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Archives for August 2014

Can my 15 year old get a dental implant?

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My son hates his “zombie” tooth! It is ugly and keeps getting darker. We like to joke around with him about it and we didn’t think it would phase him. But lately, as he is becoming more interested in the ladies, I think it is bothering him more and more. The tooth was probably damaged during one of his BMX tricks because he is obsessed with the sport. Is the tooth dead? Can he get a dental implant at 15 years old?

– Bianca in New York

Bianca,

“Zombie” tooth was probably funny at one time, but at 15, he is probably approaching high school if he hasn’t already started. No one wants to be worried about their gray tooth keeping the ladies away.

Based on what you described, coupled with your son’s BMX hobby, it does sound like he is dealing with a dead tooth. If the tooth was traumatized during  a fall or impact of some kind, that could very well be what has caused it, even if it never hurt. And even though your assessment sounds accurate, it is always best to consult with your dentist.

You didn’t state how much time has gone by since you noticed the tooth as dead. If the tooth is taken care of right away, a root canal may have saved the tooth. But if some time has gone by, there is a strong possibility that the tooth cannot be saved.If that is the case, then a dental implant would be the best solution to replace it.

If the tooth does indeed need to be extracted, your son may need to wait awhile longer before moving forward with dental implant treatment. This is because it is best to wait until the jaw bone is done growing. On average in males, that will be in your son’s early twenties. That said, you may be able to find a dentist in your area that would place a mini implant. This would probably be viewed as a temporary replacement since the jaw isn’t done growing yet. A mini implant will not look as aesthetically pleasing as a traditional implant and the other teeth may shift around it.

At this point, it really is a good idea to get in with an implant dentist to see what your son’s options are. You may also find an implant dentist in your area that also offers cosmetic dentistry treatment. This would be a good fit in that a cosmetic dentist will truly understand the appearance-related concerns.

Thanks for your question!

This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry

 

Gum stuck on my Invisalign trays!

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First, please don’t say I told you so. My dentist (and mom) lectured me about stopping my gum chewing when I got Invisalign. The dentist pretty much told me that I needed to stop, end of story. But it has been such a daily habit for me for what seems like forever. So I didn’t even realize what I was doing yesterday when I popped a piece in my mouth. Before I knew it, the trays were covered. I was able to get most of it off with a toothbrush. But there are a couple spots that are not budging. Is it okay to wear the trays or do I need to get new ones? I will be so embarrassed to have to request new ones!

– Rita in South Carolina

Rita,

As you have experienced, it is very difficult to remove gum from Invisalign aligners. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to hear, “I told you so,” here. Okay, so here’s what to do. Start by getting a denture brush because the bristles are more course and stronger than a standard toothbrush.  If that doesn’t seem to help, you can give the old wife’s tale, peanut butter a try. Let is soak in for 5-10 minutes to give the oil in the peanut butter a chance to absorb. Then, hopefully the gum will loosen and come right off with some brushing. If that doesn’t work, you can place them in the freezer so that the gum freezes. This can be done for 20 minutes a time. After removing them, use the brush again to see if the gum can be removed.

If all else fails, you can eat your humble pie and call your dentist. There is a good chance they have some higher-grade professional cleaners that will do the trick. Rest assured, you aren’t the first patient that couldn’t resist gum chewing.

If you absolutely have to chew gum, some Invisalign patients have had better success with sugar-free gum. That is clearly not a recommendation, but it may be worth a try. Or you can obviously remove the trays to get a quick fix of chewing too. In that case, sugar-free gum is still best to prevent tooth decay. Especially because bacteria can become trapped between the aligner and the teeth.

Best of luck!

This post is sponsored by York PA cosmetic dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry.