Category Archives: Uncategorized

Can a General Dentist do Dental Implants?

I need to replace a tooth. Everyone says dental implants are the best replacement. Are there implant specialists or can a general dentist do them?

Max L. – Connecticut

Max,

First, I’ll say, yes, dental implants really are the top of the line tooth replacement. Be aware that not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. There are some conditions which are contra-indicative, like gum disease. Or, if you’re a smoker, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a good dentist willing to go forward with the procedure. If it turns out you’re not a candidate, there are other good options which we’ll discuss momentarily.

As to whether or not you need a dental implant specialist, that’s a yes and no. There isn’t actually a recognized specialty in implants, so any dentist who does them is a general dentist. However, it takes some additional training than what they get in dental school to be skilled in this procedure.

Dental Implants are an advanced procedure, with potentially severe complications if things go wrong. Because of that you’ll want to be bold in asking the dentist some blunt questions. Some things to ask are “What type of implant training have you had?” “How many implant procedures have you performed?” “What percentage of them are successful?”

So, what if you’re not a good candidate? Whatever dentist you go to should give you all your options. For instance, the next best procedure would likely be a dental bridge. In fact, if your adjacent teeth need a crown, a dental bridge might make more sense for you.

The important thing is you find a dentist you trust and then have them explain all the procedures you’re a candidate for.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

I Want an Implant and My Dentist Wants Me to Get a Bridge

I have two teeth that need work. They’re right next to each other. One needs a crown. The other needs to be extracted. I want to do a dental implant and a crown. My dentist wants to do a bridge. I’d think he’d be more excited about a dental implant because they’re more expensive, but he seems pretty insistent about a bridge.  Is there a real medical reason for this?  I’m not too excited about the idea of a bridge.

Brenda C. – Michigan

Brenda,

My guess is your dentist isn’t comfortable with dental implants.  It’s an extremely advanced procedure. I wouldn’t push your dentist if that’s the case. When it’s not done perfectly, there can be serious complications.  It’s a credit to your dentist that he’s not just taking your money and doing the procedure halfway.

A bridge is fine in your case. You already need work on one of the adjacent teeth, so it’s like getting two procedures knocked out in one—no pun intended. However, your other tooth is healthy so you might not want to grind down healthy tooth structure. I understand your desire to go with an implant and crown.

My suggestion would be to get the implant and crown, but with another dentist. I’m not saying leave your current dentist, just have this particular procedure done with someone else. Then, you can continue with your current dentist for general treatments and cleanings afterward.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Are CEREC Crowns Worth Switching Dentists?

I need to get a dental crown. My sister told me to make sure and get a CEREC crown, but my dentist said he doesn’t do those. My sister seemed to think it was really important. Is it worth switching dentists to get one?

Amelia L. – Ft. Worth, TX

Amelia,

The only real benefit to CEREC crowns is they can be done in one appointment.  While it is convenient, I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s worth switching dentists.

The reason it can be done in one appointment is that it is milled on site from a single block of porcelain.

The bigger issue would be where the crown is being placed. If it is a front tooth, you’ll want to be certain your dentist is experienced and artistic with cosmetic issues. You want to make sure that he can make the crown look both beautiful and natural.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Can I Get A CEREC Crown If I Grind My Teeth?

I’m scheduled to get my first crown in a week.  I’m nervous about it. One of the things I’m worried about is my teeth grinding habit. Will it hold up as well as my teeth? I don’t know how to stop the grinding. I only know I do it because my husband mentioned I do it in my sleep.

Amanda K. – Montana

Amanda,

I’m bothered by some things you’ve mentioned. You asked if the CEREC crown will hold up as well as your teeth. The answer to that is yes.

However, your teeth won’t hold up to the grinding habit, so neither of them will. Eventually, you will grind your teeth down to nubs. It can even cause you to crack your teeth.

What you need to do is get a mouthguard for while you’re sleeping. It will protect both your natural teeth and the CEREC crown.

I’m surprised your dentist didn’t mention this to you. It’s something you really need to discuss with your dentist. The mouthguard can be custom made to fit your exact smile.

This blog is brought to you by Dr.  Mike Malone

Is It Really Worth It to Go to The Dentist When the Economy is so Bad?

The economy where we live is really bad. My husband’s been out of work for two years now.  We’re trying to save money anywhere we can. In a bad economy, is it really necessary to go to the dentist twice a year?

Laura L. – Miami

Laura,

I completely understand the dilemma you’re in. The economy in Louisiana has been hit hard. We’re watching people lose homes they’ve lived in for years.

You’re asking if it’s OK to cut back to one check-up a year. I’m going to give you a very non-committal answer. It really depends. Before you roll your eyes, I’ll explain further.

