Baton Rouge Dentist

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.

Can My Loose Tooth Be Saved?

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I have a lot of plaque buildup and my bottom front tooth is shaking. Is there any way I can save it and will the dentist be able to clean my teeth without pulling the loose one out?

Thanks, Willliam

Dear William,

When teeth start to become mobile it’s usually a good indicator that gum disease is present. Knowing that you have a lot of plaque buildup your dentist will probably recommend a deep cleaning, in other words root planing and scaling to prevent you from losing more bone around your teeth. Depending on how mobile your lower front tooth is will depend on its longevity.

Have your teeth and gums evaluated by your dentist. They will know whether the tooth is savable or not. When teeth are a little mobile they can become fairly tight within the socket after a deep cleaning and you may be able to maintain it for years. After the deep cleaning is complete it is vital to go every three or four months for regular scheduled cleanings in order to maintain them and prevent you from losing more bone as well having good oral hygiene habits through brushing and flossing. Gum Disease not only causes the possibility of tooth lose but is linked to heart disease and diabetes, therefore highly important to treat your gum infection in order to prevent other health problems as well.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge Dentist.

Worried about losing my front teeth

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My soon-to-be-ex wife hit me in the mouth with a baseball bat. As you might expect, both of my front teeth are now loose. I had to call the cops to get her out of my house, and the cops insisted I go into the hospital. I went to the emergency room, and they did a cat scan, which the doctor said did not reveal any fractures. I am kind of confused, because the teeth are still very loose. Am I going to lose these teeth? It also tore the little piece of skin that connects my upper lip to my jaw, but they said that was no big deal and did not bother to stitch it up.

I wonder if I should have gone in to a dentist right away. Is it too late? I don’t really have a regular dentist, or any insurance or money. The emergency room doctor didn’t say to go to a dentist, but he didn’t say I shouldn’t either, and I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. Any help you can offer would be great.

Thanks,

Keith in Lake Minnetonka, MN

Dear Keith,

Even if the roots of your teeth aren’t fractured, they still need to be stabilized in the correct position. If you don’t have a regular dentist, see if there is an emergency dentist in your area who will work with you on a payment plan. The dentist will need to bond the teeth into the correct position so the bone can heal.

If the roots are fractured, or if the nerves are damaged, you may need a root canal treatment on one or both teeth. If that is the case, you may or may not need a dental crown, depending on the condition of the tooth.

That is a lot of “ifs”. The best advice we can offer is to seek the services of an expert cosmetic dentist, if you can. If you cannot afford dental care, look into a program called “Give Back a Smile”. It is a program sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, to help victims of domestic violence. If you contact the program, they’ll tell you what you need in terms of documentation to prove that the injury was the result of your wife’s assault with the baseball bat.

We sincerely hope this information helps, and that your situation improves. We’re very sorry for your pain.

This blog post sponsored by Baton Rogue dentist Dr. Perry.