Tag Archives: tooth replacements

Zirconia or Titanium Implants

October 5, 2020 writeradmin

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,

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.

Invisalign

Is Orthly Equal to Invisalign?

June 29, 2018 writeradmin

I told a friend the other day that I wish I could afford Invisalign. I’ve spent a lifetime embarrassed about my teeth. She sent me this link to a company called Orthly. It looks like Invisalign, but it’s 70% cheaper. I just want to make sure it’s safe to do it and it’s similar to Invisalign.

Ellen

Dear Ellen,

It sounds like you have a friend who cares about you. It’s lovely to have friends like that. If you won’t hate me, I’m going to help you understand the differences taking you back to High School. Do you remember geometry class where you had similar triangles versus congruent triangles? As you recall, congruent triangles were completely equal to one another in both sides and angles. But, similar triangles were only that, similar but not equal. They had the same angles but not the same lengths.

That’s how I would describe Orthly to Invisalign. Similar but not equal. It will save you money. Unfortunately, it could also cost you some teeth.

The first thing you should know is it wasn’t founded by dentists or anyone with dental knowledge. The idea came to two students who wanted to get Invisalign but couldn’t afford it. Their company is very straightforward about that. They say, “Orthly does not practice dentistry nor do any employees in the company.” That alone wouldn’t make it dangerous. I’m sure they consulted with dentists and orthodontists as they followed through on their idea.

Where Does Orthly Fall Short of Invisalign?

The way Orthly saves money is by avoiding orthodontic appointments. You see a dentist a total of two times. They can request photos through the app, but that’s the extent of the “looking after” you get. You may think that’s no big deal, but here’s what worries me about that.

The reason dentists keep an eye on you throughout the treatment is to measure things like mobility, root absorption, periodontal disease, and oral hygiene. None of these can be tracked through a photo. If they don’t catch any one of these problems in time, it could lead to the patient losing their teeth.

Then you’re talking about a much greater expense then they’d have had if they’d done the best treatment to begin with. They’ll need to replace their teeth.

So, in your place, I’d weigh the benefits with the risks before you decide.

You could always talk to your dentist about your desire and ask if there’s a way he’d let you pay out “the real deal” in installments you can afford.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Uncategorized

Can an Adult Tooth Be Saved Once it’s Knocked-Out?

January 10, 2018 writeradmin

At my son’s football game one of the young men had a tooth knocked out. He just tossed it aside and kept playing. I’ve been wondering about that ever since. Could the tooth have been saved? Are there steps that need to be taken?

Arlene

Dear Arlene,

hockey player missing a tooth — How to Save an Adult Tooth

It’s good that you’re asking about this ahead of time because there is very little time to actually save a tooth during the trauma of the event. At max, you have 30 minutes. If a series of unfortunate events take place which causes an adult tooth to get knocked out here are the steps to take:

Grab the tooth by the crown only. That’s the visible part of your tooth when you smile. DO NOT touch the roots.
The tooth needs to stay moist. If milk is available, place the tooth in a cup of milk.
Call your dentist’s office and let them know you have a knocked out tooth and are on your way in. They’ll know time is of the essence and will be ready for you when you arrive.
It’s also a good idea to keep a short list of emergency dentist numbers on hand who see non-established patients, even after hours, in case you can’t reach your dentist.

What to Do if the Dentist Can’t Save the Tooth?

Sometimes you and the dentist can do everything right, but the tooth cannot be saved. In that case, you’ll want to know about your tooth replacement options.

Fortunately, the advances in dentistry have been useful. Your best option, if you’re a good candidate is to get dental implants. Depending on the age of your son, he may not be a good candidate. Teenager’s jaws are still developing.

If that’s the case, your dentist will go over temporary options for him that will give him a false tooth and hold the space available for implants in the future. Make sure he knows you son is in a contact sport so he takes that into consideration with any temporary replacement.