Dental Implants Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

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.

Her Dentist Won’t Take Out all the Teeth She Wants Out

Posted on April 20, 2021

I have an infected wisdom tooth and a tooth near it that had a root canal treatment a year ago. I want them both removed but for some reason, my dentist is only willing to take out the wisdom tooth. I’m putting off getting the wisdom tooth removed until I can talk him into doing both. Do you have any tips for getting a dentist to do what you want?

Danny

Dear Danny,

Before you pressure your dentist, I want you to think about why he would NOT want to extract this tooth. Extracting it makes more money for him. Leaving it does nothing for him To me this speaks volumes. My assumption is he truly doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with the tooth and feels it would be an unnecessary procedure and expense for you. Plus, while you do not have to replace wisdom teeth, you do need to replace other missing teeth. By not replacing it, your bite will shift which risks you developing painful TMJ Disorder.

Now, in addition to the cost of the additional extraction (which makes him money), you will have the cost of a tooth replacement, such as a dental implant (which also makes him money). It sounds to me like you have a dentist with integrity that is trying to give you the best oral health possible without costing you money for procedures you don’t need.

If you still want to extract the tooth, then you can pressure him by saying, “either you extract it or I’ll go somewhere else to have it done.” That may have him extract it or he may tell you to go somewhere else.

Whatever you do, do it quickly. You have an infected wisdom tooth. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies for very good reasons. Think about how close your jaw is to your heart, lungs, and brain. Tooth infections spread. If it reaches a sensitive area, such as those I mentioned then you put your life at risk. If you still want to insist on both teeth being removed at the same time, I am sure you will find a dentist willing to take the fee.

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

I Can’t Keep My Denture In Any Longer

Posted on April 6, 2020

I have had dentures for over twenty years. Several years ago, they started becoming tricky to keep in. Now they are not staying in at all. What do I do?

Cary

Dear Cary,

The Results of Facial Collapse

When your teeth are removed, your body recognized that. Its job is to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. Because of that, once you no longer have any tooth roots, your body interprets that as no longer needing a jawbone to keep those roots in place. As a result, it will resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. This has the result of slowly shrinking your jawbone. Hopefully, your dentist warned you about this before you decided on dentures instead of your other options.

Where you are in this process is known as facial collapse. You now no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. Unfortunately, just getting new dentures won’t help. You are going to have to have some bone grafting done to build that back up. Once that happens, you have two choices.

Your first choice is to get dentures again. Just bear in mind that you are going to go back through the cycle of losing your jawbone again. Your second choice is to get implant-supported dentures.

How Implant Supported Dentures Prevent Facial Collapse

Implant overdentures work by having four to six dental implants in your jaw and then anchor your dentures to the implants. Having the implants in your jaw serves as prosthetic roots. Your body interprets that as having teeth and leaves your jaw intact.

Not only that, you will find all the problems you had with removable dentures disappear. There is no more slipping. Additionally, you will find your chewing capacity goes up significantly. This is because even your best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by at least 50%. You’ll be so excited to be able to eat whatever you want again.

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

root canal problems

Posted on January 27, 2020

I had a root canal treatment for an infected tooth. After I finished treatment, my dentist gave me a prescription for penicillin. A week later I was still in pain. He wrote me a prescription for Vicodin and said if it still hurt after another week he’d give me a different antibiotic. I don’t think I can wait that long. Plus, the Vicodin makes me feel weird. What do you recommend?

Barry

Dear Barry,

man grabbing the side of his jaw in pain

Your dentist is missing the boat here. First, the antibiotic prescription. While penicillin can work, it wouldn’t be my first choice after a root canal treatment. Instead, I’d try a stronger antibiotic such as clindamycin.

Second, the amount of time he’s waiting to get you on the correct antibiotic is way too long. You should have been feeling better after a couple of days and he wants you to wait over two weeks! No.

There’s a good likelihood you still have a dental infection because something was missed here. You don’t want the infection to spread any more than it already has.

Where to Go From Here

I think you need to see a root canal specialist and have this re-treated. When you call the office, let them know what is going on so they can get you on the right antibiotic.

To give you realistic expectations here, a root canal re-treatment is usually successful only in 50-75% of the time.

If it turns out, the re-treatment doesn’t work, you may need to extract the tooth in order to get rid of the infection. If that happens, you’ll want to discuss your tooth replacement options with your dentist. If you want the top of the line replacement, then getting a dental implant is the best bet. Your next best option is a dental bridge. However, it does require crowning the two adjacent teeth.

