Archive for February, 2011

I need dental implants – am I a bone grafting candidate?

Monday, February 28th, 2011

My dentist said I need three dental implants, and that I may need bone grafting before we can do the implants. The thing is, my dentist is really young, and I don’t think he has much experience with dental implants. My previous dentist retired, and recommended this dentist. I really like him, and he is very personable and seems competent, but I am just not sure how much experience or education he has in dental implants.

How do dentists generally determine if a person is a good candidate for the bone grafting procedure? Because of a boating accident, I had a dental bridge put in 17 years ago, when I was 16. You can really see the bone loss (three missing teeth) when you know what to look for.

Thanks for the information-I really like your blog.

Melody from Austin, TX

Dear Melody,

We’re glad you like the blog! We enjoy writing about dentistry issues that are of interest to people.

To determine whether or not someone is a good candidate for a bone graft procedure, your dentist will first and foremost look at your general health. If you are in good general health, he will further examine your x-rays and scans before making any kind of decisions about your treatment.

You are right to be wary about your dentist’s perceived lack of experience. We would certainly suggest that you question your dentist thoroughly about his education and experience with dental implants. If you are not comfortable with his answers, be honest with him and ask him to recommend you to someone who has experience with complicated cases like yours. Placing dental implants is not considered a separate specialty, but doing it well does require extensive training above and beyond the standard coursework in dental school.

If your dentist does not know who to recommend you to, you’ll have to do some of the legwork yourself. Look for a dentist with a website that lists strong credentials, including specifics about his or her experience and training in placing dental implants. Check his biography page and look for memberships in groups like the Academy of Osseointegration, or the International Congress of Oral Implantology, or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Affiliation with any of those groups or evidence of coursework done through one of them is a good indication that the dentist is well educated and experienced.

This blog produced on behalf of York PA dentist Dr. Currie.

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Addiction recovery and dental care

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

I recently started Methadone maintenance as part of my addiction recovery program. My teeth are in terrible shape and I need a lot of work done, but I’ve had some bad experiences at the dentist. The last time I went to get work done, the dentist would not give me anything at all for the pain after he saw on my chart that I was on Methadone. Even after I gave him all the contact information for the clinic and asked him to call and talk to my counselor and the clinic doctor about it, he refused to make the call. I wound up leaving without getting any of the work done. Things have gotten a lot worse since then, and I know I can’t put this off much longer.

How should I go about finding a doctor that will at least make an effort to talk to the doctor and counselor? I am nervous enough about going to the dentist, and afraid of pain. I am in a lot of pain right now, and can’t stand the thought of it being worse during and after treatment. I need at least two root canal treatments and there is just no way I am getting that done without pain medication. I also have gum disease that my doctor says requires immediate and aggressive treatment.

Anything you can do to help me would be much appreciated.

Valerie in Sacramento

Dear Valerie,

Most dentists and medical doctors have a healthy respect for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and are very cautious about doing anything that could cause them to undergo an investigation.

One place to start might be the clinic itself. They may have a list of medical and dental professionals that are sympathetic and well educated in working with the clinic’s clientele.

You might also look around your area for a sedation dentist. Dentists who are practiced in sedation dentistry will be more well-informed on legalities involving pain control medication. It may take several phone calls, but you should be able to locate a compassionate and knowledgeable dentist who will help you.

Best of luck to you in this new phase of your life.

This blog brought to you as a courtesy by the office of York PA cosmetic dentist Dr. Currie.

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