dental implants Archives - My Smile Artist

Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?

June 3, 2022 by Admin

Dental Implants San Antonio Texas

Do you have one or more missing teeth? Dental implants are by far the most effective option to replace a missing tooth, with a success rate of 97 percent. Anyone who is in good enough health to have a tooth extracted is likely a good candidate for dental implants. However, there are some contraindications to implant treatment that can make it more difficult or impossible.

Patients with chronic disorders, heavy smoking, or alcohol misuse may not be suitable candidates for implants. After a thorough physical examination and review of your medical history, your doctor will assess whether or not this treatment is appropriate for you in San Antonio, Texas.

Are Your Gums And Bones In Good Shape?

When determining whether or not someone is a candidate, we look for healthy gums and bone. Are your gums in good shape? Do you practice decent dental hygiene? Do you clean and floss your teeth twice a day? Are you in good enough health to have a tooth extracted? If you can answer yes to all of these questions, you may be a good candidate for dental implants.

Dental implants are by far the greatest technique to replace teeth, whether you’re missing one tooth, multiple teeth, or all of them. They have the same appearance, feel, and function as real teeth.

Who Is Regarded To Be An “At Risk” Patient?

Hemophelia, cancer, uncontrolled diabetes, and autoimmune illnesses are some of the health issues that may prevent you from being a candidate for implants. Because they all impair your body’s ability to heal, they can increase the failure rate. However, don’t write yourself off just yet if you fall into this category. We’ll go through your medical history in detail and evaluate if you’re a good candidate for surgery in our San Antonio office.

Do You Have a Good Oral Hygiene Routine?

Despite the fact that the majority of people are ideal candidates, dental health is a significant factor in achieving a positive outcome. Someone who satisfies the following criteria is an excellent candidate:

Gums that are healthy
Sufficient bone to support the implants

What Is Oral Health Important For Dental Implants?

Having good dental health is vital since implant failure is more likely if your jaw isn’t healthy enough for the implants to merge with the bone. Your implants may be jeopardized if you have periodontal disease or have experienced substantial bone loss as a result of gum disease or missing teeth. Especially if the bone loss pattern continues and the gums aren’t kept in good shape. Call or message us today for more information.

Can I Get a Metal Tooth Post Replaced with a Non-Metal One?

January 25, 2022 by Admin

Before my dentist put a post in my upper left second molar, I should have asked what the post is made of. I didn’t think about it. My dentist put a temporary crown over the tooth. I’ve been wearing the temporary crown for two weeks. When I went into the office today for my son’s appointment, I found out that the post is stainless steel. I do not want a stainless-steel post in my mouth. I asked my dentist about other options, but he said he has used stainless steel posts for the past 15 years. That’s not the issue. I don’t want metal in my tooth and certainly not trapped beneath my crown. I didn’t continue the conversation with my dentist because I was upset. If he doesn’t change the post, I will find another dentist to do it. What are the options for posts? Is there a chance I might lose this tooth and need an implant? Thanks. Manny from KY

Manny,

Thank you for your question. We understand your concern about a stainless-steel tooth post.

Why Does a Tooth Need a Post?

A tooth needs a post when it is missing most of its structure. The post can have these effects on a tooth:

Strengthen it against horizontal fracture
Strengthen the foundation for a crown
Help retain a buildup of a tooth for supporting a crown

What Is the History of Tooth Posts?

Initially, manufacturers used stainless steel to make tooth posts. But that was in the 1970s. Many dental practices switched to biocompatible titanium posts after researchers found metal ions in the bloodstream from stainless steel posts. In the 1990s, manufacturers began making tooth posts from other materials, including carbon fiber and fiberglass. Now, zirconia, a high-strength ceramic with flexibility, is another option.

Replacing a Tooth Post

Replacing a tooth post can be challenging depending on its depth and how securely your dentist cemented it. A dentist may use the vibration of an ultrasonic tip to loosen the post. Otherwise, you may need to see a root canal specialist (endodontist) to remove the post. An endodontist’s specialized tools can remove the post.

Speak with your dentist or an endodontist about your preference for a non-metal post. If your dentist is unwilling to replace the post—or is hesitant about doing so—schedule an appointment with another a skilled dentist or an endodontist.

Photo of two complete dental implants and two implants with the components separated

Talk to a skilled dentist to replace your tooth post and avoid the need for a dental implant

Unless the tooth fractures or weakens further with the post extraction, you should not need an extraction and dental implant.

Dr. Mohamed Imam, an implant and cosmetic dentist in San Antonio, Texas, sponsors this post.

I asked for a gold tooth crown, but got junk metal instead

September 14, 2021 by Admin

A local dentist advertised a discount on gold teeth crowns. In March, I went to the office for a consultation and found I could save $400 over the price quotes I had from other dentists. In mid-August, I got the crown. After getting the crown, I felt some normal sensitivity, but the sensitivity increased, and I got a rash on my gums. When I returned to the dentist, he said he needed to remove the crown and check my tooth. After an exam and x-ray, the dentist said I needed root canal treatment.

I have three friends who are dental hygienists, and I texted all of them about the problem and asked why this would happen. My friend Leigh told me to ask the dentist for a copy of the alloy certificate. When I called the dental office, the dental receptionist took a message for me, and the dentist called me back. He hesitated and asked me what I knew about an alloy certificate. Then I mentioned my patient rights, and someone faxed a copy of the alloy certificate the next day. I thought I was misreading the certificate, so I texted Leigh a picture of it, and she confirmed that the crown is only 4% gold.

I called the dental office and left a message for the dentist. I said some unkind things and told him that although I would not return to the office, he could count on hearing from my attorney. I do not have an attorney, but I thought that might get him anxious, so I said it. But I am more concerned about my tooth. I probably really need a root canal. Now I must find a new dentist, and my friend Leigh recommended hers, but it’s two hours away. How can I trust another dentist? If the tooth is too far gone, might a dentist recommend an implant? I would like to know what to expect because my trust level is low. Thanks for your help. Salvador

Salvador,

We are sorry to hear about your experience in getting a crown made of only percent gold. And we are concerned about the ethics of the dentist who placed the crown. Although you do not have an attorney, you should consider getting a refund and having the dentist pay for whatever care you need to restore your oral health and the tooth. If your dentist is unwilling to refund you and pay for the care you need to restore the tooth, you can threaten to report the issue to the state dental board or get a medical malpractice attorney.

Advantages of Gold Crowns

Gold is a good metal for crowns for two reasons:

It will not rust
It is soft, and a dentist can fit it precisely and prevent further tooth decay.

What Percentage of Gold Should Be in a Gold Crown?

Diagram of gold crown hovering above a tooth, then placed on the tooth

Gold tooth crown

A gold, or high-noble, crown must contain at least 60 percent gold, but your crown is only four percent gold. And it seems that other metals in your crown might have provoked a reaction and infection.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

A dentist will need to examine your gums and tooth to determine the extent of the infection. Antibiotics, repeat root canal treatment, and a new crown might be enough to restore your tooth. A dental implant is an option but not necessary if a dentist can save your tooth.

How to Find a New Dentist

If you are unsure about which dentist you can trust, schedule consultations with a least two advanced cosmetic dentists with post-graduate training. Compare your options and read patient reviews to increase your confidence in a dentist.

Best wishes for a smooth resolution.

Cosmetic dentist Mohamed Imam, DDS of San Antonio, sponsors this post.

Can I get dental implants if I grind my teeth?

July 15, 2021 by Admin

I want dental implants, but I grind my teeth. I have a night guard that I don’t wear as much as I should. It is not comfortable. And I forget even more important things to do at home. I know implants are an investment, and I do not want to ruin them. Will grinding my teeth affect the dental implants? Thank you. Kent from PA

Kent,

Thank you for your question? It’s an essential one to answer if you are considering dental implants.

