The Glen Ellyn Illinois Dentist

Oral Sedation the IV Sedation “Back-up” for Fearful Patients—Report Naperville Patient

     The staff & I just finished our review of the meetings we attended at the 2009 Chicago Midwinter Dental Society meeting.  One topic I heard discussed was the relative effectiveness between oral and IV sedation for fearful dental patients.  The lecturer discussed to length different oral sedation protocols he recommended and uses for each.  His conclusion though was that although many of these protocols work well, they al still somewhat unpredictable.  For example, this last week I had a fearful patient from Naperville in who wanted oral sedation—he had heard it worked wonderfully.  In many case oral sedation does work very adequately, but this women had the recommended maximum dose, and not feeling hardly sedated at all!  We quickly started an IV for IV sedation, and quickly had her comfortable.
    Although we treat many patients successfully with oral sedation, this woman was another example of someone who thought she could be treated adequately with oral sedation, but not comfortable without the IV sedation route.  The lecturers also recounted several similar examples of this situation.

    For more information see our dental implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com, and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LivewithoutDentures.com. Also visit us for information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures  We also a a new dedicated sblog iste for dental implants to visit!

Beware of Improper Denture Cleaners Use

   Here’s the wrong way to clean a denture.  There are literature reports about actually trying to clean their dentures by swishing denture cleaners in their mouth, or actually swallowing portions of it.  Used improperly, the cleaners and bleach can cause vomiting allergic reactions, rashes, tissue damage or irritation, blood pressure problems, and abdominal pain.  Dentures should be strictly by the manufactures recommendation outside the mouth.  Abuse should be reported to the person’s physician and caretaker. 
     For more information see our dental implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com, and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LivewithoutDentures.com. Also visit us for information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

 

Dental Implants, Dentures, Bridges, and Bone loss--Don't Wait!

What is one thing that few dentists tell their patient’s after losing a tooth?  How about bone they are going to lose!  Visualize the tooth root being surrounded by bone.  About 25% of this bone width-wise is lost mostly on the outside.  An additional average of 4 mm decrease in height will occur also in the first.  Over the first 3-4 years 40-60% of the remaining bone will “wither away” over the next 3 years and progressively in the future (about 1% per year for life).  Worse, the bone will become less dense.  In the upper back teeth areas the bone will additionally “hollow out” as the sinus “grows down” into the remaining bone.
What does this mean for the patient?  If you have dentures they will become progressively loose. Partials dentures will start to rock as supporting bone is lost causing the clasped teeth to be torque out of place and compromised (that is one reason that supporting teeth last about 5 years).  If you have a conventional tooth bridge, food will be caught beneath the bridge as the bone beneath it is lost. 
The best solution is to prevent this progression before the loss occurs. In some cases these delirious loss can be corrected by gum and bone grafts-but why wait for these extreme measures?  Dental implants support that bone and prevent these problems!  Certainly have the omplants placed as soon as possible before these problems happen!

For more on implant dentistry see us at SmileGlenEllyn.com and visit the blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LiveWithoutDentures.com   Also visit us for video information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

98% Success rate for Dental Implants! (Replacing Missing Teeth & Dentures)

 Dental implants have a 98% are about 98% successful according to a recent study just published in the Journal of Oral Implantology.  The study used researchers at two sites and also compared bone loss around the implants.  “With an estimated two of three Americans missing at least one tooth, implants are becoming the preferred tooth replacement option.  Implant surgery is one the safest, most precise, predicable procedures in dentistry,” said researcher Dr. Lozada.
   Considering that the average crown placed in America has about a five year success rate (according to insurance company statistics) this 98% success rate of dental implants is certainly reassuring. At Dr. Gibbs' office is Geln Ellyn and Wheaton, we offer a 15 year dental implant warranty!
  See our website at LiveWithoutDentures.com, and our educational videos at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures.  We have diagrams, photos, complete explanations, and even patient feedback on these life changes in dentistry.
   Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area. This includes Wheaton,  Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove.

Minimally Invasive Dental Implants—New Options for Comfort and Esthetics

   With the advent of the dental laser, precision dental drills, and decay detecting laser, our ability to detect decay sooner and fix it easier has been amazing.  A patient considering implants to replace her bridges and partials asked me what similar advances are available for their implant replacements.
   Implantology is the fastest advancing in dentistry today.  One lecturer recently said that our knowledge of implants now doubles every 2 years--treatment that I recommended just a year ago, I would change now.
   In the past the gums had to be pulled backed (flapped) to expose the bone; now many implants are placed “flapless” for more comfortable healing.  In cases where the patient has insufficient bone for implants, the advances in bone grafting and comfort afterwards have nothing less than astonishing.  Additionally, the number of cases that we can restore immediately is increasing for again comfort and better esthetics.
   Keeping up on all the changes challenging.  If you are a patient is concerned about comfort during and after these procedures (or did not like what you heard before) check again.  The proposed treatment may be easier than you previously thought!
   For more information see our implant site at SmileGlenEllyn.com and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at LiveWithoutDentures.com   Also visit us for video information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

 

Lock Down Dentures, Dental Implant Retention

  So what is a “lock-down” denture?  There are many alternatives to dentures.  We find many patients tired and “sick of’ loose, sore, and hard-to-chew with dentures and partials.  Imaging “locking these dentures down with “bolts to the bone!”  That is what implants can do.

