FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Our office strives to provide all of our existing and new patients with answers to their every question. We want patients to feel at home and completely comfortable with the procedures and the staff.

I don't wear my lower denture because it moves too much. Can you make one that stays put?

A lower denture relies on a "ridge", the jawbone leftover after teeth are removed, and gravity to stay in place. If you have lost weight or have had this denture for many years, the shape of this ridge is different than when first placed so it feels unstable. Many people tolerate this condition far longer than they should because an ill-fitting denture causes even more destruction of this ridge. You should make an appointment, bringing your existing denture, and we will evaluate it and discuss your options.

My current bridge has made a dark line near my gums. Can you fix this?

If a dark line occurs over time, it is either decay or the edge of the crowns that make up the bridge. We can fix both conditions. The paper-thin edge of a crown is actually metal, used to strengthen the crown, which slides under the gumline when first placed. This metal usually begins to show if your gums recede due to vigorous brushing, periodontal disease, or sometimes aging. It is important to determine the cause of receding gums during a dental exam.

I have some health problems that my current dentist says prevent the use of implants to replace my missing teeth. Am I stuck getting dentures?

Admittedly, there are a handful of diseases that interfere with the use of implants, particularly a type called "endosseous". This type is most often used to replace single teeth. However, prosthodontists are specialists in implants, placing several types and working with different manufacturers' designs. A conference with your health care providers, combined with a properly-selected implant and proper maintenance, may be all that's needed to keep you out of dentures.

My family dentist doesn't do implants because she says they are problematic. Is this true?

When implants first became available 20 years ago, no one realized the importance of the surgical technique and failures were quite common. Today, there is a 92% success rate. We have done over 6000 implants with few problems. We suspect that your dentist is reluctant to try them because the technique is tricky or she has tried a few and had problems.

I was told that I needed "fixed prosthodontics" to replace a small front denture that I have worn since junior high. What does that mean?

"Fixed prosthodontics" refers to any porcelain, metal, or porcelain-fused-to-metal structure of that is permanently cemented into place to fix existing teeth or replace missing ones. If it fixes one tooth, it is a "crown", and if it replaces one or more missing teeth by attaching to natural teeth on each side of the gap, it is a "bridge".

My current lower denture moves so much when I chew, yet I need it to eat. Do you have any suggestions to improve this situation?

Many people have the same complaint about their lower partial dentures or dentures and often refuse to wear them to eat. That is not a good idea because it puts undue strain on the jawbone and can create bigger problems. Your lower denture will stay put if it's made to attach to the jawbone. Investigate the possibility of dental implants, surgically placed into the jawbone with a projection above the gum, to which an overdenture could fit. The inside of the overdenture has snap-like fixtures that fit over the projections securely.

Why Receive Care From A Prosthodontist?

According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, the prosthodontic dental specialty is one of the oldest, established in 1947. It is responsible for diagnosis, rehabilitation and maintenance of patients with complex clinical conditions involving missing or deficient teeth, craniofacial tissues or both, and for providing treatment via the use of biocompatible substitutes such as implants. The essence of the specialty, however, is expert treatment planning. The members of this specialty have pioneered many of the techniques now used in practice, focusing on materials that are compatible in the mouth as well as esthetically pleasing. Prosthodontists look toward the future, evaluating new dental materials first. Most importantly, they recognize the value of a multi-disciplinary approach to care and do not hesitate to conference first with other dental specialists to develop the optimal plan for care.

Prosthodontists receive an additional three years of training after dental school. As such, they understand the importance of technique and biocompatibility when using dental materials. They perform dental implants daily, rather than monthly, and select implant construction specifically suited for the biting load it must endure. They also rise to the challenge of using man-made materials to accurately mimic natural teeth. That explains why some people have easily-recognized crowns and dentures completed by dentists, while others have natural-looking crowns and dentures created by prosthodontists that closely resemble a youthful smile.

What Should Be Expected on my First Visit?

