My Writings. My Thoughts.
Whoopi Goldberg discusses how gum disease can kill you!!
// September 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Celebrity Smiles, David Wong, DDS, Patient questions finally answered!, Periodontal Surgery
Celebrity Whoopi Goldberg talks about her experience with periodontal disease and how it can affect your health…she says it can even kill you. Listen to her advice for patients… don’t wait because gum disease doesn’t hurt at all…until it’s too late. Here’s the URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YxNdFKoFEk
Question about dental implants: My dentures are loose and I can’t eat or speak…what are my options? Are there any Tulsa dentists who can help?
// September 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // David Wong, DDS, Dentures, Patient questions finally answered!, Periodontal Surgery
DENTAL IMPLANTS!!! The biggest complaint with dentures is that they are loose, uncomfortable, even embarrassing. While the upper denture usually fits well, the lower denture is the cause of most of the complaints. About 1 in 5 denture wearers actually think they eat better WITHOUT their denture…How surprising is that. Besides the discomfort and lack of function, people with dentures also continue to lose valuable bone volume in their jaws, leading to more wrinkles like Marionette lines, jowls, “witch’s chins”, and thinner looking lips. Most patients with dentures turn to “dental implants” to help them stabilize their loose dentures. By inserting these safe, proven, and effective titanium implants into the jaws, these new solid anchors help hold the denture in place…allowing people to eat again with confidence. Not only that, no more embarrassing social situation while talking, and speak often improves too! As far as Tulsa dentists go, most patients will find a dentist like an oral surgeon or periodontist to place the dental implants, while a general dentist will normally make the new denture. For more information, patients can check out local periodontist, Dr. David Wong, at his website, http://www.tulsagums.com
What does the Tulsa Dental Advisor know about Tulsa dentist, Dr. William Letcher, and FixtTeeth? Are they for me?
// August 28th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Dental Implants, In the News, Just for Patients, Patient questions finally answered!, Periodontal Surgery
We didn’t know much about this so we went to the website of Dr. William Letcher, a Tulsa dentist and developer of the technique. Here’s a quote from his website describing FixtTeeth:
What is the FixtTeeth procedure?
Dr. Letcher developed FixtTeeth for his patients without teeth. FixtTeeth is a unique and revolutionary technique that restores a patient’s smile with teeth that are rigidly fixed in place. The procedure uses titanium mini dental implants which function as tooth roots and hybrid composite resin which make up the tooth crowns. FixtTeeth also employs Dr. Letcher’s two U.S. patents. The FixtTeeth approach provides teeth that don’t pinch, don’t wobble and won’t come out. Patients can eat, laugh and smile with confidence knowing their new teeth are beautiful, secure and lasting.
How do I know if I have enough jawbone for mini dental implants?
Many of Dr. Letcher’s FixtTeeth patients are not candidates for standard sized dental implants because they lack sufficient bone. These patients had no alternative to dentures. The introduction of mini dental implants changed this. Mini implants are the thickness of a pencil lead and work in patients who have significant bone loss and been without natural teeth for years.
From start to finish, how long does it take to get FixTeeth?
The entire FixtTeeth procedure can becompleted in about a week. After the initial consultation, there are two appointments. The first includes a CT scan and record taking. The second visit, the implants are placed and new teeth are attached.
Well…There’s your answer, but what does the Tulsa Dental Advisor think? After all, we have a panel of board-certified surgeons and published implant experts.
At the Tulsa Dental Advisor, we have 3 concerns about FixtTeeth (and none of us know Dr. Letcher personally, and this is only our opinion:
#1– There is little research supporting the use of mini implants to support FixtTeeth for patients missing ALL of their teeth like the website suggests. Patients should ask questions regarding the ability of implants the thickness of “pencil lead” to support a full set of teeth. Typically, in dentistry (as in life), the size of the implant matters. The bigger the person’s jaws, the stronger the person’s bite, the bigger the implants that are required… you wouldn’t hang a giant picture frame on thumb tacks, would you?
#2– Without knowing the costs of FixtTeeth, the fact that the final teeth are made of “hybrid composite resin” is unusual. Most patients are familiar with crowns made of gold alloy or porcelain, which stand the test of time. What is the longevity of the resin? FYI, most composite resins are used in dentistry for “temporary” crowns…not permanent ones. Is there a guarantee or warranty for the longevity of the crowns? If there isn’t, patients should probably think twice about investing in composite resin crowns.
#3- FixtTeeth are delivered in a week. Most dental implants must heal for several months before they are strong enough to hold crowns. Look this term up: It’s called “osseointegration”. This does not occur in one week. By delivering the teeth to patients only 1 week after placing the implants, the doctors contributing to the Tulsa Dental Advisor would be nervous about the chances of success… especially if we’re talking about big money to deliver on the promise of FixtTeeth.
Editor’s Note: Because none of our advisors are familiar with Dr. Letcher or FixtTeeth personally, the above commentary is not meant to be a negative towards any particular person or product. The comments are made with the input of board-certified oral surgeons, periodontists, and restorative dentists using the existing body of research available. They would also like to warn consumers that just because a product or technique is patented does not necessarily make them good ideas or guarantee results.
Check out this Celebrity Smile Makeover!!
