Baton Rouge Dentist

My Full-Mouth Reconstruction Is Falling Apart

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In the fall of 2022, I got a full-mouth reconstruction with crowns, veneers, and dental implants. I’ve had six veneers and crowns fall off, but the dentist put them all back. The problem is worse now with gaps between my teeth and exposed screws. It hurts to eat anything hard, crunchy, or chewy. My mouth feels raw. The dentist closed his office without notification, and I’ve searched online but haven’t found his new office. Will I need to repeat all my dental work? Megan from Toledo, OH

Megan,

Unfortunately, it seems that you have been victimized. Although you cannot find a record online, contact the Ohio Dental Board to report the problem and determine if you have any recourse.

We advise you not to look for a dentist with cheap implant services. Most often, cheap dental implants involve shortcuts in diagnostics (X-ray or 3D CT scan) or cheap implant fixtures. Although you don’t need the most expensive implant dentist, avoid looking for a bargain.

Check dentists’ advanced implant and cosmetic dentistry training before scheduling consultations. If you cannot find a dentist with satisfactory training and experience, find a periodontist, a specialist with two to three years of post-graduate training in dental implants. If you consult a dentist instead of a specialist, ask about their experience in full-mouth reconstruction.

Ensure the dentist you choose makes a careful diagnosis with a three-dimensional CT scan before creating a treatment plan for implants and cosmetic dentistry. Please don’t accept anything less.

Also, check the dentist’s online review, looking for any hints from patients about the dentist’s clinical troubles. Although you can’t trust all online reviews, check them.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

My Insurance Won’t Cover a Tooth Post and Core

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My insurance won’t cover a tooth post for my right, even though my dentist says it will help save my tooth. My insurance will pay 50% for a crown but not the $740 post and core. Are a post and core necessary? How long could my tooth last if I declined the post and core? – Thank you – Tim, from SD

Tim,

Thank you for your question.

Insurance companies often provide benefits for the least expensive treatment. Your dentist is concerned about preserving your tooth.

What Are a Dental Post and Core?

A dental post is a small, thin post that a dentist inserts your tooth. A core is a filling material that builds up your tooth in preparation for a dental crown. The combination of a post and core stabilizes and strengthens a weak tooth.

Why Would a Dentist Recommend It?

A dentist may recommend a post and core after root canal treatment or if you lack healthy tooth structure for supporting a dental crown. The procedure will ensure the crown stays in place.

  • The procedure includes these steps:
  • Root canal treatment to remove decay and infection
  • Insert a post deep into the tooth
  • Fill the tooth with material to stabilize the post
  • Apply dental bonding to the tooth to shape it like a natural tooth that is ready for a crown
  • Bond the crown to the built-up tooth

What Might Happen If You Refuse the Post and Core?

Dental implant components, including the post, abutment, and crown
Many dentists try to preserve natural teeth before recommending an extraction and crown

If you refuse a dental post and core, these concerns may result:

  • Bonding a crown to a weak tooth can irritate or weaken the tooth and lead to infection.
  • The tooth may require removal.
  • Your dentist may need to replace the tooth with a dental implant and crown. Associated fees can cost up to $5,000. Get a pretreatment estimate from your dentist and ask your dental insurance company how much your plan will cover.

Your dentist’s approach protects your tooth for the future and saves you the time and expense of more costly procedures. If you are still unsure about your dentist’s treatment recommendations, you can schedule a second opinion with an advanced cosmetic dentist and ask for an examination of your tooth and x-rays.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Tooth still hurts after a second root canal

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In 2007, I had a root canal on my upper right first molar (tooth #3). Last October, I began to feel pain in the second molar (tooth #2) behind it, which had a large filling in it. My dentist took x-rays and said that I needed a root canal for the second molar. Although I didn’t have pain in the first molar, my dentist saw a black area in the bone above that tooth.

An endodontist completed the root canal on the second molar, and then the first molar began to hurt. Although I had a root canal in 2007 for the first molar, the endodontist said I needed repeat treatment. The second molar improved, but I continued to feel pain in the first molar.

Over the next two months, the endodontist re-medicated both teeth four times. But the first molar still hurts even if I rub my tongue on it. The endodontist is cooperative and says that the tooth has no visible internal or external fractures on the x-ray. He said that the holes at the tooth root are a little large from the 2007 root canal. He pushed filler material through the holes. The dark area above the tooth is not around the roots. It is a pocket in the jaw.