At your first visit, we examine your teeth and discuss the options that you have available, for meeting your needs. You should expect to spend 20 minutes in conversation with the dental team, asking and answering questions, and seeing pictures or models of related procedures that have been done in the past. You will also discuss, and receive paperwork, for financial options and an estimate for the work that is needed. Sometimes, it is necessary to take X-rays, measurements, and/or molds of your teeth to make good judgments. If you approve of the plan, appointments are scheduled.

	Glossary of Terms
	Amalgam Restoration = silver-colored filling material that replaces tooth structure damaged by decay or fracture.
	Build-up = strong material used to replace the inner core of a tooth, prior to placing a crown, when natural tooth structure is missing.
	Bridge = a series of crowns that attach together, permanently cemented in place, to fill the space where teeth are missing.
	Composite Restoration = tooth-colored filling material that replaces tooth structure damaged by decay or fracture.
	Crown = a porcelain or metal structure that covers the entire tooth above the gum line, usually used to mend a cracked tooth, strengthen a dead tooth, or replace missing tooth structure.
	Edentulous = absence of all natural teeth.
	Erosion = wearing away tooth structure by mechanical means, such as vigorous brushing.
	Framework = metal structure to which replacement teeth in a partial denture are attached.
	Full Denture = acrylic, and sometimes porcelain, structure that resembles natural teeth that have been removed.
	Furcation = area on a tooth in which the roots split into separate directions from the main body of the tooth. This area is difficult to keep clean with ordinary home care.
	Gingivitis = inflamed gums, a reversible condition that occurs with inadequate oral hygiene.
	Immediate Denture = acrylic, sometimes porcelain, structure that resembles teeth, inserted immediately after surgical removal of natural teeth.
	Implant = pure titanium metal post that is surgically inserted into the jaw to replace a tooth or teeth that have been lost, serving as a stabile foundation for additional crowns or a denture.
	Incipient Decay = beginning decay on the outermost (enamel) surface of a tooth that has not yet penetrated to the softer layer (dentin) underneath, where it requires dental treatment.
	Interproximal = space between the teeth, in which one tooth touches another.
	Malocclusion = teeth that do not line up properly to function at their best, and healthiest.
	Microleakage = deterioration of dental restorations that allows bacteria to leak down into tooth structure, often causing sensitivity or more decay.
	Overhang = excess dental material that causes a ledge on a restoration, making the area difficult to floss and keep clean.
	Periodontal Disease = irreversible condition that painlessly allows bacteria to destroy bone and tissue that holds teeth in the jaw.
	Periodontal probing = a tiny ruler that slips into the sulcus (space around a tooth, under the gumline) to measure the level of bone present in 6 places around each tooth.
	Periodontal pocket = an area of missing bone around a tooth that traps bacteria and accelerates the disease process, when not properly maintained or corrected.
	Pulpitis = inflammation of the nerve of a tooth, sometimes irreversible, but often not.
	Recession = exposure of the root surface, which is more prone to decay, caused by gum tissue that slowly moves toward the tip of the root.
	Resorption = dissolving of bone or tooth structure from excessive force, movement, or disease.
	Rest = metal platforms on a partial denture which prevent it from pushing onto the gums while chewing, which are located near "clasps" that hold the partial denture onto teeth.
	Root canal = removal of infected nerve(s) within the tooth that may be, or may become, non-vital. The area must then be debrided, sterilized and filled with a sealing material.
	Subgingival = located under the gumline.
	Supragingival = located above the gumline.
	Sulcus = the healthy, 2-3 millimeter fold of gum tissue that surrounds each tooth, much like a turtleneck collar.
	Veneer = thin layer of porcelain that is cemented to the front of front teeth to change their shape or color.
	Xerostomia = a dry mouth condition, often induced by aging or medications, which encourages decay.

In accordance with the Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act of 1997, this office uses
coded information, rather than patient names, when handling personal documents. This ensures
that privileged information about patients' health status and dental treatment is confined to use on
an as-needed basis.