Archive for July, 2010

A mixed experience at Clear Choice

Monday, July 19th, 2010

I went to the Clear Choice Dental Implant Center here in Roseville. The experience on the whole was very positive. The staff seemed to be knowlegeable and the Dr. highly degreed. What concerns me is they do not tell you everything. They do not tell you anything about after the implants have bee finalized and the teeth are placed against the gum.

My whole intend in choosing Clear Choice was to not have to worry about excusing myself from the table after I eat. I now not only have to do that I have to cary dental piks, dental floss and a tooth brush. There is so much food between the prosthetic and the gum it is uncomfortable and food sticks to the teeth everywhere. Also they do no follow up after the teeth are set, such as calling to see if there are any problems say after about two weeks. Perhaps this seems like a minor problem but it is huge when one is having dinner out in an upscale restaurant.
- Patricia from California

Patricia,
I know that the Clear Choice Center here in Phoenix has some capable professionals who have advanced degrees, similar to what you’re saying about California. I’m sorry that they didn’t explain the pros and cons of the various options to you. There are different options in full mouth dental implants. The full implant crown and bridge would have none of the problems that you are having with food catching under the prosthesis, because the implants are supporting individual teeth. The removable hybrid restoration or the implant overdenture would tend to be on the other end, where you would tend to have more possibility of food getting between the prosthesis and the gum, because there is a tissue replacement that laps over the gum. There are other options in between. Different people have different expectations of what they want with their teeth, and some professionals, unfortunately, seem to develop a one-size-fits-all approach.

And then that follow-up contact can be important because issues like this may be able to be resolved. If food is collecting between the the prosthesis and the gums, it’s possible that the prosthesis can be relined for a tighter fit. You may want to ask about that.

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I’m 16, and I still have baby teeth.

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

I am 16. I still have 2 baby teeth and when I pulled out a tooth 5 years ago it still hasn’t grown in. Could you tell me what the problems could be with my teeth?
- Colton from California

Colton,
You usually lose your last baby teeth around age 12 or so, and then the permanent teeth erupt in their place. If you are age 16 and still have two baby teeth, it may be that you are missing some permanent teeth – that they never formed. This is a condition called congenitally missing teeth.

The most common congenitally missing teeth are the upper lateral incisors (not the teeth in the very front, but the teeth next over) and the lower second premolars.

When the permanent lateral incisors are missing, often the baby teeth will still fall out, leaving you with gaps. The gaps then need to be filled with some type of false tooth. This can be either with a dental implant or a dental bridge. If a dental implant is used, it is best to wait in placing that until bone growth has stopped, around age 18 to 20. Until then, some type of temporary tooth replacement, such as a dental flipper, can be used.

Another possibility is that the permanent teeth are impacted – they are present but their eruption is impeded. Sometimes an orthodontist teamed with an oral surgeon can help the tooth erupt into its normal position.