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

medical insurance & dental implants

Posted on January 14, 2020

I had to remove all my upper teeth due to extensive gum disease and decay. I’ve gotten the gum disease back under control, though it cost me a small fortune. I’ve been trying traditional dentures, but that dental plate has made things impossible for me. I have too strong a gag reflex to even keep it in. This has made eating almost impossible. I’ve already lost ten pounds and I’m not a big woman to begin with. My dentist suggested I get implant dentures. Is it possible to get medical insurance to pay for this because I can’t eat? I would think that would count as a health issue. My dentist didn’t think it would.

Beth

Dear Beth,

upper implant overdentures — Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures will be a great solution for someone in your position. The extra hardware in your mouth which comes along with traditional dentures is a problem for most people.

Using dental implants to support them, not only makes them more secure, it also removes all the extra material over your palette which causes so many gagging problems. Not to mention the food that can get under there.

Medical Insurance for Dental Implants

Unfortunately, your dentist was right. It is highly unlikely medical insurance with cover you getting the dental implants you need. This is a shame because it does have a negative impact on your health when you can’t eat and get the nutrition you need.

Most medical insurance comes with a dental exclusion clause. There is sometimes an exception where if you had a car accident and lost your teeth. Then, it COULD be covered through the medical portion of your car insurance.

Affording Dental Implants

There are a few ways to make this more affordable. First, you should know you don’t have to pay for the entire procedure at once. Instead, you pay for the implant portion before that is done. Then there is a period of healing, which also allows for osseointegration. When that is completed, it is time for the denture portion. That is when you’ll pay for the second half.

Even then, things can be broken up for you. Many dentists work with a company called “Care Credit“. This is a medical credit card of sorts which will pay for your procedure and then allow you to pay them back.

The interest is much lower than traditional credit cards. If you have good credit, you can even get a zero-interest payment plan. I would talk to your dentist. Their business office can usually find options for you.

If they’re not willing to show you options, then this isn’t the best dentist for you. Find a better dentist. One who is more compassionate.

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

why won’t my dentist do all-on-4 dental implants?

Posted on November 10, 2019

I want to get dental implants but have lost some bone. My dentist says I need to have bone grafting done before I get the implants. I read that you can do all-on-4 without bone grafting. When I asked him about it he said that isn’t a good fit for me. Why not? Because the other way means an extra procedure and extra money for him? Should I go to another dentist who will do it?

Adam

Dear Adam,

illustration of the position for all-on-4 dental implants — All-on-Four Dental Implants

I wouldn’t necessarily assume that your dentist is opposed to the all-on-4 dental implants because he wants to make more money. There can be a few reasons.

First, all-on-four dental implants procedure requires additional training as it is done differently than traditional dental implants or implant overdentures. It may be that your dentist simply doesn’t do that procedure. Not all implant dentists do.

A second possibility he is saying no could simply be that you’re not a good candidate. While it was developed to help patients with less bone still get dental implants, it really will depend on how much bone you’ve lost. Maybe your dentist said it won’t work for you because you’ve lost too much bone for this to be a viable procedure.

The first thing I would do is simply as him why he says it won’t work for you. If you are not satisfied with the answer, then getting a second opinion would be a good idea.

Options to All-on-4 Dental Implants

Before making any decision, you should know all the facts. While there have been improvements doing all-on-4, you should be aware if one part of the procedure fails or is damaged, you’ll have to replace the whole unit.

If you are not a candidate or decide you want to go with something else, then implant overdentures will be a great option. Though, as your dentist mentioned, it will require some bone grafting. The good news is this is an outpatient procedure

Getting a Smile You’re Proud to Share

This is your chance to not just get functional teeth, but an attractive smile. The way to do that is to be certain the dentist who does your procedure is not just a trained implant dentist, but is also a skilled cosmetic dentist.

To find one, I suggest you look on the mynewsmile.com. They screen dentists who wish to be listed for both their technical training as well as their artistry. Any dentist they list will be able to create a stunning smile for you.

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

Dental implants with metal allergies

Posted on July 13, 2019

I have a severe allergy to cobalt, nickel, and mercury. I’m in need of one filling and one dental implant. Is there a way to do this with my allergies?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

a woman smiling from the dentist chair with her dentist smiling beside her — The key to a good outcome with your dentist is communication

Mercury-Free Dental Fillings

You will be able to treat both of these situations. We’ll start with the fillings because that is easy. You simply need to see a mercury-free dentist. They will provide you with white composite fillings and you’ll never have to worry about any mercury content.

Metal-Free Dental Implants

As for the dental implant, the metal allergies you mentioned shouldn’t affect you. Traditional dental implants are made from titanium which is extremely biocompatible. They’re used in many body replacements, including for hips.

If you are still concerned you might have an allergy to it, you can ask your doctor to run an allergy test. That is fairly simple. If it turns out you are allergic, there is still a way for you to get a dental implant.

