Twenty-Five Years Later…

Q: Dr. Crapo: About twenty-five years ago, I had teeth that needed whitening and repairing. I saw my dentist to see about what could be done. He talked to me about crowns, he talked to me about whitening and fillings. He was quite thorough because he said after looking at my bite, that I should have crowns so my bite could be made right. It was reasonable and I would have gone that route but I was younger and had family with kids and their needs. Long and short of it, I couldn’t find my way financially. So finally, I asked if he couldn’t do something else. He said he could do something that would fix the decay, make the teeth look better and may address my bite. He called it bonding, showed me some pictures and I decided that would do the job. He did all the front teeth, top and bottom and it looked a lot better, even though my bottom teeth were thicker. Basically, I’ve forgotten about my teeth until recently. They are breaking down and the hygienist can’t get them clean anymore. I saw a dentist and he said besides the crowning, I’m going to have to deal with some gum disease around some of my front teeth, maybe even surgery. He said that over time some of the bonding had detached and made some rough edges under my gums uncleanable. The gums are red and bleed easily and about one-third of the bone in three of the lower teeth has eroded away. I also have gum pockets around most of the front teeth. I’m not sure how this is going to play out but I very much want to keep my own teeth.

A: It sounds like there’s been a good start to mapping out the strengths and weaknesses of your dental health. In situations like yours, treating the gum disease is important but often can’t be done in the presence of non-cleanable areas around your teeth. Planning how your teeth will relate to one another using crowns, is also very important. Procedurally, getting the gums as healthy as possible before crowning makes sense because making smooth cleanable temporary crowns are extremely important and that can’t be done in the presence of bleeding gums. Once the temporary crowns are fitted, a period of two or three weeks of good homecare will allow for even better healing. If surgery is still needed, it is easier for the surgeon to remove the temporary crowns and fit them back on after the surgery. Healing will proceed relatively quickly because the gums will have smooth temporaries to heal against. Healing before final crowns usually takes several months because gum maturity after surgery, takes time. Take your time and you should have the result you want in function and esthetics.

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

A Cook’s Dilemma

Q: Dear Dr. Crapo: I’m a cook. I’ve cooked all my life but in the restaurant cooking business, for over twenty years. I grew up in Europe where dentistry was not discussed, at least not in my small town. My parents didn’t talk about it and my brothers and sisters had the same experience. I married and came to Canada. My wife insisted at my first toothache, I see a dentist. I did and had to have many teeth, or what remained, pulled out. I’ve got all my front teeth top and bottom. I have no back teeth on my lower left side. I have one molar, with spaces in front of them in the other areas of my mouth. I was told I need to get implants because my teeth are starting to move and I need teeth to fill in the spaces. I was also told that I could have permanent bridges and that would fill in the spaces almost like natural teeth – I can brush and floss them and they stay in like my own teeth. This is all new, so I’m wondering what’s best. My wife and her family have always gone to see the dentist and they don’t have problems, so I’m sure my wife will make me aware of what’s necessary. One thing I know is that I have no decay except one tooth that might need a root canal. I was told that if I choose bridges, this tooth will work after it has been taken care of. I just need to know what’s best.

A: If finances are not a major factor and you have good bone amounts in all those areas you’ve described, implants are by far the best solution. I say this emphatically because decay is more prevalent in cooks who cook to taste, than most other adults. It is comparable to those who have a very sedentary life style that involves high computer or electronic games use, all the while eating and drinking throughout the day. Having said that, bridgework in the areas you’ve mentioned can be a very good approach if you commit to dental maintenance several times a day. After your bridges are placed, fluoride trays can be fabricated to help render your teeth less susceptible to decay. This along with more frequent visits to the hygienist and dentist, will produce good results. Bridgework can last decades but it doesn’t happen by accident. Good dental work, followed by good dental homecare and in your case good dental maintenance at work, may well allow you to not only keep your remaining teeth, but give you good function. As far as the area where the back teeth are gone, implants will serve you very well.

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

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