Dental Implants Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

My Crowns Look Like the Dentist Used Sandpaper on Them

Posted on December 17, 2021

I already had crowns on my center front teeth. In October, my dentist replaced a missing tooth with a dental implant. I had worn a partial denture for 12 years to replace the tooth. Now, my smile looks worse than before. My dentist could not get the implant crown to match the front crowns and my natural teeth. The color is still off, so my dentist said he would buff the implant crown to get a match. He could not match my teeth, so he also buffed the crowns on my front teeth. It looks and feels like my dentist used sandpaper on my teeth. The crowns feel rough to touch and when I glide my tongue across the front of my teeth. I contact my dentist regularly to remind him that the issue is not over. But I am thinking about how to resolve it. I just cannot trust him to resolve the issue. Will I need a new implant crown and crowns for my front teeth? – Thank you. Felix from Memphis

Felix,

We are sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with your new implant crown and existing crowns.

Why Do Your Dental Crowns Look Dull?

Your dental crowns are dull because your dentist buffed away the glaze on the porcelain. Not only do your crowns look dull, but they are also at risk of staining quickly and turning yellow.

Can a Dentist Restore the Shine on Your Crowns?

Dental crowns photo from Delaune Dental in Metaire, LA

A cosmetic dentist can improve the shine of your crowns

A cosmetic dentist can polish your porcelain crowns to restore the shine as much as possible. A dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training understands how to use diamond polishing instruments, polishing paste, and ultra-fine diamond polishing paste to help your crowns look glossy and smooth.

Be prepared for an out-of-pocket expense if you do not have dental insurance or if your insurance limits your benefits for cosmetic dentistry. But you will get results and feel relieved about your smile.

Choose a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training to avoid another disappointing experienced.

Duane Delaune, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post. Read why patients say Dr. Delaune is one of the best dentists in Metairie.

Is Oral Sedation Strong Enough for Tooth Extractions?

Posted on December 6, 2021

I am 27 years old and need three teeth extractions. My dentist is extracting them in the office but says sedation is enough. I have severe dental anxiety and wonder if sedation is enough. Also, after the site heals, I will be getting dental implants too. It’s hard to believe that anesthesia is not an option for extractions or dental implants. – Thanks for your help. Hayden from Denver

Hayden,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

Is Oral Sedation Strong Enough for Extractions?

Oral sedation is strong enough for most tooth extraction cases. Although we do not know the circumstances of your case, unless your dentist expects serious complications, there is no reason to give you general anesthesia. Even with impacted wisdom teeth, dentists and oral surgeons use conscious sedation, and patients stay comfortable throughout the procedure.

Anesthesia increases surgery risks. Surgeons and dentists avoid using more sedation or anesthesia than necessary to keep you comfortable and calm. If your dentist recommended general anesthesia, we would advise you to get a second opinion.

Also, at 27 years old, your jawbone is still somewhat pliable, and not much cementum accumulation is on the tooth roots. Your extractions should be straightforward. It’s a rare case of a 27-year-old with truly difficult wisdom teeth. And if your issue were extraordinarily complex, your dentist would refer you to an oral surgeon who would still likely use oral sedation—not anesthesia.

And it is the same with dental implants. Your dentist will numb your mouth and give you sedation for painless dental implant surgery.

Duane Delaune, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post.

Will Lingering Sensitivity After a White Filling Lead to an Extraction?

Posted on November 29, 2021

I am afraid that lingering sensitivity after a white filling is going to require a dental implant. Last April, after my dentist filled my tooth, it became sensitive to cold. I returned to the dentist, and she said that the cavity was so deep that the tooth might be irritated. She recommended putting a temporary crown over the tooth and later a root canal if the sensitivity continued. The tooth is still sensitive, but I am hesitant about getting a root canal. If I do not get a root canal, is there a chance of losing the tooth and needing an implant? – Thanks. Dean from PA

Dean,

Thank you for your question.

Will Lingering Sensitivity After a White Filling Lead to Root Canal or Extraction?

Whether lingering sensitivity after a filling requires root canal treatment depends on the status of your tooth. If the sensitivity gets worse, it is probably due to an infection that requires root canal treatment.

What Causes Delayed Sensitivity After a Filling?

Delayed sensitivity after a filling may mean that some decay got into the tooth pulp. Sometimes your body’s defenses will get rid of the infection.

Will You Need an Extraction?

Lingering tooth sensitivity should not lead to an extraction and implant unless you neglect the tooth

You will not need an extraction and dental implant unless the sensitivity worsens and you leave it untreated. You are seeking help, so it seems to be an unlikely scenario for you. Even so, despite what you may have heard, dentists make root canal treatment painless. If you have dental anxiety, ask your dentist about sedation options.

