Hoffman Estates Dentist Archives | Poplar Crossing Dental

Should I Replace My Bridge with a Dental Implant?

Posted on August 3, 2020 by ectree.

I’m starting to regret not getting a dental implant. I had a top, right molar extracted, and my dentist placed the bridge o immediately. I thought the extraction hole might need some time to clot, but my doctor said that the bridge on top of the extraction would help the blood clot set. I’m afraid that my gums and bone beneath the bridge won’t heal and that I should have gone with the other dentist who wanted to do dental implants. – Thanks much. Vaughn

Vaughn,

Although a dentist, such as Dr. William Becker of Poplar Crossing Dental, would need to examine your extraction site, it sounds as if your dentist did the right thing.

You didn’t mention if your dentist placed a temporary or a permanent bridge. A bridge could put some pressure on the site, but often it isn’t necessary. It usually only takes about five minutes for the bleeding to stop.

Other ways to stop bleeding after a tooth extraction include:

Gel foam
Astringent
Electrocautery

Dental Bridge vs. Implant

A dentist can replace a missing tooth with a dental bridge or an implant. Either solution will prevent the teeth on the other side of the missing one from moving.

Dental bridge

Purpose – It will fill the space of a missing tooth and prevent the teeth on either side from drifting in the space.
Function – It’s much more comfortable to eat and speak with it than a removable partial denture. But it’s not as comfortable as a dental bridge.
Jawbone shrinkage – Without stimulation from tooth roots, the jawbone at the extraction site will shrink.
Longevity – A dental bridge can last up to 15 years before your dentist replaces it.
Cost – It’s less expensive than a dental implant

Implant

Purpose – An implant is an artificial tooth that replaces a natural tooth from the root up.
Function – It functions like a natural tooth.
Jawbone shrinkage – The “root” fixture stimulates bone and prevents shrinkage.
Longevity – Dental implants can last a lifetime, but the dental crown will need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years.
Cost – It’s the most expensive form of tooth replacement.

If you received a quality dental bridge, it should last for years. Keep your regular dental cleaning and exam appointments to protect your oral health and ensure the bridge is functioning well. Whenever your dental bridge needs replacement, you can consider a dental implant.

This post is sponsored by Hoffman Estates, IL dental implant provider, Dr. William Becker.

Baby Teeth Haven’t Falled Out

Posted on July 10, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m a little worried. My six-year-old son has some adult teeth coming in, but the baby teeth aren’t out. He hasn’t been to a dentist yet. Do I need one to help him get those teeth out?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

Even children can develop dental emergencies

I’d start by wiggling the teeth to see if you can get them loose. If you can’t, then yes, he will need to see a dentist and have them removed. The remaining baby teeth can deflect the adult teeth coming in and cause misalignment, which will mean expensive orthodontics later in life.

It will be good for your son to see a dentist either way. Sometimes, parents mistakenly think children don’t need a dentist until they’re older. They don’t see any problem and young children’s teeth often look very white so they think they’re fine.

Decay can sneak up on a child, though. Too often that means their first visit to the dentist is usually for a dental emergency. That is a traumatic first experience and can negatively impact their view of the dentist for many years. It’s much better if their first appointment is a good, pain-free experience.

Pediatric or Family Dentist

You wouldn’t necessarily have to see a pediatric specialist. There are plenty of family dentists who are great with children. I’d speak to your dentist and ask if he considers his a family practice and what age he first likes seeing children.

If he says two or three years old, you can know he enjoys children. If he says around eight years old, I’d look elsewhere.

There are benefits to a family practice. You can have all your appointments at about the same time. Plus, the dentist is familiar with your family’s genetics. He’ll know if you are prone to decay and will keep a closer eye and maybe recommend more fluoride treatments to help protect your children.

It’s always a good idea to get sealings on your son’s molars. There are lots of grooves and crevices in there. Sealings will protect them from decay. This is especially important on his back teeth which he’ll need to keep until he’s around twelve years old. Though, all of this your dentist will talk you through and let you know what is useful.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

All-on-Four Dental Implants

Posted on July 6, 2019 by writeradmin.

