What If I Change My Mind?

Q: I’ve come to the point in my life where I’ve got to do something with my upper teeth – well lower teeth too, but I’ll start with the upper. I wear an upper partial and have six front teeth left. They’ve had a bunch of things done including root canals but I was told I’d have to have them out and get implants. I don’t think I’ve got the kind of money that’s needed for implants, especially the kind where I get new teeth in one visit. I’m nervous about having the last few removed but I’m ready. Can I have a new denture made so that I have teeth put in when the teeth are extracted? What if my finances reverse and I get a bit more money – can I have implants then? I was told my bone wasn’t great around my last few teeth so what does that mean in the future? I’m very nervous. Can I be put to sleep and have it all done? I can afford five or six thousand dollars and I think I can afford a denture but I really want some assurance that if my finances become better that I could then get something better. My fear is that I’ll get a denture and that’ll be my fate for the rest of my life. If I can get over that fear, I think I could get a denture now. Please advise if you can.

A: Often one’s concerns lead to good questions and good timing. If your upper six front teeth must go, then I would suggest the following. Molds (impressions) should be taken of your existing teeth and a careful duplication of the way your teeth fit together should be registered so that an upper denture can be made. This will allow you to have teeth on the day of your surgery. When you schedule your surgery, you can certainly have an I.V. sedation that will put you in a state where you will have no nervousness and not be aware of what is transpiring. You will experience no anxiety, pain, sense of time or memory of the procedure. It is not a general anaesthetic and your recovery will be as easy as waking up on a leisurely sunny morning. At the surgery, it is vital that bone grafting be placed in the sockets of the extracted teeth. This will keep the width of the bone at its present level, making it possible for implants in the future. It will also protect against the force from your natural lower front teeth as you bite food off with your front teeth. This is crucial. If you follow these suggestions you should be able to have this done on your budget and keep your future plans for implants in place.

If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation or visit us today.

Based on actual patient cases

© Calvin Ross Crapo

Victoria Implant Centre 778-410-2080

www.VictoriaImplantCentre.com

Not Enough Bone?! Really?

Q: As a kid up till I was out of university I saw the dentist and hygienist faithfully. Mom insisted we all go regularly. Even in university, Mom made sure, when we got home from school, we saw the dentist. I had great teeth. Once I was off the plan and on my own it wasn’t a priority. I was just too busy for my teeth. One day as I was home visiting, Mom asked, “how long has it been since you’ve seen the dentist?” It had been five years. I had started smoking on the job and even got into a marijuana habit. The money was good and I was having a good time. I promised I’d go… but didn’t. Then one day, for the first time, I had a toothache. I couldn’t believe it! It surprised me so I found a dentist. He said, “You’ve got a couple of molars that need root canals.” “Can’t you feel holes in your teeth when that happens,” I asked? “Your decay went straight through the top of your teeth into the nerve,” he explained. Well, I had to have the root canals so I did. “Those teeth should be crowned,” he said, “Next month, ok?” Next month turned into next year when one day I bit down and heard a great crack. “What was that,” I thought! I sifted through what I was eating and pulled out most of one of the root canaled teeth. “Can’t fix it,” said the dentist when I went back, “and the other one is gone too. They’ll have to come out.” That was a shock! Out they came. “How will I chew on that side,” I asked? “Implants, except you don’t have much bone.” That was ten years ago but I’ve been told implants can’t be put there. Is that right? I’ve cleaned up my act and go regularly to the dentist and hygienist but it’s the pits that I lost my teeth!. Anyway – no to implants? Really?

A: You’ve experienced what some other patients have when upper teeth are extracted. That is – very little bone between the ridge where your teeth were to your sinus. Historically, bone thickness there needs to be at least five millimeters thick for the shortest of implants to be placed to avoid the sinus. In the last five years, however, great breakthroughs have advanced in sinus bone grafting. New technologies let us place implants into the sinus cavity the same day as bone goes in. In effect, a pathway to the sinus is made, the delicate sinus membrane freed so that bone can be inserted then the implant placed. This bone becomes your own and holds your implant fast. Final word, yes to implants and the crowns that follow.

If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation or visit us today.

Based on actual patient cases

© Calvin Ross Crapo

Victoria Implant Centre 778-410-2080

www.VictoriaImplantCentre.com