    There are several options to dentures and partials.  We can stabilize them with a couple of implants (implant retained dentures), lock the dentures to a bar above the gums with implant supported dentures, or you even throw the dentures completely away and bolt a entire set of teeth down with implant supported bridges.

   See our website at LiveWithoutDentures.com, and our educational videos at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures.
We have diagrams, photos, complete explanations, and even patient feedback on these life changes in dentistry.
   Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago
area. This includes Wheaton,  Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove.

Dentures and Denture Adhesives May Contribute to Nervous Systems Problems

      The medical journal Neurology (August 26, 2008) reported on research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas on four denture-wearing patients who developed neurological problems. All patients had abnormally high levels of zinc in their blood, accompanied by abnormally low levels of copper. Because denture cream contains zinc, and all of the patients habitually used "extremely large amounts."

    The researchers propose that excess denture cream use led to their neurological problems. The balance between zinc and copper in the body is essential for neurological health. Taking in too much of one of these trace metals can cause depletion of the other. One patient's symptoms included weakness in the hands and poor balance, while another had weakness in her arms and legs that made her wheelchair dependent, along with cognitive decline and urinary incontinence.

    Used as recommended, a tube of denture cream should last from three to 10 weeks, the researchers note, but the patients in the report were all using at least two tubes a week. Three had also lost their teeth at a relatively young age, meaning they had been used "extremely large amounts of denture adhesive daily for years." This research provides further evidence that dentures can be a problem to not just dental health, but overall health. Had these patients had their bone loss stabilized with dental implants and the proper restorations placed, they would not have subjected to these problems.

     For more information see our implant site at Smileglenellyn.com and visit other blog articles in this site. Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove. Contact us at SmileGlenEllyn.com. Also visit us for information on implants and relaxed sedation dentistry at YouTube LiveWithoutDentures

What is a Dental Implant-Crowns, bridges, dentures

A dental implant can be thought of as a “new root” made of pure titanium.  This is the same material used in medicine for hip replacements, and is very strong and bio-compatible.  Your bone and gums will grow against the new implant and “integrate” against the surface for a strong fusion and seal.
Generally once a dental implant is placed (typically an "easy" appointment), the implant can be used to hold a crown (as pictured) or replaced as a dental bridge. Implants can be even with other implants and retainers to support, retain, or even completely replace dentures.
  Long term implant success (20 to 40 years) is in the 98% range!

for more information see our implant site at Smileglenellyn.com and visit other blog articles in this site.
   Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.  This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst,Chicago,  Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove.  Contact us at SmileGlenEllyn.com

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Dental Implants, Bridges, Front Teeth

 Why "cut down" good teeth?


   

 

   To place a conventional bridge, the teeth adjacent to the site need to be reduced to hold crowns, which then support the missing tooth.  This may be OK if the teeth are already broken down, but if the teeth are healthy—why destroy healthy teeth?
   In this case, the patient from Wheaton also wanted to keep the space between the teeth—impossible to achieve with a conventional bridge.

   Dr. Gibbs provides sedation dentistry, comfort based dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry for patients in the Chicago area.  This includes Wheaton, Naperville, Lisle, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Schaumburg, Roselle, Elmhurst,Chicago,  Hoffman Estates, Warrenville, and Downers Grove.  For more information or to contact please go to our website at SmileGlenEllyn.com

Lombard Dentist, Implant Dentistry

Patient Feedback--Implants & Dentures

Imagine chewing with your gums for 19 years. I tried a denture for my bottoms and food would always get caught beneath them. Dr. Gibbs placed 6 implants and a few months later “bolted new teeth” down there. I was able to chew steak again for the 1st time in 19 years! Mary T. Lombard

See our website and photo Gallery at SmileGlenEllyn.com for more information!  Also check our Patient Feedback for patient's comments and New Patient Information!

   Dr. Gibbs serves the communities of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Carol Stream, Naperville, Lisle,  Addison, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, West Chicago, Bloomingdale, Schaumburg, Wood Dale, Westmont, Winfield, Villa Park, and the Chicagoland area.  See the website at SmileGlenEllyn.com for more information on dentistry and your health!