Some people have naturally healthy teeth. They go their whole lives without a cavity. Feel free to hate those people as much as I hate people with a high metabolism.  If you’re one of the people with naturally healthy teeth that never has any issue, then temporarily cutting back to once a year, may not do any harm.

But, if you’re one of the people with a normal mouth, it’s a gamble. IF you don’t go in regularly, you risk costing yourself a lot more money. Regular check-ups can prevent cavities. It can also catch them early enough where you might only need a tiny filling. Put it off, you’ll end up paying for a root canal and dental crown.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

When Can We Stop Going to the Dentist?

We’ve always been very diligent about going to the dentist. Our children have never had cavities. Recently, my husband was laid off. Is it OK for us to skip the dentists for a while, just until he’s found a new job?

Mindy  – Ft. Worth, TX

Mindy,

I understand your question completely. Here in Louisiana, the oil industry as been hit pretty hard and a lot of people are without work.  One of the things dentists tend to notice is that when people try to save money by skipping their check-ups and cleanings, they end up spending more. Here’s why.

Especially in children,  things can change quickly with the condition of teeth. Without regular check ups, early warning signs of decay are likely to get missed. That means more extensive (and expensive) treatments are necessary.

My suggestion, during this time of financial difficulty, is to talk to your dentist and work out payment plans. There are even no interest payment plans.

Dentists want to help people. Communication is the key.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Avoid the Emergency Room For Dental Emergencies

Just thought I’d let your patients know that if they have a dental emergency and don’t think they can afford a dentist, they’re wasting their time going to the emergency room. I had a toothache, but didn’t have the money to do anything about it. So, because emergency medical things are covered, I thought I could beat the system by going to the emergency room. It was a complete waste of time.  They essentially gave me two ibuprofen and sent me on my way.  They did nothing for the toothache. All I did was waste my time.

Mercedes L. – Boston

Mercedes,

Your experience is quite common. Mostly that is because doctors aren’t trained for dental work, nor do they have the equipment.

There are ways to get emergency dental care without money. One is to call a dentist and just tell them your situation.  Most dentist are compassionate and will work with you.  There are also low interest and even no interest payment plans.

It is important that you get this looked at, so don’t put it off any further. There will be a dentist that will work with you. But, if you put it off, what could just be the beginning of a problem will turn into a serious infection and will spread.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

What’s the real difference between a pediatric dentist and a regular dentist?

There is a pediatric dentist in my town, but he is pretty pricey. Plus, I find his personality a little too abrasive for my taste.  Is there really a significant difference between a regular dentist and a pediatric dentist?

Emily J. – Montana

Emily,

A pediatric dentist does two extra years of dental training that are specific to children.  Therefore, some parents choose to go to a specialist because the added training gives them peace of mind.  However, many parents have found that there child was more receptive at their regular family dentist.

A general dentist is qualified to treat children.  The advantages are the dentist treats the whole family, which gives him some insight into the dental genetics of your family and can keep an eye out for issues that are unique to your family.

If any treatment issues arise that require a specialist, your family dentist could easily give you a referral to someone else as needed.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

CEREC crowns caused a tooth infection

I got a CEREC crown and now, a few months later, I have a massive tooth infection on the tooth under the crown. I feel like the crown caused the infection. Have you noticed this to be common with CEREC crowns?

Alonso G. – New Mexico

Alonso,

No, that isn’t an issue with your crown. It is more likely a dentist issue. There are a few possibilities going on. With the first, your dentist didn’t remove all of the infection to begin with. It’s possible he thought the infecion was dealt with, but there was some left. If the  infection isn’t dug out of there, it will continue to spread.

Another option is your tooth developed new decay. That can happen a couple of ways.  There is a learning curve with CEREC crowns. Some dentists are more skilled than others. It’s possible your dentist left some gaps in the margins or there were some other issues  with his bonding that left your tooth vulnerable to decay.

It’s also possible that you’ve had a harder time with your oral hygiene. It isn’t easy getting crowns all the way clean and flossing is more of a challenge than it used to be.

You’ll need to have your dentist look at this right away and make sure he gets all the infection. When completed, you might want to make sure there are no gaps anywhere, in case the problem is your dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Dentist only does CEREC crowns

My dentist recently got a cerec machine and says he’s only doing cerec crowns now. I’ve always had traditional crowns and really want to stick with the same thing. What do I do?

Kate O. – Oregon

Kate,

What you would do is tell your dentist how you feel. There is nothing that says you HAVE  to have a CEREC  crown. I’m sure the situation is more that your dentist has invested all this money on the CEREC machine and he wants to get the most out of it.  He can do the same types of crowns in one appointment.

If he was able to do the traditional crowns before, he is now.  However, it is his practice and he ultimately decides what procedures he wants to do at his office.  However, you get to decide what to do with your body. So, you might be better served with a different dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.