Dentist Wants to Keep Giving Me Partials
I have always had problems with my teeth. They get chipped, discolored, decayed. It’s a constant battle. My dentist keeps just removing them and giving me partials. I’m frustrated because I’m only in my late twenties. He insists the teeth can’t be saved and the best thing he can do for me is to replace them with partials. Isn’t there at least something more permanent for fake teeth? I thought at this day and age we would get past things like dentures.
Florence
Dear Florence,
There are definitely options for you to have a more permanent, fixed tooth replacement. Two of the best are a dental implant and a dental bridge. My guess is that your dentist is not comfortable doing these procedures so he didn’t bring them up. Removable partial dentures are his comfort zone.
However, don’t push him into doing a procedure he isn’t comfortable with. While almost any dentist should be able to do a bridge, Implants are an advanced dental procedure when, if done incorrectly, can lead to serious problems.
The first thing I recommend you do is get a second opinion about the save-ability of your teeth. Every dentist has a varying degree of interest in saving natural tooth structure. Some will go above and beyond to keep your teeth for you. Others prefer just to remove them. This means while one dentist says a tooth can’t be saved, another might be able to restore it to health.
If they can’t be saved, a dental implant is the next best thing to your own tooth. As I mentioned before, it will be important that you get a dentist who knows how to that procedure. Dental school will not be enough. You will want someone who has great post-doctoral training.
This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Moline, Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Click here to learn about a full-mouth reconstruction.
Floss is Catching on My Porcelain Veneers
I recently got four porcelain veneers and I’m having trouble flossing. My flosser keeps catching on the veneers. My dentist thinks it is fine because my gums cover the problem. I’m just afraid that if we leave it like this, then food and things will get trapped in there. Won’t that leave me vulnerable to decay?
Carolyn
Dear Carolyn,
When you have porcelain veneers placed on your teeth, the margin needs to be completely smooth and flush with your teeth. It sounds like that didn’t happen for yours and you have an overhang. This can happen when the dentist does not get a clean impression at the end of the tooth preparation. Then the lab can’t make smooth finish from the veneer to the tooth.
The overhang not only means that you can’t get your floss there, but that food and other debris will get caught there, as you are concerned about. While there is a risk of decay, I think the bigger risk is gum disease. This really does need to be fixed. When gum disease is left untreated, it leads you bone loss and the loss of your teeth.
If your dentist has a good sense of ethics, they will replace this free of charge. If they refuse to, then you will need to get this fixed for the health of your gums.
You may want to try getting a second opinion. If another dentist agrees that there is an overhang, they may be able to convince your dentist that they need to redo them. Sometimes a dentist is more likely to listen to a colleague than a patient. It shouldn’t be that way, but it can happen.
I’m sorry this happened to you. Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, which means any general dentist can do cosmetic work regardless of whether they’ve invested in any post-doctoral training. If you do have to pay to have them done by someone else, make sure they have a beautiful smile guarantee.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Click here to learn about dental implants, a tooth replacement option.
Should My Dentist Refund Me For These Dentures?
I was being transferred but needed to replace the dentures that were attached to my mini implants. I went to a dentist and asked him how long it would take to get the dentures made. I had to move in eleven weeks. He told me it would take just three weeks to get the dentures done. They didn’t actually get in until nine weeks later. Even then, they didn’t fit. My dentist literally had to force them on. If that would have been it, I would have just lived with it. Unfortunately, the way the dentures were fitting I was in tremendous pain. I couldn’t even eat pasta that night. I ended up forcing them back off because I was close to tears. The next day, I went back to their office. The dentist I saw wasn’t in, but one of the other dentists was. He said they were defective. The dentures were improperly aligned and the gaskets were not the right fit. He could order some more for me. I really don’t have time to wait for new ones and hope they fit. I have to leave in two weeks. Do you think I am okay asking for a refund as I can’t get the denture that I need?
Penny
Dear Penny,
Yes, you are definitely entitled to a refund for these dentures. He promised it to you in three weeks and missed the deadline. He didn’t just miss the deadline a little, he missed it by a LOT. Then, when it did arrive it was defective. He did not keep his end of the bargain. As a result, you should be refunded.