My husband is tired of his dentures. When he first got them, we were under the impression they were his only real option. The longer he’s had them the more he’s despised them. We recently learned about dental implants. We went to see a dentist about them and he said that the All-on-four procedure is his only solution because of bone loss. What I want to know is if this will be as good an option?

Carly

Dear Carly,

All-on-Four Dental Implants

I’m sorry your husband wasn’t given all his options at the beginning. This would have saved you a lot of hassle and discomfort, not to mention paying for two procedures. I hate telling you this, but your husband isn’t being given all his options again. In fact, whatever dentist you saw wasn’t completely honest. The all-on-four procedure isn’t your husbands only option.

While the dentist is right that there was likely a lot of bone loss, you can have bone grafting done. This will enable your husband to do traditional dental implants. You asked if all-on-four is as good. It isn’t. While the procedure has gotten a little better, it is still considered controversial. Plus, if one component of it breaks, the entire unit will have to be replaced.

The theory behind this procedure is to place the anchoring implants at an angle which, in theory, requires less bone structure to be available. That would be a good option if we couldn’t add to our bone structure, but we can.

Get Dentures Supported by Dental Implants

I’m going to recommend he have the bone grafting done and then have implant supported dentures. This places dental implants in his jaw, which in turn will protect him from further bone loss. After a period of healing, he can have dentures anchored to them.

He will find a much higher quality of life. There’s not slipping or sliding, no food getting underneath, and his chewing capacity will be significantly increased. This will completely change the way he feels about his teeth.

I’d also like you guys to look for a better dentist in your area. Hopefully you can find one who keeps up in his field or at least has the guts to say he doesn’t know or can’t provide necessary services.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Crown Doesn’t Feel Right

Posted on June 29, 2019 by writeradmin.

I had a dental crown placed and it doesn’t feel right. It almost feels like it is hitting the opposite tooth before other things and hurts every time I bite. My dentist said it is fine and I’ll get used to it but I’m not sure I will. It’s already been several weeks. Can he make it smaller without damaging the tooth?

Jill

Dear Jill,

A woman grabbing her jaw in pain from TMJ

A poorly fitted crown can lead to TMJ problems

I love it when dentists say a patient will “get used to it”. Usually, that is dentist code for I don’t know what to do. While it is possible you will adjust to how it feels, you shouldn’t have to. How the teeth come together is important. This is the study of occlusion and there are great post-doctoral schools which teach this.

Unfortunately, some dentists feel what they got in dental school is enough. I wouldn’t trust them to do a full-mouth reconstruction. As long as they stick to single crowns it usually works out okay. Though, as you are experiencing, that isn’t always the case.

When a dental crown is done and doesn’t feel right, it is recommended adjustments are made. If it throws off your bite, it could lead to TMJ Disorder. Your dentist should have you bite down on some bite registration paper. This shows the dentist where your bite is coming together prematurely. Then they can grind down that area to the proper height. That shouldn’t damage the tooth because a properly prepared tooth leaves plenty of room for the crown.

Where to Go from Here

If you are otherwise happy with your dentist, then I’d just ask him to adjust the crown until it is comfortable. Though, it sounds like he may not know how. In that case, you’ll need to go elsewhere to have it done.

If you don’t like your dentist that much, this is a good opportunity for you to find another one. This time, look for one who invests time in post-doctoral training and keeps up with his field a bit better.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Pediatric Dentist Won’t Provide a Dental Flipper

Posted on June 26, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m feeling annoyed. My son had a fall which caused him to lose his two front teeth. He’s only three years old and I’m afraid his other teeth will shift if I don’t replace them. I mentioned a dental flipper to my son’s pediatric dentist and he just acted like I was a moron. He said there was no way he’d do a flipper for someone my son’s age. I looked online and they only seem to provide the DIY kits for adults. Do I need to switch dentists to get this?

Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,

It was unfair of your son’s pediatric dentist to treat you that way. It would have been better if he took the time to explain to you his thinking rather than making you feel foolish.

Dental Flipper

There are legitimate reasons for not giving your son a dental flipper, especially at his age. First, he is too young to sit still and cooperate for one to be made for him. While you could use dental sedation to create the flipper it is not a necessary procedure and there are other reasons not to provide him with one.

A second reason is the fact it is removable. It would not only be a choking hazard to him he would not likely keep it in at all. If he didn’t choke on it, it would eventually be lost and you’d have to keep replacing them.

The third reason is similar. His mouth is in a rapid growth phase. The flipper will continually need to be re-made to fit the new shape of his bite. You’d be wasting money and putting your son at risk to get a flipper.

Do Knocked Out Baby Need to be Replaced?

Some parents are of the mind that prematurely knocked out baby teeth don’t ever need to be replaced because their adult teeth will come in eventually. Others feel all of them need to be replaced because the teeth will shift. Believe it or not, both are incorrect.

There are certain baby teeth which you can ignore and some which need to be dealt with. Most baby teeth that come out “before their time” are not a problem. The exception to that is back teeth. Their baby molars are needed in place until children are about twelve-years-old.

Because of that, some action needs to take place. You don’t necessarily need to replace the tooth. That is an expensive proposition and it is hard to get the right replacement for little ones. Instead, your pediatric dentist can place a space maintainer. This will keep the remaining teeth from shifting into the empty space. If this isn’t done, it will lead to crowding and expensive orthodontics in later years. It’s an inexpensive preventative measure well worth doing.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Baby Tooth has Gum Pimple

Posted on June 21, 2019 by writeradmin.

My son has a baby tooth left which is next to his incisors. He told me it hurts. When I looked at it there seems to be a pimple on the gum by the edge of the tooth. Is this what is hurting him?

Cameron

Cameron,

Even children can develop dental emergencies

A pimple on a gum is a sign the tooth is infected. Tooth infections are considered a dental emergency. This will spread if it is not dealt with. Unlike typical bacterial infections, this can’t just be dealt with by taking antibiotics. A dentist would normally have to go in and physically remove the infection. In adults, this is known as a root canal treatment. In children, it’s called a pulpotomy and is easier.

However, with baby teeth, this is usually only necessary on a back tooth. Their molars have to remain in place until they are about twelve-years-old. With other baby teeth, you can typically just remove them.

Usually, a child’s decay is caught long before it turns into an infection, though some can blow up quickly. Make sure your pediatric dentist is doing x-rays on your child at least once a year. If they are more prone to decay, which is totally a matter of the genetic lottery, than it is helpful to do x-rays at each visit to prevent decay from getting too far.

A filling is both less stressful and more affordable than a dental crown or an extraction, which your son is facing.

Making Dental Emergencies Less Traumatic

Dental emergencies can be a tad frightening for children. To prevent him from having a traumatic experience which may cause a lifetime fear of the dentist, I’m going to suggest you see a dentist who provides sedation for children. There are two levels.

Nitrous Oxide

This is likely all your son will need. Removing a baby tooth isn’t as hard as extracting an adult tooth because the roots aren’t as large and settled. Nitrous is a gas he’ll breathe in with a nosepiece. It will make him feel relaxed and allow the topical anesthetic to work better because his anxiety will be less.

Once his procedure is done, they’ll switch the gas to oxygen and he’ll be completely back to normal and ready to get on with his day.

Oral Conscious Sedation

This is a much stronger level of sedation, usually reserved for patients with a high level of anxiety or for more invasive procedures. It totally relaxes the patient. In fact, most sleep through it completely. The only real downside is its strength. Your son will not be lucid for several hours after the procedure, so you’ll need to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t try to walk on his own.

However, as I mentioned above, this isn’t likely the sedation he’ll need.

Best of luck to you and your son. Please get this seen to quickly.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Dental Sedation with PTSD

Posted on June 4, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’ve done six tours of duty with my company. I’m a tad worn out and will be retiring soon. My biggest problem lately is a result of my PTSD. It’s affected more of my life than I like to admit. One of those is dental care. I have trouble with certain noises and any unexpected movement towards me. You can imagine that has hindered my dental care. I had an episode the last time I tried to go and that is when I decided it was time to get help, even if it is embarrassing. I’m looking at solutions to dealing with important things while I undergo treatment. I’m wondering if dental sedation is a good solution for me to at least get caught up on any dental work. Will my medications be a factor? Does it work for people in my condition?

Andy

Dear Andy,

First, I want to thank you for your service. I can think of absolutely zero reasons for you to be embarrassed about seeking help. With everything you have likely been through and seen, I’d be surprised if you didn’t need at least some help adjusting to civilian life again. You are a hero and should be treated as such.

I think you have a great idea with using a sedation dentist to get caught up on your needed work. This is an amazing way for people dealing with anxiety to help get the care they need. There are a couple of extra precautions necessary for someone in your position, but I think they will be fairly simple to overcome.

What Your Sedation Dentist Needs to Know about Your PTSD

Every sedation dentist will do a consultation with you before your actual appointment. The reason for this is because he’ll need to know your medical history as well as any medications you are on so he doesn’t give you anything you could have a reaction to or which will interfere with your medications. Make sure you tell him everything, including your PTSD medications.

That leads me to the second thing. Each person with PTSD has different triggers. Your dentist needs to know your particular triggers. For instance, you mentioned you can’t have people sneak up on you. That means he needs to inform the staff so they don’t accidentally do anything to put you in a dangerous position.

Their goal will be to help you and make your care as easy as possible. It has the additional benefit of enabling you and the dentist to get a lot more done at each sitting. If you’ve been putting off fillings or dental crowns, you can get both done.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Irrational Fear of Needles Solved

Posted on May 31, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have had the hardest time getting dental care for myself and my daughter. I have a horribly irrational fear of needles of any kind. The last time I was hospitalized they actually had to knock me out to treat me. It was humiliating. I was behaving like a petulant child and I knew it but my fear was too strong. Unfortunately, my daughter inherited the same trait. I need to find a solution to this because she has a cavity that needs to be filled and when we tried to do it, she slapped the dentist and ran away. I know exactly how she’s feeling but have no way of helping her. What do I do?

A Desperate Mom

Dear Desperate Mom,

There is a solution to dental anxiety

It is hard when our children inherit traits from us which we wish didn’t exist, especially when we see them having a negative impact on our children. Fortunately, I have some good news for both you and your daughter.

What both of you need is to find a dentist used to dealing with this type of anxiety. Doing an internet search under two different terms should help you locate the dentist who has the tools to help you. The first is a “cater to cowards dentist“. The second is a “sedation dentist“. Both of them should offer some form of sedation.

I’d say in the case of you and your daughter, you want someone who has two levels available.

Two Types of Dental Sedation

Level One: Nitrous Oxide

This is the simplest level of sedation. Your dentist will place a nosepiece on your daughter and allow her to breathe in the nitrous oxide gas. The gas will make her feel floaty and relaxed, allowing her to get the local anesthetic she needs. Most children actually fall asleep during their procedure. Once her cavity is filled and ready to go, the dentist will switch the gas to oxygen and she’ll be back to her old self and ready to go.

An additional benefit to this is if she is asleep it becomes much easier for the dentist to give her a mercury-free composite filling. Those are a little harder to place on children because for it to bond properly the composite has to be kept completely dry during placement.

Level Two: Oral Conscious Sedation

This is a much stronger level of sedation. You will take a pill prior to your appointment. This pill is strong. You will be unable to drive yourself to or from your dental appointment. You’ll also need someone to stay with you after your appointment until you are lucid and steady on your feet.

This level also has an additional benefit. You will be so relaxed (and will probably nap) that your dentist can get a lot more work done at each appointment. This makes it faster for patients who’ve avoided the dentist for a while to get caught up on all their needed work in a stress-free and pain-free way.

