Archive for June, 2006

  • Is Immediate Functional Loading Too Risky?

    The adoption of immediate functional loading (IFL) has been sluggish because of practitioners’ fears of implant complications and failure.

      Read More and Comment  | 10 Comments »
    •  
  • Choosing a Dental Implant System

    If I am only going to do a small number of dental implants, how do I decide which dental implant system to use?

      Read More and Comment  | 44 Comments »
    •  
  • Maximizing Case Acceptance

    How can I maximize case acceptance for both myself and my referring
    doctors?

    I am a board certified oral surgeon with a slow, but, growing dental implant practice. Some of my oral surgeon colleagues are encouraging referring dentists to refer the patient for treatment planning, diagnostic casts, index impressions, etc. These surgeons end up doing most […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implants in the Upper Jaw

    Greg, a patient, asks us:I suffered the loss of the entire roof of my
    Mouth, Maxilla, Upper Jaw, and teeth.  This was all caused by an auto
    accident thirty years ago in which a drunk driver hit the vehicle I was in
    head on. 

    Currently I am wearing and have been fitted with a Prosthesis
    that looks like a […]

      Read More and Comment  | 4 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implant After Extraction

    Ann, a patient, asks us:I recently had tooth 31 extracted after it cracked. My periodontist suggests a dental implant and says that I’ll have problems with the tooth above if I don’t. I don’t want one: It is expensive, and seems like a big ordeal.

    I know that
    there are possible problems.  My dentist thinks that a […]

      Read More and Comment  | 27 Comments »
    •  
  • Are drugs for bones a threat to jaws?

    Source: Marie McCullough, philly.com
    Across the country, dentists have begun asking patients a pointed question before deciding on treatment: Do you take a bone-building medication such as Fosamax?
    These widely used drugs, called bisphosphonates, have recently been
    linked to a rare side effect that causes parts of the jawbone to
    deteriorate and die.

    The bulk of the 3,000 published cases […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implants and Transplant Patients

    Dan, a prospective dental implant patient, asks us:
    I am three years post-liver transplantation. 
    I am on Immunosuppressant therapy.

    My dentist recommeds dental implants over
    dentures for my upper mouth.  Have dental implants proven successful in
    transplant patients?  How much greater is the risk of infection?

      Read More and Comment  | 3 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implant Costs

    Eric, a prospective dental implant patient, asks us: I live in New York City. What is the
    typical/average cost of a complete dental implant procedure (implant and
    crown) for one tooth in my location?

    I was recently given an estimate of
    $3200 for the implant and bone graft plus $3000 for the crown. It will
    be done on […]

      Read More and Comment  | 22 Comments »
    •  
  • Fixed Detachable Bridges

    Dr. Malik asks:
    I recently took a full day course in fixed dental implant prosthodontics. 
    What I
    was expecting was a course in dental implant-supported crowns and bridges.  What
    we
    actually had was a full day course in fixed-detachable (i.e., hybrid or
    high-water) bridges for the edentulous mandible.

    The prosthodontist
    giving
    the course has had great success with this design.  I have never […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implants and Smoking

    Dr. Jonas asks us:I recently had a patient come in for a dental implant consultation. This patient is a smoker.

    What is the optimum number of dental implants
    (maxilary and mandib.) to support a full overdenture (no grafts involved), in
    a smoker? Any other thoughts regarding the placement of dental implants in smokers. Thanks for your comments.

      Read More and Comment  | 24 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implant Marketing: Getting the Word Out

    Dr. Henderson asks:
    I am just getting into implant dentistry. Right now I am just starting
    to restore dental implants and we have begun to treatment plan for dental implants on
    a selective basis.

    But now I want to make treatment planning for dental implants part of our normal routine. I want treatment planning for dental implants to be […]

      Read More and Comment  | 3 Comments »
    •  
  • Standard vs. Computer-Generated Abutments

    Ronda asks us:My 18 year old son was in a car accident and needed his 4 top front teeth replaced. He has had bone grafted and the
    dental implants are in. My question relates to his abutments.