We do not understand your dentist’s work on your tooth or why she placed a crown over a sensitive tooth. But if a tooth is sensitive after a white filling, it is best to give it time to recover. Sometimes, the more you do to a tooth, irritation will increase. If the tooth gets worse, you can give your dentist a chance to resolve it, or you can get a second opinion.

Dr. Duane Delaune, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.

What brand of implants should I ask for?

Posted on October 31, 2021

I need dental implants, but I know not to get cheap ones that might fail. What brand of dental implants should I ask my dentist for? Thanks. Martin H.

Martin – Thank you for your question. Patients with an interest in dental implants frequently ask the same question.

Which Dental Implants Brands Are Best?

U.S. major manufacturers all have quality dental implants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the sale and distribution of dental implants in the United States.

In conjunction with the dental implant standards from the American Dental Association, the FDA also monitors dental implants for safety and effectiveness. The FDA protects and promotes public health and safety, so the dental implant screw, which dentists surgically place jawbone, and the dental crown attached to the implant must meet FDA requirements.

Priorities for a Dental Implant Candidate

As a patient receiving dental implants, your primary concern should be finding a dentist who uses quality fixtures and properly plans for and places your implants with care. A skilled implant dentist will first review your medical history and conduct diagnostic studies to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.

Choose an experienced implant dentist or oral surgeon for high-quality implant fixtures

Diagnostic studies will also reveal your bone structure and sinuses to ensure your dentist places your implants in the best position for your oral health. Proper placement avoids nerve damage, puncturing sinuses, and damaging other body cavities. A skilled implant dentist will select the correct implant diameter and length for your case.

Before selecting a provider for your dental implants, check their training, experienced, and credentials. Rather than the brand of implants used, your provider will focus on quality implants and quality placement for restorations that will last you a lifetime.

Duane Delaune, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post.

Need some advice for a badly decayed first molar tooth

Posted on September 27, 2021

My bottom right first molar is decayed and does not have a second molar behind it. My dentist wants to try to save it with a root canal, and if that does not work, she recommends a dental implant. The tooth is far enough back that I wonder if removing it and doing something like a half snap-on smile would work. I work from home, so I would only need to wear artificial teeth when I socialize. My dentist says that if I want an extraction, I need to find another dentist. She hates removing teeth. Do you mind offering your opinion? Thank you. Tytus from GA

Tytus,

Thank you for your question.

If you have already lost your second molar, removing the first molar would leave you without any lower right molars. We want to help you understand the effects of removing your first molar.

Effect of Lacking Molar Teeth on One Side

If you have no molar teeth on one side of your mouth, it will affect you in these ways:

Chewing – You will not be able to chew on that side of your mouth. And you will add stress to the teeth on the other side of your mouth. As molar teeth on the left side of your mouth wear, you will eventually need to eat soft foods that do not require a lot of chewing unless you get some form of long-lasting tooth replacement.
Temporary replacement teeth – A Snap-on Smile and similar products do not replace the function of molar teeth. Even if you wear it for socializing, it is not durable. You will need to replace it repeatedly.
Tooth misalignment – When one tooth is missing, nearby and opposing teeth begin to drift into the space. Without molars on the lower right side of your mouth, your teeth will start to move, detract from your smile, and create orthodontic issues.

Treatment Options for a Decayed First Molar Tooth

If your molar tooth is damaged, your treatment options likely include:

Root canal treatment – Your dentist can try to save your tooth with root canal treatment and a dental crown. Saving the tooth will prevent surrounding and opposing teeth from shifting. Root canal treatment is less expensive than extraction and a dental implant or dentures.
Dental implant – If root canal treatment fails and your dentist cannot save the tooth, a dental implant can replace it without damaging your oral health. An implant has an artificial root and a crown. It will function as a healthy natural tooth.
Partial denture – Although a partial denture can replace a missing tooth, it must attach to other teeth to stay in place. Over time, the pressure from the clasps of a partial denture weakens healthy teeth.

We recommend talking to your dentist about your concerns with root canal treatment. If your tooth is healthy enough, root canal treatment is the best way to save it and avoid a series of temporary solutions that require replacement.

Best wishes.

Duane Delaune, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post.

