All posts by writeradmin

Dental Implants

Can a Maryland Bridge Attach to a Dental Implant

I have two dental implants that had a natural tooth between them. Now that natural tooth needs to be removed and my dentist is recommending a Maryland Bridge. Is it possible to attach a Maryland bridge to the dental implants? I was concerned about attaching the metal to the porcelain. Have you seen this successful?

Charlie

Dear Charlie,

Illustration of a Maryland Bridge

The short answer is yes, it is possible to bond a Maryland Bridge to a dental crown. That being said, it is tricky. The ideal bond is metal against enamel, not metal against porcelain.

It would have been better if your dentist had anticipated that when you have two dental implants on either side of a natural tooth it is very likely that the tooth will eventually need to be replaced. With that foresight, he could have placed the abutments parallel to one another so that you could have changed two screw-retained crowns to a dental bridge with little trouble.

As it is unlikely that your dentist planned ahead, I would suggest your best option will be to place a third dental implant in between the two others, if there is room.

If not, then you can try the Maryland Bridge, but it will take some preparation of the crowns to make it work.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Dentist Cannot Get Me Numb

My dentist tried a paste and seven injections and still could not get me numb. I am in desperate need of a root canal treatment, but the procedure was too excruciating. He ended the appointment and refunded my money. He told me he’d do some research, but I may need to get this extracted surgically with anesthesia if we can’t do the root canal treatment. I really want to save the tooth if possible. He prescribed me some more antibiotics and said he’d be in touch before the prescription runs out. Do you have any way that I can avoid losing this tooth?

Angela

Dear Angela,

Woman resting in dental chair from dental sedation

I am sorry for the horrible experience you went through. The fact that you still want to try and save your tooth says a lot about your character and perseverance.

The good news is I have a solution for you. It sounds like your dentist may not yet be aware of the connection between dental anxiety and the ability to get numb.

When you have a high level of dental anxiety, which many do, your metabolism can burn off the numbing medication before it can be of any use to you.

While you cannot just will your anxiety away, there is a medication that sedation dentists can provide for you that will do it for you. Not only will the medication completely relax you, but if you wanted to you would be able to completely sleep through your entire appointment.  Because of this, some people have dubbed it sleep dentistry.

My suggestion is you see a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill that you will take before your appointment. Be aware that it is strong. In fact, it is so strong you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment. This will be important because you will still be a bit woozy and unsteady on your feet. I would plan on a day of napping or binge-watching your favorite streaming channel.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

 

Pediatric Dentist

Can Teething Cause a Fever?

Our first-born son is eight months old and seems to run a lot of fevers. A friend told me that it is probably because he is teething and we may need to slit his gums. I can’t imagine doing that! Can you give me some guidance here? We don’t have a pediatric dentist yet.

Melanie

Dear Melanie,

Photo courtesy of St. John’s Pediatric Dentistry, St. John’s, FL

The first thing I am going to say is not to slit your child’s gums. I’ve never even heard of that for teething children. Doing that runs the risk that the roots are not adequately formed and they will erupt prematurely now unable to properly support the tooth. Let nature take its course. The teeth will erupt when the root is ready.

That being said, teething can cause fevers. However, it will only be a mild fever. Teething infants will also be a bit fussy, drool a whole lot more, and eat a bit less. Giving them some infants Tylenol will help some.

There is a slight difference when it comes to adult teeth erupting. If the baby teeth are still in place and you see the adult teeth breaking through, you need to seek some help from a pediatric dentist to remove the baby teeth. If you don’t, the adult teeth will get deflected, which will cause them to come in out of alignment. From there, you will be looking at expensive orthodontics that you might have gotten away with needing.

As your son is approaching a year old soon, I recommend beginning your search for a pediatric dentist. It is always best to acquaint them with a dentist before a problem arises. This way their first experience with a dentist is a positive one and not a scary emergency appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

 

Emergency Dentist

A Dental Infection with No Money

I am in misery. I have a couple of missing teeth, which is bad enough. Now I have an infection in one of the teeth I do have. It is making me miserable. My cheek is swollen. The problem is I was laid off and have no medical or dental insurance. Is there anything I can do to deal with this?

Misty

Dear Misty,

Woman holding her jaw in pain

I am sorry for all you are going through. With your cheek swollen, it tells me that your tooth infection is quite advanced. In fact, it is a dental emergency.  Treating this with antibiotics alone will not solve your problem. You will feel better for a short time and then the infection will expand rapidly.

The danger here is that it will spread to your brain. It can even reach your throat and close off your breathing.

I know you do not have money, but there are places that are willing to help you. I would call your local dental society and ask if there are clinics that will see patients in your situation,

If they can’t help you, I suggest you call around to some local dentists. Most dentists went into their field because they wanted to help people. I feel certain if you explain your situation there will be a dentist willing to help.

They can give you the emergency treatment you need and then allow you to pay it out as you are able.

Ideally, you should get a root canal treatment, which could save the tooth. If you can’t then the next option is a tooth extraction. The problem with that is that then you will need to replace the tooth, which is another expense. But, an extracted tooth is better than a serious tooth infection that can kill you.

