April 2019 | Dr. Currie's Dentistry Blog

I can admit that I haven’t taken the best care of my teeth over the years. But, I’ve really been trying to turn things around the last several years. The problem is I get so worked up that I lose sleep for days before an appointment and then I usually end up cancelling it. I’m a mess when I do go and it is so embarrassing.

I recently had to get a deep cleaning, some crowns and fillings. I thought I was going to have a panic attack. But somehow I managed to get through it.

The bad news is that my avoidance of the dentist means I now need to get a couple dental implants. I’m doomed! Do you have any advice on how to find implant dentists that are good for patients with dental fear. I haven’t been able to find one or the other. It seems there are ones that specialize in dental anxiety and others that do dental implants. I can’t seem to find one that deals with both.

-Jill in South Dakota

Jill,

Unfortunately, sedation dentistry and implant dentistry are not recognized specialty areas within dentistry. This means that there isn’t a certain designation, however it means that any general dentist can offer these treatments. They can become experts in one or both areas by pursuing specialized training.

So, to find the best implant dentist, you will need to check out the dentist’s experience, education and training, and ask to see their portfolio of work for cases similar to yours. A successful implant dentist will have a very high success rate, up to 98% or better. You definitely want to make sure that the dentist you choose has the best dental implant experience in your area.

Then, you can start asking them about their treatment protocol for fearful patients. If the dentist offers sleep dentistry or sedation dentistry, that usually means they understand fearful patients and are empathetic toward putting them at ease.

In this case, it is best to make implant dentistry your focus. Then, once you find one or two that seem like a good fit, schedule a consultation and ask more information about how they treat dental anxiety. They may also be able to refer you to another dentist who may specialize in both areas of expertise.

Good luck! It’s good to hear that you are beginning to keep up with your regular care.

Donald H. Currie, DMD is a dentist in York, PA that is experienced in implant dentistry, as well as cosmetic dentistry and general preventive care.

I had to move and haven’t completed my Invisalign treatment. I have the aligners I need and am wondering if I really need to find a new dentist to monitor the last couple sets?

-Paul in Michigan

Paul,

Every Invisalign case is different. The need for the supervision of a dentist is wide ranging. For example, a dentist may need to shave down the sides of teeth to accommodate the shifting of the teeth or “buttons” may need to be bonded to the teeth to help the aligners function correctly. If the aligners over-correct or shift them incorrectly, the dentist needs to intervene. However, in some cases there is not much that needs to be done by the dentist.

If you were just starting out with your Invisalign treatment plan, then the answer would be yes. But, since you are at the end of your treatment plan, it is possible that you don’t need supervision to complete it. If you wanted to find a dentist to finish things out just to be sure, the fees wouldn’t be bad. It would be wise to call around and ask about the fees at nearby dentists. Your records could be sent to the new dentist and any notes about your case could also be shared.

Ultimately, you could probably get by without it. But, since you have made it this far and made the time and financial commitment, you don’t want things to go wrong at the end.

It is also important to realize that after most orthodontic treatments, a retainer is recommended. This helps to ensure that the teeth don’t regress and make sure they are stable in their new positions.

The good news is that with Invisalign, the aligners usually serve as the retainer. For most, it simply means wearing them all the time for one full month. Then, you can start wearing them less and less. Try wearing them while you sleep for the following month or two. Then, you can move to every other night. If you feel like the aligners are really tight or it is hard to get them in after skipping a night, it means the teeth have shifted. If that happens, go back to wearing them every night again.

image of someone holding an Invisalign aligner — Invisalign aligners can be used as a retainer.

But, if the aligners feel fine then you can continue wearing them less at night. After several months with no movement, you can back down to once a week and eventually not wearing them at all. However, it’s always good to keep that last set of aligners so you can continually check on them.

You don’t want to be the patient that does nothing once the treatment phase is complete and has to start the whole process over again.

Thank you for your question. Dr. Currie is a dentist in York, PA that provides Invisalign. If you lived nearby, he would be happy to help finish out your case. Hopefully, you can find a local dentist to give you the peace of mind that all will finish well with your treatment.

I hate the dentist, but need dental implants now. Help!

Do I need a new dentist to finish Invisalign?

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