Do You Need a Night Guard If You Wear Dental Implants?

Grinding your teeth will have a definite impact on your dental implant. If you have an uncomfortable night guard, you may need to get a custom-fit night guard from a dentist. A store-bought night guard will not fit properly and provided the protection you need. And it can be challenging to sleep with an uncomfortable appliance in your mouth.

While your implants are healing, grinding your teeth can cause the implants to loosen and fail. The healing process won’t take place. The pressure from teeth grinding can damage the dental crowns that your dentist secures to the implants, too. And you will have wasted a lot of money.

Successful implants will require you to wear a night guard. Speak with an experienced implant dentist about your teeth-grinding habit and what is needed to ensure your dental implants are successful.

Mohamed Imam, DDS of San Antonio, Texas sponsors this post.

Solution for a Drastically Crooked Tooth

April 15, 2021 by Admin

I want to improve my smile, but I have a unique situation with a front tooth. It is very crooked and part of it is even behind the other tooth. Other than that, my teeth are pretty stained. I’ve had one dentist suggest braces. I asked him about Invisalign, which I keep hearing so much about, but he said that only works on the easy, ideal cases. Another dentist suggested pulling the tooth and putting a fake one there. Is one of those options better than another? Or maybe there is another option altogether?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

Invisalign Aligner

Wow! I’m shocked at some of the “professional” advice you have been getting. It is as if they have not kept up with the developments in their profession at all. Whatever you do, don’t pull the crooked tooth. If I understand you correctly, there is nothing wrong with your tooth, it is healthy. Why pull a healthy tooth? Then, what would you replace it with? A dental implant is the best replacement, but if there is not adequate space there for a new tooth, you would need to open the space up with orthodontics. Whoever suggested that, really did not think this through.

While braces would work, Invisalign may still be an option for you. In its early days, Invisalign could only handle the least complicated cases. Since then, Invisalign has grown up. It can handle most cases. I would go see an Invisalign dentist and let them evaluate your case.

You mentioned that your teeth were stained. Invisalign has an additional benefit of being able to double as teeth whitening trays. Just like the bleaching trays that are made for your bite, aligners are fit to your bite with the intention of gently moving them into the next corrective position. Your dentist can provide you with teeth whitening gel. this will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

This blog is brought to you San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Imam.

Invisalign and Missing Teeth

September 17, 2020 by Admin

I have a missing lower bicuspid and all my teeth are crooked because I didn’t have braces when I was younger. I feel I am too old for regular braces and would like to do Invisalign, but don’t know if they work when you have a missing tooth. I’d like a pretty smile and am hoping to have enough money left over when I’m done to get my teeth whitened as well.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Invisalign works fine with missing teeth. You will find that more dentists will be comfortable using them this way than an orthodontist. This is because orthodontists were trained to work with metal wires and brackets and Invisalign is much different.

As for the missing bicuspid, you may or may not need to replace it. That will depend on the rest of your bite. If you do, a dental implant will be the best replacement. What I’m going to recommend you do is see a few dentists who do Invisalign and then ask them what they’d recommend, giving you a few perspectives on the best course of action. Without seeing your x-rays I don’t want to give a recommendation on the missing tooth.

Invisalign and Teeth Whitening

As for getting that pretty smile you want, Invisalign has a wonderful side benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously. This will save you a significant amount of money.

All you will need to whiten your teeth is for your dentist to provide you with the whitening gel, saving you money on needing to have custom trays made. By the time you are finished with your treatment, you will have both a straight and white smile.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Imam. Learn about our digital smile design.

Would an Oral Surgeon be a Better Option for an Extraction?

