Category Archives: Dental Implants

Dental Implants

Metal Allergies & Dental Implants

I need to replace a tooth and hope to get a dental implant. However, I do have some metal allergies and I don’t know if that will complicate anything. So far, they know I am allergic to nickel, mercury, and cobalt. Will this prevent me from getting the implant?

Dennis

Dear Dennis,

dental implants

You made a great choice in your desire to get a dental implant. They are the best replacement options for your teeth. In general, as long as you are in good general health, you should be able to get a dental implant.

None of the metals you listed are part of dental implants. Instead, these are made of titanium, which is quite biocompatible. Titanium has been used in prosthetics for decades with great success, including hip replacements.

In truth, you should have no problem with using traditional implants. If you are still nervous because of your allergies, you have two other options.

First, you can have an allergy test specifically to test for titanium. This will give you some peace of mind going into the procedure. A second option is to have zirconia implants placed. These are metal-free. They are newer and do not have much data as to their longevity, but there is nothing to indicate they won’t last as long as their titanium implants.

Where you may run into some difficulty with the second option is finding a dentist who works with them. That is mostly because they are new and dentists tend to work with what they’re used to and comfortable with. But, I’m sure if you called around, you’d be able to get someone.

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

Dental Implants

Is it Possible to Get Dental Implants after 30 Years?

I’ve had dentures for around 30 years. I’ve never been crazy about them and always wanted to switch to dental implants. Now, I’m having trouble even keeping them in. I think this may be a perfect time to switch, but I don’t know if I waited too long. Is it still possible? If not, how do I get my dentures to stay in? Not even those nasty adhesives are working.

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

dental implant diagram

Technically, as long as you are in reasonably good health, you can get dental implants. Though, in cases like yours, an extra step will be needed. As you can see from the image above, your dental implant will need to be surrounded by bone in order to stay in place. This bone is also what holds your teeth in place as well, along with some ligaments. After this length of time with dentures, you are missing that bone.

You’re Dealing with Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed 30 something years ago, your body immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. It does this in an effort to be efficient with your body’s resources. It knows you don’t have teeth anymore and assumes that you won’t need the bones in your jawbone to hold them. True. However, your dentures rest on the ridgeline of your jawbone. As that shrinks, there is less and less of a ridge to hold your dentures in place.

After ten years, you likely noticed them starting to slip. By thirty years, it is almost impossible to keep them in. This is known as facial collapse. You’ve probably also noticed your jawline shrinking,, which makes you look much older than you really are.

There is a procedure to help with this– Bone grafting. You can have either natural or synthetic bone built back up in the area so that you’ll have enough bone there to integrate with your dental implants and keep them in place.

Implant Overdentures

implant-overdentures
Implant Supported Dentures

Once the bone grafting is complete, then you will be able to get the dental implants you hope for. You won’t want to do a one-to-one replacement for your teeth. That is way too expensive. Instead, you’ll get implant overdentures. With these, you’ll have four to six dental implants placed in each arch and then have a new set of dentures anchored to them.

Your dentures will be completely secure and will protect you from facial collapse in the future.

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

Dental Implants

Zirconia or Titanium Implants

I have three titanium dental implants and recently read that the titanium can cause neurological ill effects. I am now in need of another dental implant. Should I get the zirconia kind this time? Are they better? Should I switch out the titanium ones as well?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

zirconia dental implants

I’m not sure where you read that titanium causes neurological effects. As far as I know, there are no studies with data that supports that. On the contrary, there are decades of data that show titanium to be highly biocompatible in dental implants as well as a large number of other titanium prosthetics, such as knee and hip replacements.

If you want to get a zirconia dental implant, for your new tooth replacement that is fine. You may need to do a bit of internet searching and phone calls to find a dentist who does them. Because they’re considered new, not all dentists are using them yet. You will be able to find someone though. Zirconia is definitely strong enough to work and more dentists are starting to use them. The only concern you may run up against is we don’t have the same data on their longevity the way we do their titanium counterparts. That doesn’t mean they won’t last as long, just that we don’t have the data.

As to whether or not you should switch out your current implants, I wouldn’t recommend it without a good reason to remove them. It is not simply a matter of taking out the old implants and then putting in new ones. When you remove the implants, bone will come with it. In order to place the new dental implants, you will need to have an additional procedure known as bone grafting done. Then, once that has had time to heal, you can then have the new implant placement surgery.

It’s a lot to go through and a huge expense when your dental implants are probably just fine. Plus, there is always a risk the new implants will fail. I’m sure you will find a dentist willing to do the procedure. I just want to make sure you understand what you’re getting into before moving forward.

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

Dental Implants

Can I Get Dental Implants after 30 years in Dentures?

I’ve had dentures for around 30 years. I’ve never been crazy about them and always wanted to switch to dental implants. Now, I’m having trouble even keeping them in. I think this may be a perfect time to switch, but I don’t know if I waited too long. Is it still possible? If not, how do I get my dentures to stay in? Not even those nasty adhesives are working.

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

dental implant diagram

Technically, as long as you are in reasonably good health, you can get dental implants. Though, in cases like yours, an extra step will be needed. As you can see from the image above, your dental implant will need to be surrounded by bone in order to stay in place. This bone is also what holds your teeth in place as well, along with some ligaments. After this length of time with dentures, you are missing that bone.

You’re Dealing with Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed 30 something years ago, your body immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. It does this in an effort to be efficient with your body’s resources. It knows you don’t have teeth anymore and assumes that you won’t need the bones in your jawbone to hold them. True. However, your dentures rest on the ridgeline of your jawbone. As that shrinks, there is less and less of a ridge to hold your dentures in place.

After ten years in dentures, you likely noticed them starting to slip. By thirty years, it is almost impossible to keep them in. This is known as facial collapse. You’ve probably also noticed your jawline shrinking,, which makes you look much older than you really are.

There is a procedure to help with this– Bone grafting. You can have either natural or synthetic bone built back up in the area so that you’ll have enough bone there to integrate with your dental implants and keep them in place.

Implant Overdentures

implant-overdentures
Implant Supported Dentures

Once the bone grafting is complete, then you will be able to get the dental implants you hope for. You won’t want to do a one-to-one replacement for your teeth. That is way too expensive. Instead, you’ll get implant overdentures. With these, you’ll have four to six dental implants placed in each arch and then have a new set of dentures anchored to them.

Your dentures will be completely secure and will protect you from facial collapse in the future.

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

Dental Implants

Diabetes and Dental Implants

I have type 1 diabetes and need to replace a tooth. I was hoping to get a dental implant. Is that possible for me or is my condiation a contra-indication?

Aubrey

Dear Aubrey,

Diabetes is not a contraindication for dental implants, but you do need to be aware that it is a risk factor. A significant one. You will need careful diagnostics ahead of time. Don’t skimp on them. Make sure you get a CT scan.

You will also want a dentist who has done a LOT of dental implants successfully. Ask how many dental implant procedures they’ve done and what their percentage of successful cases is. It shouldn’t be less than 98%.

Ideally, the dentist will do the surgery and the placement. However, if they refer you to an oral surgeon, make certain your dentist makes the decisions about the placement and there is close coordination between the two of them.

Cosmetic Considerations

You did not mention where the implant was being placed. If it is on a visible part of your smile, you will want to think long term. If you are considering teeth whitening, you will want to do it before you get the porcelain crown that will go on the implant.

This is because, while the color of the crown can be made any color, the color is permanent. If you whiten later, your natural teeth will brighten, but the crown will remain the same color. If you want it to match your teeth, you will have to replace it. Getting the whitening done ahead of time means you will save money.

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