I would start by asking nicely for the refund. If he complains or denies you the refund, you have some leverage. What he delivered was far below the standard of care. You could threaten to write a bad review letting the public know about the horrific care you received. That will have a negative impact on his ability to get new business. A more serious thing you could threaten is to go to the dental board. I do not think he will want to deal with the dental board. If you used any dental insurance to pay for these dentures, you can also contact them and let them know what was going on. I don’t think it is going to come to that.
When you get to your new destination and you get another dentist to do this, be certain you check out that they have some post-doctoral training in dental implants. You are attaching your dentures to a type of dental implant with the mini implants, which is more advanced than a simple denture procedure. Dental implants are fairly unregulated and there is not a recognized specialty in placing them, so you’ll have to do some homework.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
How Far Back Should Dentures Go?
I had to get lower dentures. They don’t cover my wisdom tooth area, which means I am pretty much just chewing on my gums. My dentist said this is normal, but it is very uncomfortable. Is there anything to do about it?
Stan
Dear Stan,
This is not normal and something your dentist could have prevented. The dentures should not only cover the wisdom tooth area, but go a little past it to what is called the retromolar pad. You don’t want the entire pad covered because that will interfere with any upper dentures you may have. That is the only limitation, however.
The solution, unfortunately, is to completely redo the denture. If you have already paid for it, then your dentist won’t have much incentive to replace it, unless he has a high sense of ethics. You could try showing your dentist this blog post and see if this helps. Before you do that, though, I want to make certain you understand the risks of completely removable dentures, especially lower dentures.
The Down Side of Dentures
When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that there are no longer any roots of your teeth in your jawbone that need to be supported. In an effort to be efficient with your body’s resources, it immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere. While a great way to handle your body’s resources, it has the unfortunate side effect of shrinking your jawbone. After ten or so years, you will no longer have enough of your lower jawbone to retain your dentures. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.
The solution to this is to have dental implants placed and secure your dentures to them. Some people call this implant overdentures. The dental implants serve as prosthetic teeth roots. Because you have “roots,” your body will preserve the minerals there in order to support the teeth.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Severe Metal Allergies and Dental Work
I have pretty severe dental allergies including copper and tin. Because of that it was hard for me to get dental work done. I’ve have worked hard to take care of my teeth, but cavities happen. Most of the time I had to wait until the decay progressed until there was an infection or the tooth was too decayed to be viable. Then, I would extract the tooth. I understand that things have changed and I’m looking for advice on how to procede. I think there are non-metal fillings now. Are there other ways for me to replace the teeth I have lost as well, knowing I have metal allergies? I know about dental implants, but understand they are metal.
Chris
Dear Chris,
I am concerned that you are not with the best dentist. We have had ways of treating people in your situation for years. Either your dentist does not keep up with his or her field or he or she does not care about saving teeth. I am sorry that you have not been getting the care you need and deserved.
First, lets talk about these cavities. There are composite fillings that are metal free. Even better, these are mercury-free fillings as well. You can get cavities taken care of in a way that will create no problems with your allergies. I would do that as soon as possible because you save so much more tooth structure, not to mention money, when a cavity is small.
There are also metal-free crowns as well for teeth that have more than 30% of the structure decayed. As for the teeth that cannot be saved, dental implants will be a good fit for you. None of the metal allergies you mentioned are in a traditional dental implants, which are made from titanium. This is very biocompatible and has been used for decades in prosthetics throughout the human body. However, if that worries you, there are also metal-free dental implants, made from zirconia.
What you need is a metal-free dentist. They don’t have to be holistic, but most holistic dentists are also metal-free.