June 15, 2020 by Admin

I am going to be upfront that I’m not the best patient and know the situation I am in is entirely my fault. Several years ago, I had a filling fall out on a tooth. I avoided seeing the dentist, but there must have been an underlying infection because before too long I was in a ton of pain and unable to function. I finally bit the bullet and went to see the dentist. He did a root canal treatment. I was supposed to come back for a crown, but the root canal appointment almost did me in so I didn’t go and they didn’t follow up. Now the tooth is reinfected and so far gone that I had to go back. He said the tooth can’t be saved and has to be extracted. I sort of expected that but am now in a panic. Would I be better off having this done by an oral surgeon who can knock me out?

Lacey

Dear Lacey,

woman asleep in dental chair from sedation

Anxiety can be crippling and there are a lot of people who suffer from dental anxiety. While you can see an oral surgeon, I don’t think it is necessary for a reason I’ll share with you in on in a moment. Oral surgeons are considerably more expensive. So I want to give you a satisfactory alternative What you need is a dentist who can work with you, without judgment, to give you an anxiety-free and pain-free experience. My suggestion would be to see a sedation dentist.

How Dental Sedation Helps

There are three levels of sedation. Almost every dentist offers the lowest level— nitrous oxide. This is a gas that is dispensed through a nose piece that allows you to breathe in the gas and relax. It’s a mild form of sedation and you’ll be back on your feet and ready to get on with your day as soon as the procedure is completed.

In your situation, I would actually suggest the second or third levels of sedation. They are for patients with higher anxiety. The second level— oral conscious sedation— is administered by taking a pill. Fewer dentists use this but it is strong and worth the trip to another dentist. Because of its strength, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as remain with you for a few hours after your appointment, until you are lucid and steady on your feet. Some patients call this sleep dentistry because you are very likely to sleep through your entire appointment.

The strongest form of dental sedation— I.V. Sedation, is available through only a small amount of dentists. Both Drs. Imam & Schroder do have it available, along with the advanced training necessary to administer it.

Another Consideration with Tooth Extractions

Whenever you lose a tooth, it is important to replace it as soon as possible. Leaving a space open for very long will cause the nearby teeth to shift or tip into the open space. This will throw off your bite, eventually leading to TMJ Disorder, along with a lifetime of jaw pain and migraines.

The best replacement is a dental implant. It will be like having a healthy, natural tooth in your mouth again.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Imam.

How Does Anyone Afford Dental Implants?

March 17, 2020 by Admin

I have been living in dentures for the last year and really hate them. I spoke to my dentist about how much dental implants cost and he quoted me about $4000 including the crown. Figuring adults have 32 teeth they’d need to replace that makes the cost $128,000. How in the world does anyone afford them? I’d have to sell my house in order to have teeth that aren’t dentures. Did I mention how much I hate them?

Randall

Dear Randall,

You are not alone in your lack of enthusiasm for dentures. The good news is, dental implants won’t cost you nearly as much as you believe. The way you ran the numbers, you were planning on one implant per tooth. That is more implants than are necessary, especially when we’re referring to complete dentures.

Unless you are independently wealthy and want to drop that amount of money, most patients will get implant overdentures. This uses between four to six implants. When there has been time to heal and for your bone to integrate with the implants, then your dentist will anchor your dentures to them. Let’s say you get six implants. That is a savings of $104,000 based on your dentist’s fee.

This is completely different from your removable dentures. For one, they’ll be completely secure— no slipping or sliding around. Plus, you will find it will dramatically increase your chewing capacity. The best advantage, however, is it prevents facial collapse.

Implant Overdentures and Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed, your body begins resorbing the minerals in your jawbone. It does this in an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. Perceiving, you no longer have teeth, it decides your jawbone is no longer high priority. The problem with that is after ten or so years, there will be so much jaw bone loss there will no longer be enough jawbone left to retain your dentures.

The dental implants supporting your overdentures serve as prosthetic teeth roots. Your body interprets that as having teeth again. Because of that, it leaves your jawbone intact saving you from facial collapse.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Imam.