I Paid for a Crown But Now the Dentist Says I Need a Root Canal

Posted on September 15, 2021

The filling in my lower left second molar cracked, and the tooth cracked. My dentist removed the filling and put a crown on the tooth in June. I felt pain most of the appointment. When my dentist checked my bite, it hurt. Within three days, I returned to the office because it hurt to chew with the tooth and floss between it. The dentist asked me to return early last month for a new crown. When I went in for the crown, the dentist said I needed a root canal after all because the tooth had a periapical abscess. I was upset because the dentist never told me that I might need a root canal eventually. I do not want a root canal, but the dentist says my other option is extraction. Should I have to pay for the extraction, and should I request a refund for a crown that I will lose along with the tooth? – Marco from GA

Marco,

Thank you for contacting us about your case. Yes, your dentist’s work was sloppy. A cracked molar and filling mean that the tooth is already weak. Putting a crown on the tooth without checking its condition is careless. And your dentist should have mentioned root canal treatment. Then you returned to the office for an attempted second time, but you had a periapical abscess. We understand your frustration and not wanting any more treatment from this dentist. But why not consider root canal treatment?

Reasons to Consider Root Canal Treatment

A periapical abscess is a sack of pus from an infection that settles at the tooth roots. And it means the living tissue inside your tooth is dead. A dentist can drill into your tooth, remove the dead pulp, and refill the tooth—and it will be painless. So, root canal treatment would not hurt, but extraction can be traumatic.

Effects of tooth extraction

Root canal treatment is more manageable than extraction for other reasons. Consider the effect of tooth extraction:

Surrounding teeth will drift toward the space of the missing tooth
Your tooth alignment and bite will change
You will need a dental bridge or an implant to replace the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving
Without tooth replacement, you can also develop TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, including jaw pain, earaches, neck pain, headaches, and more

Ask for a Refund

You agreed to a dental crown to restore your tooth, but it didn’t work. And now, instead of a second tooth, you need root canal treatment. It is appropriate to ask your dentist for a refund. If your dentist does not admit his mistakes, explain that you received faulty work—not a solution.

You can see a cosmetic dentist for a second opinion. Afterward, you can use the results of the visit to ask your dentist for a refund. Best wishes for a fair resolution.

Duane Delaune, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist of Metairie, New Orleans, sponsors this post.

Boxing and Dental Implants

Posted on July 17, 2021

I’m a boxer and recently lost a tooth. Before you ask, yes, I was wearing a mouth guard. Sometimes those hits are just too hard for the guard. I keep hearing that dental implants are the way to go for tooth replacements. I’m just wondering if that is true for boxers. If so, are there any precautions I need to take?

Leroy

Dear Leroy,

That is a great question. Under normal circumstances, I would say get that dental implant. It is the BEST tooth replacement. It is. However, you are in significant risk of having that same implant ripped out again. If that happens, it will take the bone with it and can do some serious bone damage. Because of your unique situation, here is what I am going to recommend.

First, get the dental implant root form but do not have the crown placed yet. This will preserve the bone. Be certain that you get a dentist who has post-doctoral training in dental implants. This is an advanced procedure and it is not taught in dental school. That training will be necessary.

Second, get a temporary tooth replacement for the crown (the visible part of your tooth) to use while you are still boxing. This way if you have another hard hit to the mouth, your jaw will not be affected. Two good options are a dental flipper or a removable partial denture.

Third, once you are done boxing, that will be the time to get the permanent crown secured to your dental implant.

This plan gives you the best of both worlds. You get the best replacement with the implant form, but the safety of the temporary tooth in case of injury.

I would go ahead and get started on this. It won’t take long for your other teeth to begin drifting or tipping into the empty space you have now.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Deluane.

Why Did Three of My Dental Implants Fall Out?

Posted on June 13, 2021

I had six dental implants placed a few weeks ago and I’ve already had three fall out. I’ve paid 3/4 of the fee already. Should I get a partial refund? Is it possible for me to get them again because they were supposed to secure a denture to them.

Leigh

Dear Leigh,

You absolutely should have a refund, and not just on the ones that have already fallen out. I think you need a complete refund. I don’t know what your dentist did without examining you, but you need to get to a different dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation. Most experienced implant dentists will have around a 95% success rate. Those that do fail, won’t often do so until much later down the line. Your dentist has a 50% success rate and the failure was in just a few weeks.

There are a few reasons that dental implants can fail and we need to nail down what was the cause of your implant failure. This will give you an idea of how to proceed. If you are in good general health, you can most likely still get dental implants. Though, because of the failed implants, you will need a bone grafting procedure.