The endodontist thinks that the pain might be from bone loss over the years and a slow-growing infection. Should I ask for an antibiotic to see if the tooth is infected? If the black area is bone loss, will the bone grow back? If it is an infection, will it reinfect my other teeth? I’m concerned about a third root canal on this tooth failing and requiring extraction and an implant. I am still wearing temporary crowns because the endodontist does not want my dentist to restore the teeth with permanent crowns until the pain goes away. I am not confident that this will be resolved. Thank you. Benji from MO

Benji,

Dr. Perry would need to examine your tooth and see your x-rays to give you an accurate diagnosis. But your description sounds like your endodontist is careful and wants to save your tooth. A second or third root canal treatment is more conservative than tooth extraction. And the endodontist’s explanations sound reasonable.

As your tooth heals, the black area on the x-ray will fill in with bone over the next few months. It doesn’t seem that an infection is spreading.

Pain after root canal treatment

If you have pain in a tooth after root canal treatment, your dentist can determine if the pain is from infection or if your bite (the way your upper and lower teeth come in contact) is the problem.

  • Antibiotics decrease pain – If you take an antibiotic and the pain resolves, it usually means that the pain is from an infection rather than a tooth nerve, stress on the tooth, or another factor. Your endodontist might be willing to use antibiotics to determine if an infection is causing the pain.
  • Painful chewing – If you feel pain when you chew, the tooth is too high, and your dentist can reduce it. If your bite is too high, when you chew, that tooth takes more impact than the others and becomes sensitive.
Dental implant
Although a dental implant mimics natural tooth structure, saving a tooth is often the best option

Give your endodontist more time to try to identify the source of the pain. An extraction and a dental implant may not be necessary. Sometimes tooth pain is referred from somewhere else—even an opposing (or lower) tooth.

After your dentist and endodontist are satisfied that they have resolved the issue, you can receive your permanent crowns. If you get the crowns prematurely and the pain persists, your dentist would need to remove the crowns for further treatment.

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge sponsors this post.

 

Read our post, Root Canal Tooth Hurting Again?, for information about causes of root canal failure.

Was my affordable dental implant experience normal?

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Most of my teeth are missing. In hopes of receiving affordable dental implants, I signed up for a discount dental plan. During my first appointment, I filled out paperwork, but noticed the forms were asking for more information than is typically on medical office paperwork. After completing the paperwork, I was told that I qualified for financing. I found it odd that they would qualify me for financing before any services or prognoses were completed. I received an x-ray and dental cleaning. Then, the dentist entered the room and told me I needed several fillings and multiple crowns, without physically looking at any of my teeth and that all of the work would come to the tune of $4000. I thought that amount sounded extreme, and was still in shock at the entire process. The receptionist tried to get me to commit to an appointment date and time for the crowns and fillings, but, because I felt uneasy about the whole thing, I told her I would call later for this. However, I have zero intention of returning to that dental office. If I do, in fact, need all of the dental work they indicated I do, it will be several years before I can afford the work to be done. I recently received a phone call from that office to schedule my appointment for the dental work. I have no intention of returning the call. I know I have not been intentional about my dental appointments or hygiene, so realize it is possible that I may have a few cavities, but is it normal, or even permissible, for a dentist to advise that you have all of this work done without physically looking at your teeth?

Thank you,

Corby


Corby,
You are correct. What you experienced during your dental appointment is far from normal. Not only should you have received your cleaning and x-rays, your teeth should have been thoroughly examined by the dentist before any treatment was recommended. Then, in addition to recommending the treatment, the dentist should have explained why such treatment was necessary. High fees, such as the amount you were quoted, can make a person feel that affordable dental implants are out of their reach.

Your decision to not return to that office was a wise one. You might also consider reaching out to your dental insurance provider, in order to explain the situation and avoid any potential problems with coverage, since you will likely be duplicating the appointment with a different dentist. You may also want to visit any future dental offices first, or request a dental consultation, before any exams.

Affordable dental implants are possible because of financing and/or dental payment plans, but they should never be sneaky or secretive, as you have experienced.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge affordable dental implant provider, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Are affordable dental implants a good idea?

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I am missing several teeth. I looked into replacing them a few years ago, but my dentist was going to charge several thousand dollars. Because the amount was out of my budget, I had him do partial dentures instead. However, I am still interested in a permanent solution.

I recently saw an ad for an office claiming to specialize in affordable dental implants. I have tried to research on my own, and everything I am finding suggests this is a safe procedure, but to check on the dentist’s experience level. However, nothing tells me what level of experience I should be looking for, or what details I should be trying to found out. Can you help?