Getting a Pretty Smile After Dentures

December 31, 2019 by Admin

I have been in dentures for over twenty years. They’re ugly. They look like dentures. Is it too late for me to get dental implants and have a pretty smile?

Madeline

Dear Madeline,

Older couple holding each other and smiling in a pose

No matter what your age, you can have a beautiful smile.

The great news is you can have a stunning smile even after years in dentures. In truth, your dentist could have created a beautiful smile for you when you first received your dentures. It’s likely he was not interested in the aesthetics of dentistry and just cared about function over form. I wish he knew you could have both. Though, it does take some cosmetic training and an artistic eye.

Because of the number of years you have been without teeth, you have probably found it is getting much more difficult to keep your dentures in place. This is because facial collapse has set in. This is a byproduct of long-term denture use. When your teeth were removed, your body recognized that. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with its resources it began to resorb the mineral in your jawbone to use elsewhere in areas it perceived to have a greater need. Eventually, your dentures won’t stay in at all.

The solution to that is dental implants.

Getting Dental Implants after Years of Dentures

Wearing dentures eventually leads to facial collapse.

The first order of business will be to replace the bone structure you’ve lost. You can do that with a procedure called bone grafting. This alone will make you look years younger. As you can see from the picture above, losing the minerals in your jaw bone causes your jaw to collapse in a bit, giving you an aged appearance. Building that bone up again fixes that problem.

Once you are healed from the bone grating you can move forward with your dental implant procedure. The implants serve as tooth roots, causing your body to recognize the jawbone is still necessary keeping it safe from resorption.

It is too expensive to replace each previous tooth with a single dental implant, unless you are quite wealthy. Instead, I recommend implant overdentures. This uses four to six dental implants in your jaw and then anchors your new (beautiful) dentures to them.

How to Get Beautiful Dentures

I’m going to recommend you check the smile galleries of any dentist you are considering to do your procedure. It’s important you see what type of results they get. If you’re blown away with how beautiful they are you may have found your dentist. As a precaution, call the office to make sure the photos are the dentist’s actual work and not stock photos.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Imam.

My Jaw is Shrinking

June 26, 2019 by Admin

It feels like my jaw has started getting smaller. I first noticed that my dentures don’t fit as well as they used to. I may be paranoid, but when I look in the mirror, my jaw seems smaller. Is my jaw shrinking? Can it be stopped?

Macy

Dear Macy,

Wearing dentures eventually leads to facial collapse.

I wish I could tell you that you are only imagining things and there is nothing to worry about, but that is not true. Your jawbone really is shrinking. When you first had your teeth removed for dentures, it signaled to your brain there aren’t teeth there any longer.

Our bodies are remarkably efficient, so it determined without teeth roots to support, the minerals in your jawbone would be more useful elsewhere and began to resorb them. This slowly shrinks your jaw. After a number of years, there isn’t enough jawbone left to support your dentures and they’ll no longer stay in. This is known as facial collapse in dental circles and your original dentist who placed the dentures should have warned you about it.

Implant Supported Dentures—the Solution to Facial Collapse

The first thing you’ll have to do is build back any lost bone structure. This can be done with an outpatient procedure known as bone grafting. After that, you have two choices.

The first choice is to go back to wearing completely removable dentures. I don’t actually recommend this because the same cycle of bone loss will start again. However, it is an option.

The second choice is to have dental implants placed in your jaw and then anchor the dentures to them. This is known as implant supported dentures or implant overdentures. The implants in your jaw serve as the roots of your teeth, letting your body know there are teeth in place and thereby preserving your jawbone. Replacing teeth with dental implants is becoming the standard of care.

You’ll find there are lifestyle benefits as well. Your chewing capacity will greatly increase. You can go back to eating anything you want. They are easier to care for, you simply brush and floss as you would with healthy teeth. You’ll never have to take your teeth out at night.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Imam.