I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Misdiagnosis by an Emergency Dentist Caused a Lot of Pain
I had a tooth that was giving me pain and sensitivity to cold. I am new to the area so I do not have a regular dentist yet. I went to a dentist who advertised as a dental emergency specialist. I went in and he said my wisdom teeth are impacted. I told him that tooth 19 seemed to be the problem, but he said it is definitely the wisdom tooth and that one of them either needs to be extracted or filled. I opted for the filling. This made my pain even worse. I went back and he adjusted the tooth and wrote me a prescription pain medication. All that did was make me loopy. Once the prescription wore off I was in even worse shape. I called back and he said to have the tooth extracted. I told him the pain didn’t feel close to the wisdom tooth at all but he insisted that was the problem. I had the tooth extracted and was again prescribed painkillers along with antibiotics this time. I was okay for a bit while the medicines lasted. Once they ran out, though, I was in complete misery. I finally went to the ER and they did an x-ray and told me that I had an abscessed tooth. I got fed up with this dentist and went to see an oral surgeon out of pocket. He told me it was tooth 19 (shocker) and that it is now too late to save it, so I had that extracted too. I’m so frustrated because I had to do several unnecessary appointments, including the ER, and ended up losing two teeth. Do I have any recourse for this or do I just have to suck it up?
Trent
Dear Trent,
What a nightmare! You certainly have some recourse here. In short, what this dentist did is malpractice. First, I’m going to tell you what to require of him, then I will tell you what mistakes he made.
The first thing I would do is tell this dentist he needs to cover the expenses not only for your extra visits to the oral surgeon and ER, but also for the cost of an implant and a crown to replace your missing first molar, as well as any bone grafting that may be necessary with a dentist of your choosing. If he refuses, tell him you will contact a lawyer and add pain and suffering to the amount. I feel fairly certain his insurance company will tell him to settle quickly.
This “Emergency Dentist’s” Mistakes
Let’s start with the fact that there is no emergency dentist specialty. Any general dentist can schedule emergency appointments and treat patients. He misled you with that. Second, at your initial appointment with cold bringing pain to the tooth, he should have advised you that you would likely need a root canal treatment. I have no idea why he was bringing up your wisdom teeth with these types of symptoms. Then, with your second appointment when you are still having problems, he adjusts your bite? Really? The prescription for antibiotics tells me he either suspected an infection or was just throwing around treatment options willy-nilly. Plus, antibiotics never completely cure a tooth infection. The job of antibiotics is to hold the infection at bay while you are awaiting an appointment for your treatment. By the final appointment, there should have been no doubt. I don’t know how he passed his courses in dental school.
You may be wondering why I’m having you include the tooth replacement in there with what your dentist should cover. It is because if he would have treated this in a timely manner, there is a good possibility you could have saved the tooth. Now that it is out, it must be replaced. Otherwise, the remaining teeth will drift or tip into the space. This will throw off your bite and can lead to painful TMJ Disorder. A dental implant is the best replacement available.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Implant Overdentures with Biophosphates
I have two problems going on currently. One is I have been negligent with my oral health and am losing my teeth. Additionally, I am being treated for osteoporosis and taking Boniva. I want to get implant overdentures but I’ve been told that people with osteoporosis cannot get dental implants. I REALLY do not want dentures. Is there a way around this?
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
I’m sorry for all you are going through at the moment. That is a lot to deal with. It is hard when we realize we’ve made some unwise choices and are now faced with even harder decisions. I am proud of you for stepping up and trying to get this under control.
You didn’t mention if your osteoporosis was under control or not, but if it is, then you can get dental implants as long as you take some precautions first. The biophosphates do a great job of increasing bone density. The problem lies in how it does that. The process blocks or interferes with osteoclasts, which are cells that eat bone.
Taking this medication during a dental implant procedure can lead to an increased risk of dental implant failure as well as osteonecrosis or death of the jawbone. You can still get dental implants, but you will need to pause the medication for a period of time to increase your chances of a successful procedure.
Generally, you will want to stop your medication four months before your procedure and stay off of it until your implants have had an opportunity to integrate with your jawbone. This will only be possible if your osteoporosis is under control.
If you are good to go, once you have your dental implants integrated, your dentist will then anchor a pair of dentures to them in order to complete your implant overdentures.
I know you are probably discouraged with the state of how things are going for you right now. The good news is that today’s technological advances in dental care can give you the closest thing to having a healthy natural smile again.
This blog is brought to you by Moline, IL Dentist Dr. Goebel.