Here are some reasons that dental implants can fail:

Infection. I don’t think this is your issue. It is often accompanied by pain and/or fever.
Diagnostic shortcuts. This means the dentist did not take adequate diagnostic x-rays to determine whether or not you had sufficient bone support to retain your dental implants.
Cheap implant fixtures. Some dentists, in an effort to increase profits, will purchase their implant fixtures from outside the United States, where standards might not be as high.
Incorrect placement of the implant. This can occur because the dentist is unskilled or careless, but it can also occur if the dentist did not get the right x-rays done.
Premature Crown Placement. A dental implant has to integrate with the surrounding bone tissue in order to securely retain the implant.

As I mentioned before you need to find out what went wrong. Dental implants are not adequately taught in dental school. In order to really develop the skills necessary, a dentist must invest in post-doctoral training specifically in the implant procedure. Before going to get your second opinion, make sure the dentist you see has that training.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Help! My Dental Implants are Falling Out.

Posted on May 31, 2021

I had a full mouth reconstruction done a year ago and the dental implant crowns have been falling off leaving me with nothing but the screws. Now one of the implants themselves have fallen out. I’ve been trying to reach my dentist for months, but they keep blowing me off. Now I learn he’s actually fled the country. Is there any way I can get some teeth now?

Liz

Dear Liz,

I am sorry for what you are being put through. It seems your dentist was a crook. I think he or she knows they are in trouble as they fled. I wonder how many other victims there are. It will be hard to recoup your money unless he comes back to the country. I can, however, tell you how to get the smile you want.

You made a good choice in getting dental implants. They are the best tooth replacement. I hope you actually needed a full-mouth reconstruction and that wasn’t just another part of his unethical behavior. Either way, you need one now. To be frank, this is one of the most advanced procedures. Unfortunately, this procedure is not taught in dental school. In order for a dentist to get the training to do this properly, it will require a dentist who invested in a significant amount of post-doctoral treatment, specifically in three areas:

Cosmetics – to ensure your smile looks beautiful
Dental Implants – for obvious reasons
TMJ and occlusion – to make certain they know you your teeth should meet with proper occlusion.

I know that is a tall order. Start with the the cosmetic training. I would not look for the cheapest dentist. That usually means they cut corners in order to keep profits up. That is the last thing you need. Look for someone listed on the mynewsmile.com website. Any dentist listed there has had their technical training as well as their artistry evaluated. They cannot just pay to be listed. Next look at their implant training. Dentists with implant training often have TMJ training as well because proper occlusion is necessary for a good outcome with dental implants. For instance, Dr. Delaune did implantology training with the Zimmer Institute, but he also invested in advanced TMJ training with the renowned Dawson Academy.

Please don’t be surprised if they mention you need a bone grafting procedure to get these implants done correctly. Your implants will probably have to be removed, if more of them haven’t failed by then. When that happens, you lose some bone structure. In order for your dental implants to remain secure, you will need that bone support. In fact, it is imperative that bone integrates with the implants for a successful case.

Following these guidelines, you should receive an amazing smile you will be proud to share that will serve you well for many years to come.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

16 Year Old with a Baby Tooth

Posted on April 30, 2021

I have a baby lateral incisor still, even though I am sixteen years old. I would like to replace it so I can have a “grown-up” tooth. Can I replace it with a dental implant? I am planning on having my senior pictures taken in the fall. I’d like to have something that looks nice.

Candace

Dear Candace,

A dental implant is a great tooth replacement option. However, before you do that, two things need to be in place. First, you will want to make sure that you do not have an adult tooth under your gums that is impacted. If you do, a dental implant will not work because there will be no place to put it. The tooth root will be in the way. Instead, you will need to work with your dentist to open the gum and direct the tooth into its proper position. This may require some orthodontics, but if you get on it quickly, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting some beautiful senior pictures.

If, however, you are dealing with a congenitally missing tooth, then it will definitely need to be replaced. While a dental implant is the best tooth-replacement option, you will need to wait until your jaw is completely developed. This will be in your early twenties. Until then, you will not need to go without a tooth there. After you have the baby tooth extracted, I would suggest a temporary tooth replacement, such as a dental flipper.

Finding the Right Implant Dentist

Once it is time to get that dental implant, you want to be careful about who does it. This is the leading area for dental malpractice suits. This is because too many inexperienced (or worse, untrained) dentists do this procedure with horrible consequences for the patient. There are a couple of things you will want to look for in the dentist you choose.

First, their dental implant training. Dental school is not enough. Ask them what type of post-doctoral training they have in the dental implant procedure. If they are offended by that question, it means they don’t have the training and you need to seek a dentist elsewhere. Secondly, you will want to ask them their success rate. It needs to be no lower than 95%. While there will always be some cases that fail, due to no fault of either the dentist or patient, when done by an experienced and skilled dentist most will succeed.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.