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What are the chances of all-on-4 implant failure?

Posted on by smiles4u.

Hello,

My teeth have caused me nothing but trouble my whole life. I don’t have very many left and my dentist has agreed to pull them so I can get dentures. He mentioned all-on-4s as an alternative to removable dentures because it will be more permanent. I do like the idea, but am concerned because a friend of mine had all-on-4s and something went terribly wrong with one of the implants. I’ve had enough trouble with my teeth and don’t want to risk going through what she did if this is something common that can happen. — Sharon

Sharon,

You are right to do your research and ask questions up front. While the all-on-4 procedure has been a hot topic recently for the reasons that you mention, you can relax a little bit and know that the problems your friend experienced are very rare. Implant failure happens in a very small percentage of patients.

Your success mostly hinges on the skill level of your dentist. To ensure you have a good outcome with the procedure, find a dentist who is educated and experienced with all-on-4, and ask the following questions:

  • Where he/she learned the procedure
  • If he/she has had any continuing education on all-on-4s
  • How long he/she has been performing the all-on-4 procedure and how many patients they have treated
  • Has there been any failures and what is the most common complication his/her patients have experienced

As with any medical procedure, your health will also play an important role.  Be sure your dentist thoroughly reviews your medical history to determine if you are at risk for implant failure. And if you are aware of any risks in your medical history, such as periodontal disease, bone loss, diabetes – or if you smoke, be sure to discuss all those risk factors open and honestly.

All-on-4s have a very high success rate, but asking questions and educating yourself before the procedure will put your mind at ease and ensure the best outcome possible.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

What can be done for tetracycline stains?

Posted on by smiles4u.

Hello,

I am in need of a solution for covering the dark tetracycline stains on my teeth. A friend of mine had veneers put on several years ago for the same reason, but hers look bulky and fake. The dentist said that opaque veneers were best for covering dark stains. How can I cover my dark stains, but still have a natural-looking smile that doesn’t look fake?

— Anne

Anne,

Tetracycline stains can be difficult to cover, but it has been successfully done for many years. Unfortunately, there are many dentists who claim to be skilled in cosmetic dentistry who have just never taken the time to learn the techniques and the results patients achieve are exactly as you describe. Another common issue with dark stains is that when dentists bond the veneers, the teeth are not covered at the edges, resulting in a halo effect.

The first step in getting the smile you want is choosing the right dentist – one that is an expert in cosmetic dentistry, who, like Dr. Delaune, has mastered the techniques required to cover tetracycline stains. You won’t find these types of dentists simply by opening the phone book. You must do your homework. When interviewing potential cosmetic dentists, ask for testimonials from patients who have achieved the results you are looking for as well as before and after photos of their work. Any cosmetic dentist who takes pride in their work will be happy to show you why they are the best choice for your smile makeover.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Tinnitus caused by TMJ?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I am looking for an answer to the ear pain/noises/tinnitus that I have been experiencing in my left ear. It is difficult to pinpoint because the sounds and volume are not consistent, but it seems that the clicking gets louder and more bothersome late at night because my muscles tend to tighten up, causing head spasms. I work out regularly and also notice a throbbing or vibrating on the right back side of my neck when I run and it feels like something is not aligned. I recently had an MRI to rule out sinus issues or a tumor, so I think my next step is to see a dentist to determine if TMJ is causing my tinnitus.

Mark in Los Angeles

Mark,
What is unfortunate about TMJ is that the symptoms can vary from person to person and many times other dental conditions can cause the same problems. The symptoms you describe – the tinnitus, as well as the bothersome noises/clicking in your ear, tightening of your muscles and general feeling of something being out of alignment – do sound very much like TMJ.

While diagnosis of TMJ is an important first step, it can be an extensive process and treatment can be quite expensive. That is why it is imperative to find a dentist, like Dr. Delaune, who specializes in TMJ that can study your medical history and perform a thorough examination your face and jaw, including x-rays or other imaging studies and tests.

Do your homework… any dentist can claim they are a TMJ specialist, but they might not have much expertise at all. The only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to visit a dentist who is trained in TMJ treatment and diagnosis. When you find a potential dentist, ask about his or her credentials or extra training/education in regards to TMJ as well as for testimonials from other patients who have been successfully treated. You will want to keep all of this in mind before spending a lot of money on a dentist who may not even solve your problem.