Dental Anxiety and Children

Not all dentists who treat children use sedation. If you have trouble finding one, my suggestion for you will be to look for a general dentist who treats children. They don’t necessarily have to go to a pediatric specialist. Every general dentist did a pediatric rotation and is qualified to treat children. Just make sure they enjoy children and are good working with them first.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates dentist Dr. William Becker.

Should I Get Porcelain Veneers to Repair Chipped Teeth

Posted on May 25, 2019 by writeradmin.

I fell and chipped my two front teeth. It’s kind of embarrassing. I know that sounds vain, but I feel like an 8-year-old girl with the way I look. I asked my dentist how we could fix it. He’s suggesting I get four porcelain veneers. The price he quoted me is pretty high. If that’s my best option, I’ll do it. I was just hoping there was something a wee bit more affordable. Are there other options?

Natalie

Dear Natalie,

I’m sorry about your tumble. That must have hurt. I’m going to give you an alternative treatment, but let’s start with what porcelain veneers are generally used for. People who get porcelain veneers are looking for a total smile makeover. Porcelain veneers are top of the line. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. It is the go-to solution for celebrities.

However, I’m not sure your dentist is very experienced with this type of treatment. I’m wondering if he’s sort of practicing on you without saying that. Two things make me think that.

1. He’s not recommending the typical treatment for repairing chipped teeth. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.
2. He’s suggesting four porcelain veneers. Why not two for just the chipped teeth? It’s possible he’s thinking he can give you a smile makeover while fixing your teeth. If so, why four? Very few smiles are that narrow. Most smiles require between six to eight porcelain veneers. Wider smiles require ten.

The Right Way to Repair Chipped Teeth

Unless the chips are huge, the standard repair for chipped teeth is to have dental bonding done. This uses a composite resin which your dentist will hand sculpt onto your chipped teeth. Done by an artistic and experienced dentist, this blends in perfectly and is much more affordable than porcelain veneers.

You should know going into it that the color the dentist bonds onto your teeth is permanent. If you decide later on to whiten your teeth, only your natural teeth will whiten. You’d have to re-do the bonding to match the newer color. This is why many dentists will let you know that up front so you can whiten your teeth first and match the bonding right away.

If teeth whitening is something you’ve considered. This will save you money in the long run and give you a youthful white smile on top of repairing the chips.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becher.

Family Dentist Yelled at Me

Posted on May 6, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m not sure I want to go back to my dentist. I’ve always been a little nervous in the dental chair. I needed to get a filling. It was my first. I couldn’t seem to get numb. The dentist gave me four shots, but I could still feel things. After the fourth shot when I said I could still feel it, he yelled and said it was in my head. I told him not to go forward and left. What do I do now? I’m guessing I still have to fill this cavity but I can’t if I can’t get numb.

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I agree that you need to switch to a different family dentist. This one doesn’t seem to care or listen to his patient’s even when they are in distress. This is not what you deserve.

First, let’s address why you couldn’t get numb. When you are anxious, your body’s metabolism revs up. This, in turn, burns off the numbing agent your dentist provided you. The more anxious you are, the harder it is to get numb. Your dentist should have realized that.

Finding the Family Dentist Right for You

Obviously, you do fine for cleaning and checkups. Plus, with this being your first cavity, you take pretty good care of your teeth. Despite that, I’m going to suggest you switch to a dentist who works well with fearful patients.

They will usually offer dental sedation, and I think this is key for you. There are usually two levels of sedation offered. The lightest is nitrous oxide. It’s administered by gas breathed through a nosepiece. It relaxes you. For some anxious patients, this is enough to allow their local anesthetic to work. The biggest benefit is once the procedure is done, they just switch the gas to oxygen and you can get on with your day as normal with no lingering effects.

Those with more severe anxiety will require Oral Conscious Sedation. This is administered by pill. You’ll take it before your appointment. However, it is STRONG. So strong, that you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you at home until you are lucid and steady on your feet.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.