Thank you,
Janet

Dear Janet,

Just like dentists are all different, so are affordable dental implants. After talking with various dentists who provide this option, you may find that affordable dental implants are different depending on who you speak to. Some may be placing mini-implants, while others are performing All-on-Fours. Some may be using sub-standard parts, or are inexperienced, while others are genuinely knowledgeable and skilled. Still, others may be using discounts to encourage new patients to join their practice.

Asking questions is really the best way to truly learn the motivation behind the dentist providing affordable dental implants. If he or she is not using posts of standard sizes, they are probably using minis. If the procedure is coupled with dentures, it is likely an all-on-fours. You should inquire if the parts have been approved by the FDA. If the answer is no, they may not meet the durability and sterility guidelines.

Finally, regarding the level of experience, any dentist can call themselves an “affordable dental implant specialist,” but this does not mean they have any more experience than another dentist who has performed the procedure or offers the procedure. It would be a good idea to find out where the doctor attended dental school, and also the number of hours he or she has spent studying the procedure. If the answer is at least 200+ hours, you can assume he or she has had the training, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the skill is there. You should find out the number of procedures which they have completed, as well as their success rate to determine this. Implants generally have a 98% success rate. If the number is around that, you should feel confident in the service.

This post is provided by the office of Baton Rouge dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

My smile was ruined by an affordable dental implant doctor

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My two front teeth had become loose, so I began searching for an affordable dental implant dentist. I found an ad that met my criteria. When I went in for the estimate, I was told I needed those teeth to be extracted at that time, as well as bone beads to help with the healing.

After six months, and no front teeth, the dentist told me he could not perform the implant surgery because I didn’t have enough bone, and my gums needed treatment. He indicated I would need additional procedures prior to the surgery. Now I have no front teeth, no idea if they should have been removed originally, and just want my smile back!

What should I do?

Hank

Dear Hank,

The fact that you don’t know the cause of your loose teeth is a significant red flag. If the cause was periodontal disease, you would not have been a candidate for dental implants to begin with. The doctor should have discussed this with you from the get-go. It’s difficult to tell if your teeth could have been saved without knowing the cause. This is s a major concern.

However, it is likely, going forward, that you will need additional treatments prior to the implant surgery, in order for the implants to last. It would be a good idea to consult another dentist before proceeding. Also, there is no reason that you should not have been given temporary replacement teeth. Typically offices offer partial dentures, of flippers to keep the other teeth from moving, maintain the right amount of space, and to help make it easier for you to eat. It is not too late for these.

Make an appointment with another dentist to assess all of this this before moving forward.

This article is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry, Baton Rouge affordable dental implant provider.

Are redo dental implants more affordable?

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I have already had dental implants once. I’m now learning that I need to have them redone and am wondering if any of the expenses carry over to the second attempt. To give some background, I am learning that my original implants didn’t take and now my dentist is saying I need to have them redone and is expecting me to pay full-price for the procedure.

Is this advisable?

Thanks,

Mandi

Dear Mandi,

I’m not sure what your timeline looks like, as you didn’t mention how long ago you received your original implants. It usually takes six to 12 months for them to fully integrate with the bone. I’m wondering if you’re still within this time frame. While poor placement, infections, or some medical conditions can cause problems with the healing, it is rare for them to not take at all.

If your implants have in fact failed, the first step is to determine the root cause. Hopefully your dentist has already discussed this with you. However, if this discussion has yet to take place, try to find out the cause prior to any work being done.

In regards to the second procedure being more affordable, some sort of discount or comped work would be advisable. It’s unclear if your implant failure could have been predicted, or prevented. If it indeed could have been prevented, you should not have to pay a dime. If this is the case, request a refund and find a more skilled dentist. It would also be a good idea to get a second opinion before moving forward.

This article was provided by affordable dental implant provider, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Should I see an emergency dentist for a hurting dental implant?

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I just finished getting a dental implant about two weeks ago. It’s been quite a process, first having the procedure to get the post in and waiting for it to heal. Now, having the tooth on there is nice, although I have had some pain there the past two days. It’s not the same pain as the actual implant healing, but it hurts just the same. I can’t eat on it. I don’t remember eating anything particularly hard on it within the last few days to aggravate it. Should I just ride this out as a normal part of implant healing or should I see an emergency dentist before it gets worse?

Mary, Portland, Maine

Dear Mary,

Woman with mouth painIf it was just a regular tooth that was starting to hurt out of the blue, you could wait and schedule an appointment with your dentist to get it checked, but where you just had an implant there, it warrants a trip to the emergency dentist. You may have an infection. Especially where you can’t eat on it, it’s better safe than sorry to get it checked.