Read more about TMJ disorder on our website, plus learn about Botox, which is a new treatment for TMJ.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

How can I avoid my sister’s porcelain veneer nightmare?

Posted on by smiles4u.

My sister and I are grown adults with families, careers and homes of our own and yet, it always seems like we are competing against one another in everything – even our smiles. I have some spaces between my teeth and a few chips here and there that have made me self-conscious over the years so I decided to start saving for veneers. My sister found out and of course, she had to get veneers before me.

She has had nothing but problems with hers. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I don’t think they look natural at all. They seem to be the right color, but they look fake. I am not sure if this is a result of something she has done, but a couple of them have fallen off.  It has taken me quite a while to save up for this so I don’t want to have these same problems. How can I be sure I get a beautiful smile that lasts?

Sincerely,
Lisa

Dear Lisa,
It sounds like that crazy competitive spirit has followed you and your sister into adulthood and oftentimes these competitions can become quite ugly. But look at it this way… thanks to your sister you can save yourself from making the same costly mistakes.

The color and your perception that your sister’s porcelain veneers look fake likely has to do with the translucency. Our natural teeth absorb and reflect light, and when veneers are made to look too solid, they tend to look fake. If a dentist isn’t skilled in cosmetic dentistry and have additional training, they often can’t achieve a natural look because they don’t know how to match the opacity of a real tooth – which is just as important as matching color.

Also, veneers should not fall off. You need not be concerned that your sister did something to make that happen. Poor lab work when the veneers were created could be the problem, or an unskilled dentist doing the work.  If done correctly, porcelain veneers are extremely durable and should last for ten years or longer.

There’s a saying that goes, “I smile because you’re my sister.  I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it.”  Do your homework and find an expert cosmetic dentist so you’re guaranteed to be smiling for years to come.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Can I Whiten My Teeth Too Much?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I need some advice on retouching my bleached teeth — I used Opalescence 20% PF. How many weeks should I touch up and how many hours each day? I don’t want a “glow-in-the-dark” white smile, but I do want to maintain my desired whiteness. I will also be having some crowns placed in the near future and wonder if I should stop whitening a certain length of time before my appointment to ensure a correct color match?

Sara in Georgia

Sara,
As with Opalescence 20% PF and most other brands of bleaching gel, there are no specific answers on how long you should touch up. When talking about crown matching, your dentist should be able to answer these questions for you, and if not, you should have some concerns. Many dentists today are not true cosmetic dental artists, so your desire to achieve a beautiful smile could be in jeopardy if your dentist lacks the skills needed for true cosmetic dentistry.

Can you whiten your teeth too much? There is no clear answer on that because the pace of whitening slows the more you do it, but the teeth will keep getting whiter. Your dentist should ask you several questions in determining what is best option for you:

  • How satisfied you are with the current color?
  • How much did you bleach them?
  • Have your teeth darkened much since the initial whitening?
  • What would you consider to be their ideal whiteness?

Teeth sensitivity will more often than not determine when and how long you whiten your teeth. If you are not experiencing sensitivity, bleach as long as you can. Bleaching overnight is ideal because the gel will typically last all night since your mouth produces less saliva. If you have to bleach during the day, you’ll have to add gel several times because saliva can get into the trays and wash it out. Just be sure you can get at least 20-30 minutes of bleaching time in because that is now long it takes for the gel to soak into the tooth.

Before any color-matching is done on your new crowns, you’ll want to be sure to have stopped whitening approximately two weeks prior. The secret to teeth whitening is in the peroxide gel releasing tiny bubbles of pure oxygen within your tooth, oxidizing the stains and darker colors. These little oxygen bubbles need time to disperse in order to get a true color. If you are doing eight front teeth, the color of the back teeth and the lower teeth just need to be a close match, so a week would be sufficient. If you need an exact color match of a front tooth with a crown matched to another front tooth with natural enamel, you need to wait the full two weeks. If your dentist cannot easily articulate this information to you, you should rethink whether or not f this is the best dentist to give you a new smile.