Do I Need a Root Canal or an Extraction and Implant?
Gordon,
Thank you for your question.
Will Root Canal Treatment Lighten a Dark Tooth?
Root canal treatment will not lighten a dark tooth. It often makes a tooth darker. Why would root canal treatment darken a tooth? When a dentist leaves root canal filling material and cement in the portion of the tooth above the gumline, the tooth darkens.
Preventing a Tooth from Darkening After Root Canal Treatment
Your dentist can minimize the darkening effects of root canal treatment with these steps:
- Remove root canal filling and cement from the tooth crown
- Bleach the tooth internally
- Seal the bleaching solution inside the tooth
- Insert a flexible fiberglass post in the tooth and fill the tooth with composite, or correct the color with a porcelain veneer
When most of the structure is left on a front tooth, preparing it for a crown can weaken and increase the risk of breaking it. A cosmetic dentist can correct the color with a porcelain veneer after root canal treatment if your front tooth is intact.
Unless your tooth is severely damaged and the endodontist (a root canal specialist) cannot save it, it is best to preserve it and avoid extraction and a dental implant. We recommend scheduling a second opinion with an advanced cosmetic dentist to examine your tooth and discuss your treatment options.
Moline, Illinois dentist, Dr. Thomas Goebel, sponsors this post.
Why Are My Gums Bleeding Around My Crowns?
I got five new crowns three years ago, and I think I may be allergic to them now. For the past few months, I have noticed bleeding between two crowns and my gums. My dentist says my crowns are GC LiSi Press ceramic, so it is unlikely that it’s an allergy. Is it possible that I am allergic to the material? What could be irritating my gums? Will I need new crowns, or am I at risk of losing my teeth? Thanks for your help. Jayla T. from TX
Jayla,
Thank you for your question.
Dr. Goebel would need to examine your crowns and gums to determine what is irritating your gums. We will provide information on sensitivities to lithium disilicate.
What Are GC LiSi Press Crowns?
GC LiSi Press crowns are ceramic, lithium disilicate crowns. You would unlikely be allergic to only two of your five GC LiSi Press crowns. We have not heard reports of lithium disilicate allergies, but it is not impossible for someone may react to it.
What Causes Bleeding Around Dental Crowns?
Food particles caught between your gums or a functional problem with the crowns near your gumline may cause bleeding and irritation. When you floss, try to discern whether anything around your crowns is catching the floss or preventing it from moving freely. Snagging floss usually means your dentist must correct an overhang or ledge on the crowns.
It is unlikely that your concerns are related to a condition leading to tooth loss and the need for replacement options, such as a dental implant.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist for an examination. If your dentist cannot resolve the issue, get a second opinion from a skilled cosmetic dentist.
Moline, Illinois dentist, Dr. Thomas Goebel sponsors this post.
I Still Have Two Baby Teeth
On the upper left side of my mouth, the incisor and canine teeth are still the baby teeth, even though I am 28 years old. The missing adult teeth never grew in. My smile really looks funny because the two teeth are very noticeable. I don’t want porcelain crowns or veneers. Is it possible to remove the teeth and replace them with implants? – Thank you. Karson from Lincoln, NE
Karson,
Thank you for your question.
If You Still Have Baby Teeth Will Dental Implants Work?
If you still have two baby teeth, dental implants can replace them if there are no impacted permanent teeth beneath the primary teeth. In many cases, the permanent teeth are impacted. You cannot replace the teeth with dental implants until a dentist takes x-rays to locate the permanent teeth. Afterward, the dentist will determine your treatment options.
Your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist who can help impacted teeth erupt into the correct position. It is common for lateral incisors, premolars, and wisdom teeth not to form. The orthodontist may open your gum tissue to expose each tooth. If the teeth need assistance emerging into the correct position, braces can guide them.
An orthodontist will determine whether there is enough room for each tooth to erupt or if they must reposition or remove any teeth to help impacted teeth emerge. Dental implants may be an option for underdeveloped or malformed impacted teeth.
Moline, Illinois dentist, Dr. Thomas Goebel, sponsors this post.