The amount of incompetence it would take to not realize that is almost unfathomable. Fixing a loose crown is simple. Fixing a loose implant is not. The thing to figure out is why was the dental implant loose to begin with.

Some Causes of a Loose Dental Implant

I don’t know the exact timeline of when your dental crown was placed, but one cause of a loose implant is from what is known as premature loading. This is when the dental crown is placed before the bone has had time to integrate with the dental implant fixture.

Another reason would be an infection. There would usually be pain and/or fever with that. You did not mention either so I tend to think that is not the problem.

Fixing this issue will not be as simple as just replacing it with another dental implant. Instead, you will need some bone grafting done first in order to build up the bone that was lost when the implant was pulled out. After that, then you have to start over with the implant procedure.

In your place, I would demand that your dentist pays to have this repaired, including the bone grafting. You should be the one to pick the dentist to do the repairs. Make sure you get an expert implant dentist to do the work. Take a peek at Dr. Marion’s bio to get an idea of the type of post-doctoral training and expertise you want in an implant dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

What are the Best Materials for Implants and Crowns?

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I am getting a smile makeover, which will probably include at least eight dental implants on my upper arch. I am trying to do my homework ahead of time and have some questions. First, as far as implants go, are the Astra Implants from the UK reliable?  I also wondered if zirconium was okay for crowns. I did read that porcelain fused to metal can leave a black line, but wanted something strong. I’m worried zirconium will be clear colored, though. Any help you can give will be appreciated, my appointment is coming up fairly soon.

Valerie,

Dear Valerie,

An assortment of titanium and zirconia dental implants.

 

I am glad you are trying to do research. However, I would like to steer you in a different direction. The most important thing to research is the dentist doing your dental implants procedure. That has a much greater impact on your result than the materials used. Before we get into what to look for, I want to ask you a question. You mentioned that the reason for your dental implants was a smile makeover. However, unless the teeth needed to be extracted, that is a gross overtreatment. The typical procedure for a smile makeover is porcelain veneers which hardly removes any tooth structure. A dental implant requires you to lose the entire tooth.  I just want to make sure the implants were necessary before you go through with this.

Dental implants are quite an advanced procedure. So advanced, however, that dental school is not enough training. It takes significant post-doctoral training to be able to do this the way it needs to be done. There is no way you can learn enough about the materials in the time you have. Plus, so much of it will also depend on your specific case. Look for a dentist with implant qualifications. As for the zirconium. That will be white, not clear. I hope that puts your mind at ease.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

 

Will Metal Show On Front Dental Implant?

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I was playing football with some friends and was not wearing a mouthguard (or a helmet). I already know that was stupid so don’t bother getting onto me about that. I would like to get a dental implant to replace the tooth. I am concerned, however, that the metal from the dental implant will show through in the gums because it is a front tooth. Is there anything I can do about that?

Carl

Dear Carl,

An assortment of titanium and zirconia dental implants.

While everyone’s body is different, most people have no problems with their dental implants showing through. Your dentist will run tests to check all the factors involved in whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. Make sure your dentist includes a CT scan in the diagnostics. Dental implants are a 3-dimensional procedure and it requires 3-dimensional imaging. This will help with more than just bone density and gum depth. It will also help your dentist avoid your nasal cavity as well as any nerves.

The key to a successful dental implant procedure is a skilled implant dentist. Unfortunately, there is not a recognized specialty in dental implants. If a dentist wants to develop that skill set, they need to get post-doctoral training. You will need a dentist who has invested in that training.

There are way too many dental implant horror stories from patients who underwent the procedure with an underqualified dentist. I do not want that to happen to you. My suggestion is that you look at Dr. Marion’s qualifications to get an idea of the type of dentist you need.

One other consideration. Generally, an oral surgeon will do the surgical part and then the dentist will do the restoration. However, it is very important that it is the dentist who determines the placement of the implant. Go to the dentist first, then the oral surgeon.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

Implant Bridge Misaligned My Teeth

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I need some advice. I had an implant bridge placed on the bottom right side of my mouth. Before that, all of my teeth lined up, even though the teeth had some problems. Now, I have a problem with the side with the bridge lines up and touches, but the other side does not. Not only are they no longer touching, but my jaw seems to be on a slant there. I don’t think this is normal, but my dentist seems to think it is nothing to worry about. Is he right? It just doesn’t feel comfortable to me. Though, my dentist says I will adjust to it. Will I? Right now it doesn’t seem like it.

Caryn

Dear Caryn,

woman holding her jaw in pain

No, this isn’t okay. It is always frustrating to me when medical practitioners say, “You’ll adjust”. Maybe you will get used to being uncomfortable and in pain, but you shouldn’t have to. Plus, if this is left untreated, it will very likely lead to TMJ Disorder.

When dental crowns or bridges are done correctly, the bite should line up perfectly and they should not be noticeable at all. Your dentist should know this. My guess is he recognizes there is a problem, but doesn’t know how to fix it. Implant dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Dentists have to choose to invest in enough dental implant training to become skilled. Not many do, which may be why is it is one of the procedures leading the list of dental malpractice suits.

Here is my suggestion. I want you to look at Dr. Marion’s qualifications. Then, I want you to find a dentist in your area with similar qualifications to look at your case. If it is as bad as I think, they can help get it repaired. Because the implants may have to be removed, I don’t want you to just get a refund. The repair will very likely cost more than the original procedure. Because if your implants have to be removed, they will take bone with them. You will need some bone grafting done if your new dental implants are to be properly secured. This will require a bone grafting procedure. Instead of a refund, I want you to tell the dentist you want him to have it repaired by a dentist of your choosing.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.