How bad can an infection be?

The reason infection is worrisome, especially in your scenario, is that it can affect all the work you just had done with your implant. If the infection is severe enough, you may have to have the post taken out. In some cases, if the infection has spread and affected the jaw bone that anchors the post, a bone graft is necessary before the process can start all over, with all the healing time again in between steps.

Aside from being painful and uncomfortable, if infection is left unchecked, any infection, it can spread. Once it spreads to the heart or if it reaches the brain, it becomes a matter of life or death. That’s why early detection and taking care of infection with medication is so important.

Speaking to the dentist you have been working with on your implant about your pain would be the best. Many offices have after-hours or even a dental emergency number. If you can’t talk to anyone there within a few hours, schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry at Baton Rouge Family Dentist in Louisianna.

 

Why are my teeth shifting after I had a tooth pulled?

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I broke a tooth in the back on the bottom of my mouth about a month ago and the dentist said there was no way to save it. So he pulled it. I don’t have the money yet to do anything in that space so it’s just empty back there. Since then, the weirdest thing has happened. I now have a space between a couple of my front teeth that was never there before. What is going on?

Thanks,

Audra, Virginia

Dear Audra,

The teeth in your mouth are like a team. They all work together to get the job done. Your occlusion, or your bite, is designed by how your teeth all work together to chew, swallow, and even how they fit when your jaw is clenched.

Your team of teeth

As with any team, when one player is taken out, things change. Others have to pick up more work. Players have to move around to cover for the missing one. This is the same thing that happens in your mouth. When a tooth is extracted, the body thinks the bone in that area is no longer needed and starts to distribute the minerals from that area to other areas. The bone then degenerates. Unfortunately, it only takes about six months for this to start happening after a tooth is extracted.

When this degeneration starts, the other teeth start to shift. They move to fit your new bite. For some patients, that shift is very minimal or unnoticeable, but for others, it is concerning. If any shifting is going to occur, it typically happens within the first couple of years after the extraction. The bone degeneration and the shifting is why dentists suggest replacing teeth that are extracted.image of dental implant Dental implants are good options if your mouth is healthy enough for it. The new anchors for the tooth implant trick the body into recognizing there is still a need for the minerals in the bone there.

Because your teeth are shifting quickly, you may want to speak to your dentist about your options and affordable dental plans to fix that area of your mouth.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

How do we best fill the space of an extracted tooth?

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My daughter had an accident in her gymnastics class and hit her front tooth. She has had root canals on it to fix it, but they failed. My daughter’s dentist is recommending that she have it extracted, which I’m okay with, but I’m just concerned about what to do after to fill that spot. This is such new territory for us and I don’t want to mess up her smile. What are our options?

Concerned, Santa Fe, NM

Dear Concerned,

Anyone would be concerned in your situation. You didn’t say how old your daughter is, but at any age, a person’s smile can speak volumes. After your daughter’s surgery for the tooth extraction, there are a few options you have for her.

Dental implant

For an adult, a dental implant is often the replacement of choice for a tooth extraction. A dental implant allows a porcelain tooth that is strong, durable, and natural looking, to be placed onto a root form that is directly implanted into the jawbone. The body will keep the jawbone there intact because the minerals there are still needed, as with a natural tooth. Unfortunately, a dental implant isn’t the best option for your daughter because of her age. Her face and jawbone are still growing. As her jaw grows, her natural teeth will move along with the growth. An implant won’t move as the other teeth, which will then lead to misplacement of the natural teeth.

Example of a dental bridge

A dental bridge can be a viable option in the right scenario. A bridge is made by putting crowns on the teeth on either side of the missing tooth with a false tooth in the middle. This can be a secure option, but the problem is the surrounding teeth have to be prepared and receive crowns, even if they are healthy teeth, in order for it to be stable.

  • Dental flipper

A dental flipper, which is sometimes called a flipper partial, is a reDental flipper with removable toothmovable temporary tooth. This can be made almost as a retainer with a mold that fits the top of the mouth, or with metal clips that go over the back teeth. This the least expensive option of the three. With this option, the surrounding teeth remain intact if you are hoping to wait for dental implants.

Please don’t be afraid to ask questions of your daughter’s dentist before any work is done. As with any cosmetic dental work, ask about his experience with all the above treatments and make sure you are comfortable with whatever treatment he suggests.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, Lousiana.