    I have heard that there are different types of abutments on the market. Upon doing some research I have also […]

      Read More and Comment  | 11 Comments »
    •  
  • Damaged Hex on Dental Implant

    Dr. Levitt asks:I’d like to discuss the removal of a dental implant with a damaged hex.

    As you all know it is possible to damage the external
    (or internal) hex of a dental implant by over torqueing during insertion. 
    Has anyone removed such a dental implant by cutting a slot into the top of the
    implant? Any other thoughts […]

      Read More and Comment  | 12 Comments »
    •  
  • Resorbed Alveolar Ridge

    Dr. Kaplan asks, I have a patient with a severely resorbed alveolar ridge.  The only
    bone
    left is in the mandibular anterior region.

    I had 4 regular platform
    dental implants placed there engaging the inferior cortical plate of the
    mandible. 
    I was thinking about using magnets for retaining an overdenture because
    they
    will provide retention and minimal stress on the dental implants. […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
    •  
  • Dental Implants May Improve Sex Life

    We were forwarded this article last week, and though we may be a little late reporting on this, we think it’s too good to pass up. According to a study done in 2005, being fitted with dental implants can have a positive effect on your sex life.

    "In a 2005 research report, Heydecke et al[1], compared […]

      Read More and Comment  | 3 Comments »
    •  
  • Welcome Dr. James McAnally

    OsseoNews.com is pleased to welcome Dr. James McAnally to our editorial staff. Dr. McAnally will provide weekly insights on dental implant marketing and management.

    Dr. James McAnally is a practicing dental implant clinician and a nationally
    prominent lecturer on practice management in dentistry.  He works with
    other
    doctors on effective marketing to grow their implant practices. 
    Dr. McAnally will […]

      Read More and Comment  | No Comments »
    •  
  • Removing Abutment Screws

    Dr. Marcus asks us:Does anyone know the best way to remove abutment
    screws that have broken off of the dental implant?

    I wanted to know if there was
    a specific technique or perhaps a tool to remove these so a new screw can be
    reinserted? Thank you for any help.

      Read More and Comment  | 9 Comments »
    •  
  • Mini Implants in the Maxillary Arch?

    From my research, I understand that the most prevalent and successful use of mini implants is to stabilize a lower denture.

      Read More and Comment  | 29 Comments »
    •  
  • Major Paradigm Shift in the Dental Implant Market?

    Is this the start of a major paradigm shift in implant dentistry? Will the host of newer competitors continue to steal market share away from the big four? What factors will determine the market share breakup in the future?

      Read More and Comment  | 27 Comments »
    •  
  • Waiting Period After Bone Grafting?

    Do most dental implants require bone grafting? Furthermore, if bone grafting is in the treatment plan, how long do patients need to wait before a dental implant is placed?

      Read More and Comment  | 5 Comments »
    •  
  • Mandibular Bar Overdenture

    Dr. Larson asks:
    I have just inherited a new patient with a mandibular bar overdenture supported by 2 dental implants in the #22, 27 areas. The bar is slightly curved so that the 2 Hader clips are each slightly canted to the right and left.

    I
    think the arc of rotation of the overdenture is limited […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
    •  
  • Fosamax Linked to Jaw Disease

    Source: NYTimes.com, Gina Kolata
    In the last 10 years, millions of patients have taken a class of drugs that can prevent agonizing broken and deteriorating bones. The drugs once seemed perfectly safe and have transformed life for patients with cancer or osteoporosis. But recently there have been reports of a serious side effect: death of areas […]

      Read More and Comment  | 1 Comment »
    •  
  • Top 3 Dental Implant Posts Last Month

    In case you missed an issue or two last month, below are links to our three top dental implant discussion posts in May 2006. Please feel free to add your comment to these interesting blogs:Dentist Question: Grafting Into An Active InfectionPatient Inquiry: Teeth In A DayDentist Question: Loose Dental Implant

      Read More and Comment  | No Comments »
    •