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Celebrity Smiles, Cosmetic Dentistry
Demi Moore with her pre-smile makeover
Here's Demi with her new teeth!! Gorgeous!
Meth Mouth Attack in Tulsa…Watch Out!
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // David Wong, DDS, Patient questions finally answered!, What do you know about "Meth Mouth"
With all the meth labs being discovered in Tulsa, I thought I’d take a moment to address one of the nastiest things about using meth…METH MOUTH.
Check out this photo and look at all the tooth decay, rotten teeth, swollen gums, funky breath, etc… If this isn’t enough to keep anyone off meth, I don’t suppose anything will work.
Meth mouth photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Chandler in Edmond, OK. Posted by Dr. David Wong, Tulsa, OK
How to Find a Dentist (Cosmetic Dentist, Family Dentist, etc.)
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cosmetic Dentistry, Just for Patients, Patient questions finally answered!, Recommended Dentists
1) The absolute best way to find a dentist is by asking a friend, family, or coworker who they go to, what their experience was like, etc…
2) Even though you may have dental insurance and want to pick from someone in your provider network, #1 above still applies. Just don’t pick anyone. Check out their website… ask questions!
3) If you must find a dentist in the Yellow Pages or other ad, please keep the following in mind:
- Not all dentists who advertise are bad dentists or good dentists… so you shouldn’t really assume too much from the ad, the size of the ad, etc…
- There are bad dentists out there, just like there are bad doctors, bad lawyers, bad contractors, etc… BUT the majority of the dentists in Tulsa (and we are personally familiar with over 200 of them) are good dentists. If you really want to do your research, one source could be logging on to the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry website: http://www.dentist.state.ok.us/lists/ddsl.htm.
- In dentistry… as in life… You often get what you pay for?
ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS SAFE?
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // David Wong, DDS, Dental Implants, Dentures, Just for Patients
In a word…YES!
1) Dental implants are VERY safe, biocompatible, and most of all… THEY WORK!
2) Dental implants (made of titanium) carry a 94-99% success rate. That’s better than any titanium hip, knee, or shoulder…
3) Dental implants last longer than hip and knee replacements. They’re not called the “30 year restoration” for nothing!
4) Dental implants carry only about a 1% infection rate
5) Most dental implants carry a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty…BUT ask your dentist or surgeon about this first!
6) General dentists, oral surgeons, and periodontists are the typical dentists who place dental implants, BUT do your research. Ask about Items 1-5 above when you’re discussing your treatment with your dentist.
The Thing About Dentures…
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Dentures, Oral Cancer
Most Denture Patients Don’t Know this BUT…
1) Denture patients are on more medications than patients with natural teeth due to poorer nutrition
2) Denture patients have more GI disorders…also due to poorer nutrition
3) Denture glue (adhesive, paste, etc…) is swallowed by denture patients on a daily basis…and that’s not healthy!
4) Denture patients lose more bone than patients with natural teeth b/c of the lack of roots to “fool” the bone into staying around
5) Denture patients have more wrinkles because their face gets shortened over time
6) Denture patients are more likely to swallow their food whole rather than properly chewing first…this could lead to a choking hazard, but at the very least it causes poor digestion of food
7) 99% of Denture patients don’t see a dentist! However, this could be important because dentists do things for you like an oral cancer screening which is meant to help detect problems before they really become problems
About 20-25% of patients actually eat better WITHOUT their denture! How crazy is that?
9) Wearing a denture over a long period of time CAN lead to permanent numbness of the lower lip due to severe bone loss in the lower jaw bone.
What is it about Mini Implants?
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // Dental Implants
If you’re a patient and/or wear a denture, I’m sure you’ve seen the ads… maybe you’ve seen them on the internet.
BUT…Are they for you? Here’s what you need to know:
1) Mini implants are MAINLY used to secure loose dentures…They are generally NOT intended to replace bridgework. What this means is that if you get mini implants, you should expect to have to take your teeth in and out. Advertisements for products like FIXT TEETH that promise permanent teeth that stay in like natural teeth are typically not backed by scientific research.
2) While mini implants ARE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE compared to other dental implants, they are the MOST BASIC option for denture patients.
3) Mini implants are not necessarily safer
4) Mini implants have a higher failure rate than standard implants
Tulsa #4 in Worst Teeth!!
// August 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // In the News, Just for Patients
Here’s another news story from Dr. Michael Chandler:
While I was trying to fix our internet connection at home I ran across this story on MSN,
“The 14 worst-teeth Cities” . Naturally I had to look. According to this story published by TotalBeauty.com, Tulsa ranked #4.
Oklahoma as a whole ranked #6 for teeth loss.
I am not sure how accurate this article is; I just found it interesting. I am aware that Oklahoma does rank pretty high when it comes to tooth loss.
Here in SOONER land this wouldn’t even be a good BCS ranking. OU is currently ranked #3 in the BCS poll. It’s even worse when the ranking is talking about health of Oklahomans. Remember, your overall health is linked to your oral health. Once again, assuming the report is accurate.
What do you think?
Dr. Michael L Chandler practices Complete Family Dentistry in Edmond Oklahoma
1745 W 33rd, Ste A
Edmond, Ok 73013
405-330-4630
www.edmondsmiles.com