Archives for April 2021

Dental Implant and Diabetes

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I need to replace a tooth due to an injury and my dentist said because I am a diabetic I am not a candidate. I wasn’t aware that diabetes was a contraindication for dental implants and I’m pretty sad. I guess I could get a dental bridge, but just wanted to get a second opinion on the topic before settling.

Felicity

Dear Felicity,

Illustration of a dental implant surrounded by natural teeth

I have good news for you! Being a diabetic does not mean you cannot get dental implants. What it does mean is the following:

  • You are at a higher risk for dental implant failure as well as other complications.
  • You will need extensive diagnostics done. I would not skimp on any of them. In fact, make certain your dentist includes a CT scan.
  • You will want a dentist with extensive post-doctoral training in dental implants. Just dental school is not enough.
  • Make sure your dentist is committed to doing extra care throughout the procedure to keep an eye on how things are going.

Why Did Your Dentist Say No to Dental Implants

If you are able to get a dental implant, why did your dentist try to dissuade you from the procedure? In my experience, when I dentist tries to convince a patient to not get what is considered by dentists to be the superior treatment option, it is because they are not really qualified to do the procedure but don’t want their patient to know that. Instead, they steer you toward something they feel more comfortable doing.

Do not pressure him into doing this procedure. You are better off going to a different dentist, even if it is just for this one procedure.

Bottom line— you can get a dental implant, just pick the dentist carefully.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Costa Rica or ClearChoice?

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I want to save some money and am trying to decide between going to Costa Rica to get dental implants or to use ClearChoice. One of my concerns about is that ClearChoice seems to only want to place all on four dental implants and I’m wondering if I’d be better off with something else. I’ve also heard there is not much follow-up after patients are done there. Getting the work done in Costa Rica is less expensive, even with the travel required. Though, I have several people telling me that it isn’t a good idea to go to Costa Rica for dental care. Yet, a lot of people do it so I’m wondering if it is as bad as my friends are making out. Do you have an opinion?

Luke

Dear Luke,

Implant Overdentures

Let’s start with Costa Rica. They do have a significant amount of dental tourism. Sometimes it works out okay for the patient and sometimes it doesn’t. The big problem is when it doesn’t. Often the situation is pretty bad. Plus, you don’t really have any recourse. One of the things you were concerned about with ClearChoice was their lack of follow-up. What type of follow-up do you think you would get with a foreign country?

Dental implants are one of the most advanced procedures out there. Part of this is because of the potential complications when things don’t work out properly. The implant can be placed on a nerve that causes facial paralysis. Or, it won’t be properly fitted which leads to an infection in your jaw. In some cases, people have lost chunks of their face. Mind you, that type of complication does not happen often, but my point is you want to make sure the dentist working on you is highly trained and not just cheap.

As for ClearChoice, most complaints about them have more to do with their hard sales tactics than their dentistry. The dentists there tend to be decent, skilled dentists. Because they are a corporate model, they are more about the bottom line than the individual patient. This is one of the reasons they have what appears to be the one-size-fits-all approach to what dental implant procedure to use.

If you want the all-on-4 procedure, you should be fine there, though you should insist on some follow-up. Be aware that if one part of the all-on-4 fails, you will have to replace the entire unit.

Before making a decision, I would speak with a private dentist to get his opinion of what will be your best treatment option before making a final decision. You may save money in the long run getting a slightly more expensive procedure that lasts years longer with no complications.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Bonding instead of Lumineers?

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I had bonding placed on my teeth about 7 years ago while I was a minor. These are starting to wear down and I was thinking of getting Lumineers to replace them. Then, I started doing some research and learned that most of the really good cosmetic dentists don’t like Lumineers. This scared me off so now I am thinking about just getting bonding done again. I want to make a beautiful smile but am worried people will know they are fake if my smile is too beautiful. What is your experience with these two issues?

Candy

Dear Candy,

blonde woman smiling

These are great questions. You are right that many dentists with true artistry and expertise in cosmetic dentistry do not like Lumineers. This is mostly because their company requires dentists to use their dental lab. This particular lab is not known for its beautiful results. Dentists usually prefer to use their own ceramist whom they trust will produce the results they expect from the instructions they provide.

While your dental bonding can be redone, because these have to be done freehand, doing it well takes a very long time, which drives up the price. Additionally, they will not last as long as you’d like, so I honestly don’t recommend that route. The good news for you, however, is that Lumineers are simply one brand of porcelain veneers.

My suggestion is you find a great cosmetic dentist and let them choose the brand of porcelain veneers that will give you the beautiful result you truly want. Veneers will last many more years.

As to your other question, I would not hold back. While you are intimately acquainted with your smile, others are not. Cosmetic dentists have seen this over and over. A patient gets a stunning smile makeover. When people see them, their comments go something like this…

“Have you lost weight? You look gorgeous. Something is different but I can pin it down. Whatever it is, it’s working.”

My advise? Get your dream smile.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.