Please call the dental society.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesh.

Zoom Whitening

Zoom Whitening Left One Tooth Lighter than Others

Two days ago I had Zoom whitening done. It all went pretty well, and I had very little pain or sensitivity after. It didn’t burn my gums or anything like that. I was surprised because a friend of mine did experience those things, but she does have extra sensitive teeth.

But now I can’t help but notice my right front tooth, the one next to the eye tooth, is lighter than all the others! At first, I thought I was imagining things, but I’ve looked at it under different lights and it’s definitely lighter than its neighbors. I asked my wife and she can see it too.

Why would this happen? What should I do?

Thanks,
Eric

Dear Eric,

Zoom whitening patient under the light

 

For those who are unfamiliar with this procedure, Zoom Whitening works by having a professional place a hydrogen peroxide based gel on the teeth, which is then activated by shining a specific type of light upon it. It will whiten any natural tooth structure, but will not whiten dental work, such as tooth-colored fillings or crowns, whether porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, or veneers.

The light activation allows you to get your teeth completely whitened in just one appointment.

What Would Cause One Tooth To Be Lighter Than The Others?

There are a few reasons this might happen. If the neighboring teeth have more filling material than this tooth, it could appear lighter due to the higher presence of natural tooth structure that is responding to the whitening agent. If this tooth happens to have an already-light crown or veneer, this may occur.

Sometimes it may be due to differences in the application of the gel, if it had been applied unevenly. Other times it may simply be caused by the original shade of the tooth itself, compared to the others. These shade differences occur naturally at times, and a tooth that was slightly lighter to begin with may end up lighter at the finish.

 

What Can Be Done?

Call your dentist; they should be able to get you in for an evaluation. If this was not due to an existing filling, crown or veneer, the doctor may choose to do a touch-up, where additional Zoom whitening treatment is given to the neighboring teeth to see if they can be lifted to match the shade of the lighter tooth. This may take a few appointments. Barring that, you may consider bonding or a porcelain veneer to attain the shade match desired. Many options exist, but they all begin by calling the office.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign

Will Invisalign Work for Crooked Teeth?

I was hoping to get Invisalign to fix my crooked teeth. They have bothered me my entire life. My dentist referred me to an orthodontist. However, the orthodontist said that Invisalign is not intended to fix crooked teeth. His suggestion is that I go with traditional braces. I’m 47 years old and will feel ridiculous with a mouth full of metal. Is there another option for me?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

Invisalign aligner

 

Not intended to fix crooked teeth?? What in the world does he think they were designed for? My suspicion, in this case, is that the orthodontist you went to see is not trained in Invisalign. All of his training is with traditional braces, therefore that is what he is going to recommend.

My recommendation, however, is that you get a second opinion. Look for a dentist in your area that does Invisalign. It does not have to be an orthodontist and see what they think of your case.

The procedure has advanced quite a bit over the years. While, originally, it only worked on ideal cases, now it is also effective with the complicated cases as well.

You’ll find it has a high patient satisfaction rate and can straighten your teeth in about half the time as the metal braces.

Additionally, there is a hidden benefit. The clear aligners used to straighten your teeth can also double as teeth whitening trays. This means, if you wish, your dentist can provide you with teeth whitening gel to wear in the trays, enabling you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

By the time your procedure is over, it will be like having a mini smile makeover with a straight, white smile you can be proud to share with the world around you.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Dental Implants

How Can I Keep My Face From Collapsing with Dentures

I am only 32-years-old and have recently been diagnosed with a severe calcium deficiency. My dentist said this is why my teeth are always falling apart. He wants to extract the rest of my teeth and give me dentures. I have heard that getting dentures can make your face collapse, which makes you look like a grandmother. I still have two toddlers. I want to look like their mother, NOT their grandmother. Is there anything I can do which will help prevent this from happening? I am getting treatment for my calcium deficiency, but my dentist says it is too late for what is going on with my teeth.

Avery

Dear Avery,

images of before and after facial collapse

For those who are unaware, facial collapse is something that happens when you get dentures. As a result of no longer having teeth, your body immediately begins resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere, as a means of being efficient with your body’s resources. After all, you don’t have teeth to support any longer so you no longer need that bone.

The problem with that is after ten or so years, you no longer have enough jawbone left to support your dentures and end up looking like the woman on the left side of the picture above. This woman now looks decades older than she really is.

While there is a way to prevent this that I will go over, I don’t think you will need to have your teeth extracted. Certainly not all of them. I have no idea why your dentist is blaming your calcium deficiency for your teeth issues. That has zero impact on what is going on with your teeth now.

Your teeth are fully formed so developing a calcium deficiency in adulthood will not impact the health of your teeth. It can cause cramps, nerve damage, and osteoporosis. So why is your dentist saying this? I’m only guessing here, but dentists have different levels of willingness to fight to save teeth. Yours seems to be on the low end and all he wants to do is extract them and be done.