Remember, your teeth will pick up stains from food or drinks like coffee, tea, berries, etc. Typically, whitening for 2-3 days for an hour/day once every year or two should help you maintain that bright white bleached color.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

 

Ears have been ringing for 4 nights. Do I have TMJ?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My ears have been ringing for 4 nights in a row. Before that they would ring every now and then. I am wondering if I have TMJ. THanks Deidre

Deidre – TMJ disorder can affect your ears. It can cause pain or sensitivity in your ears or tinnitus—ringing in your ears. Tense jaw muscles can affect the ears and cause ringing or vertigo.

But ringing in the ears is not the only sign of TMJ. Head and neck pain, jaw pain, and headaches are some of the other symptoms.

The only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to visit a dentist who is trained in TMJ treatment and diagnosis. Make an appointment for an examination.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Do all dentists know about TMJ?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I think I have TMJ. I told my dentist I think I have it and he pushed around on my cheeks and asked me if it hurt. I told him it was sore and he said you probably do have it but that was all he did. Can’t TMJ be treated? Do all dentists know about it? – Jasmine

Jasmine – All dentists know about TMJ, but not all dentists treat it. To be properly treated, the TMJ disorder requires TMJ-specific continuing education on the part of the dentist.

A dentist who has post-graduate training in TMJ will take imaging studies of your teeth and jaws, and perform tests on your jaw muscles. If you have a mild case, treatment can be simple. It’s best to have an examination from a dentist experienced with treating TMJ.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Is it important to finish the root canal treatment?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My dentist started a root canal on one of my teeth but she couldn’t  finish it because the root was longer than expected. When she used longer files, I had a lot of pain. So she stopped. The office called my insurance company and got approval for me to see an endodontist. Is it really necessary to complete the root canal or can I just get the tooth capped? – Jade

Jade – A root canal treatment is performed because there is an infection in your tooth. In order to ensure that the infection is removed, the entire pulp of the tooth, including the tips of the roots must be cleaned out and sealed off. If you leave the tooth untreated, the infection will linger and there is a possibility of it continuing to spread.

The tooth will need to be protected with a dental crown, frequently called a “cap,” but it’s important to ensure the infection is removed first.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune, a New Orleans Magazine Top Dentist whom many patients think is the best dentist in New Orleans.

Loose dental implant

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I had 3 dental implants fitted in April and one has come a bit loose. Can this be dangerous or is just like a loose tooth that will fall out later? – Janet

Janet – Dental implants should not become lose or fall out. A loose implant is a sign of dental implant failure. Have you had any follow-up visits with your implant dentist to check the progress of your implants?

A dental can become loose if it is improperly placed, if cheap implant fixtures are used, or if you have inadequate bone density to support the implant. You should schedule an appointment with your implant dentist right away. If the dental implant has failed, it will need to be completely redone.

If you prefer, you can get a second opinion from an experienced implants. He or she will examine the implant and let you know your treatment options.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read about his Top Dentist award from his peers, and find out why his patients consider him to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

My tetracycline stains are showing through my porcelain veneers

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have very dark tetracycline stains on my teeth. My dentist told me that he could cover the stains with porcelain veneers. I trusted him because I have seen this dentist since 2002. Two weeks ago, I got the porcelain veneers. My teeth now look light gray. The stains are still showing through. Last Friday, I spoke with my dentist and he said that he did the best he could and that at least my teeth are not a very dark shade of gray. If porcelain veneers can’t really make my teeth look white, why did my dentist tell me he could cover the stains? Thanks Autumn

Autumn – Porcelain veneers can successfully cover tetracycline stains, but only if the veneers are placed by a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist.

The porcelain needs to be manipulated so that it covers the tetracycline stains, but also has the color and translucency of natural teeth. Only an artistic cosmetic dentist has the skill to accomplish this difficult task.

It sounds as if your veneers are too translucent, so the color of the stains on your natural teeth is showing through.

Speak with your dentist about your desire to have a natural-looking smile. Let him know that the veneers you currently have do not meet your expectations. He may work with you to cover at least some of the cost of having your porcelain veneers expertly placed by a skilled cosmetic dentist.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.