They now make zirconia implants. These are metal free. The zirconia is just as strong as the titanium and is nicknamed ceramic steel. The reason dentists typically use the titanium is it has been in use longer and has a proven track record.

Most dentists are good at working around a patient’s limitations. For instance, there are anxious patients who need either extra patience and explanations or what’s happening or their anxiety is so strong they need some form of dental sedation.

If your dentist isn’t willing to work with you, I’d suggest finding a better caregiver.

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

It’s been six months and I still have no teeth!

Posted on October 14, 2016

About six months ago, I decided to try and do something about a couple of my lower front teeth that were loose. After doing some research, I decided that my best option was dental implants, but knew it was going to be very expensive. I started looking around for a doctor who could do affordable dental implants and when I came across an ad for a doctor a few miles away from where I lived, I was sure I had found the right person for the job. At my consultation, he priced everything out for me. He said I should go ahead and have the teeth pulled that day and that I needed bone beads to help with the healing (I had to pay for that because my insurance wouldn’t cover it). I went ahead with his recommendation and waited six months — with a toothless smile no less — to go back for the surgery. Much to my disappointment, he told me that he couldn’t move forward until I had more procedures done – including bone grafting and gum treatment. Now I’m thinking it would have just been better to keep my teeth because I’m having to spend more and more money and I’m still toothless. I feel like my smile is ruined. What can I do? — Christina

Christina,
There’s several concerns here, but the biggest one would be that your dentist didn’t first address why you teeth were loose. If you had periodontal disease, you should have never been considered for implants until that was under control. I’m guess that is why he is now saying you need additional gum treatments. Since the teeth are gone, there’s no way to know if they could have been saved.

The other treatments are probably necessary before moving on with the implant surgery to ensure they don’t fail. Get a second opinion to be sure you’re getting the right treatments. As far as going without teeth for six months, your dentist should have offered you a temporary solution – such as a flipper or partial denture. Either one would not only help with appearance and eating, but also prevent the other teeth from shifting into the open space. You could still get either one of these options now, so schedule a consult with another dentist to find out what they can do.

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

Is it worth the extra money for custom abutments?

Posted on October 5, 2016

I need some advice. I’ve had two dentists give me a quote for dental implants and one is a little higher than the other. I asked the one dentist why he was more expensive and he said he does custom abutments and the other quote likely only includes pre-fabricated abutments and other cheaper parts. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to pull one over on me, so I went back to the first dentist and asked whether his quote included custom abutments. Come to find out, the other dentist was right! Quite honestly, I’m still not sure what my best option is. Are custom abutments really that big of a deal? Should that be a reason to pay more for dental implants? — Cecelia

Cecelia,
You bring up a really great question. There are three main parts to dental implants – the implant itself, the abutment and the crown. All of these parts need to fit together perfectly to ensure the success of the implant long-term.

When it comes to prefabricated or “stock” abutments, dentists only have a few sizes to choose from and it can be difficult to achieve a natural shape with the crown, making it more difficult to keep the area clean. When a crown is cemented, cement often seeps out of the edges and dentists can’t get all the extra cleaned off when the space is too tight. Cement that is left behind traps food and bacteria, and when you’re unable to remove those particles, infection, inflammation and eventual implant failure can occur. If this happens, your only option is to start over, and you’ll likely incur even more expense for bone grafting before having surgery again.

Are custom abutments really that big of a deal? They do provide a better fit than stock abutments which means you’re less likely to be at risk of infection. And while custom abutments are not necessary for every implant case, it’s still good that you have both options on the table. You’ll need to decide what’s right for you (and your budget), but keep in mind that you may be risking a lot if you choose to go the prefabricated route. Good luck!

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

Is pain and tenderness around my implant an emergency?

Posted on August 21, 2016

I had an implant placed about three months ago and the healing process has been great – up until last night. Something felt different and now this morning there’s tenderness and pain that is radiating into my jaw. It hurts enough that I can’t really eat. Of course it’s the weekend, so I’m not sure if this is something I should be worried about having looked at immediately by an emergency dentist or wait until Monday. Any advice? — Gabrielle

Gabrielle,
It’s probably a good idea to see an emergency dentist. From what you’re describing, you likely have an infection at the implant site since the pain is getting worse and spreading to your jaw. Not being able to eat is also a concern and worthy of a visit to the dentist, too.

Oral infections can spread quickly if not taken care of. They can even become deadly if it attacks the heart or brain. Infection can also lead to complete implant failure and significant bone loss. If that happens and your implant needs replaced, bone grafting will need to be done before placing a new post. Early treatment with an antibiotic can stop this from happening.

If your regular dentist has an answering service, try calling there first. If they don’t have an on-call line or they don’t respond in a timely manner, look up your nearest emergency dentist and get an appointment as soon as you can.

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