In your place, I would look for a dentist who is willing to put in the work to save your teeth. Don’t get anything done until you get a second opinion. See another dentist for a cleaning and check up and get their unbiased opinion. Do not tell them what your other dentist said. Just let them examine you and give their recommendations.

Preventing Facial Collapse

Implant overdentures illustation

For those who do have to have all their teeth extracted, there is a way to prevent facial collapse. If you have dental implants placed, it signals to your brain that there are still roots of your teeth there and therefore it will not resorb any of the minerals from your bone, thereby leaving it completely intact.

Once the implants are placed and integrated with your bone, then your dentist can anchor a set of dentures to them. These are known as implant overdentures and will be completely secure, unlike removable dentures.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Pediatric Dentist

Dental Bonding for Children

My eleven-year-old broke her two front teeth quite badly. Most of the structure is gone. She only has the top and sides left. Everything else is gone. We went to our pediatric dentist and he suggested removing the teeth. I wasn’t keen on that idea so I took her to my dentist. He said that dental bonding was the solution. I was so glad to hear that she could keep her teeth, I didn’t even look into the procedure. When the results were done, her bonding was so awful. It was lumpy and uneven and in places the color didn’t even make sense. She’s horrified and I don’t blame her. I don’t know what to do. Is there any way to fix this? I’m devastated for her.

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

before and after dental bonding

I’m shocked that your pediatric dentist suggested you extract her teeth. That was quite extreme. I expected he would have suggested dental crowns, but that would be a bad idea as well. The pulp of our teeth shrink as we age. In an 11 year old, that pulp is still quite large. Doing a crown on their teeth can kill the pulp.

Your other dentist was on the right track in recommending dental bonding for the repair. The problem lie in he did not have the skills to do such a massive repair. Dental bonding has to be done freehand and takes a great deal of training and artistry. When done well, it will blend in perfectly with the remainder of the tooth structure, as evidenced by the image above.

My suggestion is you look for a practice that has a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry on their staff. Ideally, they should also be a practice that enjoys working with children. But, if you had to choose, go with the AACD accredited dentist. Your current dentist should be willing to give you a refund.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Botox

Does Botox Really Treat Migraines?

I want to get your opinion on something. My wife told me that her dentist suggested Botox to help with her migraines. Is that a legitimate thing? I get the feeling, he’s just finding a way to get patients to try his new money maker. My wife tends to believe anything that anyone with a medical degree tells her. I just want to make sure she’s not being taken for a ride.

Dan

Dear Dan,

Botox Advertisement

Believe it or not, Botox does help with migraines by relaxing the muscles that cause tension. In fact, Botox is not only used to help with the migraines, but it is becoming a way to help patients with TMJ Disorder as well, which we’ll get into more in a moment.

In this case, I think the dentist is just giving your wife some options to help with her headaches. Migraines can be debilitating so getting some relief will make life easier for the both of you.

The only thing I would be careful about is that the dentist has the training to do this. I doubt he’d be offering it if he didn’t, but you want to make sure.

Botox and TMJ Disorder

One thing I would look into in order to make certain she is getting the help she needs and not just having the symptoms masked is the root cause of her migraines. Many patients do not realize that migraines are a symptom of TMJ disorder. I would like to see her evaluated by a dentist with training in that area before she starts masking symptoms.

If that is the reason she is having migraines, it is better to treat the TMJ. Otherwise, her condition will progress and the treatment could end up more invasive than if you catch it early and head it off.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Sedation Dentist

Sedation Dentistry for Severely Autistic Child

I have a non-verbal, severely autistic child. Most of the time he is a perfect angel. But, when he has an episode it can be a bit nightmarish. He has a dental appointment coming up. I’ve opted for using a sedation dentist. I know he’ll be fine once the sedation takes affect, but how do I prepare him for the appointment leading up to the sedation? I want it to go as smoothly as possible so he will not dread dental care.

Sherri

Dear Sherri,

Child receiving treatment from a dentist

I can tell right away that you are a great mother. This alone will help your son with every obstacle he will face. I also feel that sedation dentistry is a great choice for your child, so way to go with that decision. Here are some things you can do to help with your son’s appointment.

Communication is Key

This is true of almost everything. However, with any medical procedure, it is even more important. The first thing I would do is make sure your sedation dentist has a complete medical history on your son. Let them know of any special considerations, such as mobility issues, etc. Is he able to swallow pills or will he need a liquid sedation? Will he need a caregiver with him? You can even tell them about his likes and dislikes.

Get to Know the Place

Some dentists are willing to let patients, especially children, make a visit to the office before their appointment. They can see the rooms, meet the staff, and just have fun without anyone trying to do any treatment for them. If your dentist doesn’t do that, then you can show them pictures of the office from their website. These usually have images of happy patients in them.

Bring Security Items

Are there things that help your son feel more comfortable, such as a special blanket, or stuffed animal? If so, bring them. Does he like music? Let him listen to music. As you know, autistic children do better with routine. If there is a certain part of the day he does better with “errands”, then see if they can schedule you during that time, so it is more natural for him.

I’m sure things will go smoothly.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.