Archive for September, 2006

  • Multiple Failed Bone Grafts

    My periodontist suggested to have a bone graft done before any dental implant placement. When I went back after 4 months, he told me that I lost a lot of bone after he was doing some drilling, and that he has to do another bone graft.

      Read More and Comment  | 11 Comments »
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  • Should My GP Place Implants?

    Am I right to think that a general dentist isn’t apt to handle this as well as an oral surgeon? What is the preferred way to proceed with dental implant treatment?

      Read More and Comment  | 100 Comments »
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  • CT Scans: Standard of Care for Implants?

    I’m just wondering if a CT scan was easy to get and read, would you do it more often when treatment planning for dental implants? Won’t this then make dental implant treatments even more expensive to patients?

      Read More and Comment  | 47 Comments »
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  • Maxillary Support of Overdenture

    Dr. Sanders asks, What is the current protocol for maxillary support and retention of an overdenture, assuming four fixtures are to be used?

    Are Locator abutments adequate or do the dental implant fixtures need to be
    connected with a bar? I have concerns that the longevity of the
    dental implants may be compromised if they are not […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
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  • Informed Consent

    Edward, a dentist, asks:What procedures are recommended for getting  informed consent on the aesthetic result of the dental implant procedure?

    Is it enough to keep notes on the consultation in the patient’s file?  Does the patient need to review and sign a two-dimensional drawing?  Is a  3-D model helpful?  How does one avoid the […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Dental Implant Removal

    Mary, a dental implant patient, asks:
    I just had a dental implant put in a couple of weeks ago.  I’m
    experiencing quite a bit of pain.

    I would like the dental implant removed, since
    I don’t want to deal with constant pain.  Since the dental implant is not
    integrated with the bone, will the removal be a somewhat easy […]

      Read More and Comment  | 35 Comments »
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  • Dental Implants Covered by Insurance?

    George, a patient, asks us:I’d like to know if it is possible to have medical insurance cover dental implant procedures? If not, what are the  reasons why insurance would not cover dental implants?

    I had a bone graft done and the bone graft was 100% covered by  medical insurance. But the dental implants I’m getting will […]

      Read More and Comment  | 21 Comments »
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  • Communicating Effectively with Dental Implant Patients

    Dr. Jeffrey Ganeles is a Board Certified Periodontist in Boca Raton, Florida and practices with the Florida Institute for Periodontics & Dental Implants. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Interim Director for Post-Graduate Periodontics at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale. Dr. Ganeles and his team developed a computer software […]

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
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  • Gum Implants to Treat Periodontal Disease?

    Any thoughts on the latest news about a promising treatment for severe periodontal disease in which a biodegradable gum implant slowly releases medicines that fight infection?

    Word of the new procedure — designed to be less invasive and more effective then current surgical treatments — came last Thursday at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting in […]

      Read More and Comment  | 4 Comments »
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  • Protein - Coated Dental Implants?

    Bob, a dentist asks us: Does anyone have any thoughts on the recently reported technology of applying a specialized protein to a dental implant to make the bone around the implant regenerate better?

    In laboratory tests, Medical College of Georgia (MCG) researchers applied a protein onto implants that directs endogenous stem cells to become bone-forming […]

      Read More and Comment  | 3 Comments »
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  • Bone Loss Around Upper Threads

    On several occasions patient have come to me with the beginning of bone loss around the upper threads of dental implants a couple of years after they were restored. For some reason most were single dental implant cases (although not all) and they usually had proper restorations.

      Read More and Comment  | 27 Comments »
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  • Vertical Ridge Augmentation

    I was wondering what the general surgical opinion was about attempting vertical ridge augmentation, when more than 4mm height is desired.

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • FDA Comments on Human Tissue Risks

    For the second time in a year, people who received tendons, cartilage and other parts from donated cadavers are being urged to get tested for hepatitis and the AIDS virus because of scandals involving tissue suppliers.

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Dental Implant Deal Activity Heating Up

    Healthpoint Capital is making waves again in the dental implant industry. Fresh on the heels of their recent acquisition of BioHorizons, the private equity firm announced late last week that they were going to acquire publicly-traded BioLok for approximately $35 million.

    "We have been successfully building our presence in the dental market,
    which is one of the […]

      Read More and Comment  | 1 Comment »
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  • Adverse Reaction to Dental Implant Materials

    Joan, a patient, asks:

    I have just learned I may have a sensitivity/adverse response to the MONOMER material used in making dentures/overdentures.

    Is there a way of testing for other dental fabrication materials that may cause a reaction, before proceeding with the fabrication of an overdenture? Also, what are my options considering this sensitivity? Thanks for your […]

      Read More and Comment  | 9 Comments »
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  • Failed Bone Graft?

    I had a lower left molar extracted about 2 1/2 months ago. A bone graft was done at the time using synthetic graft material, in preparation for a dental implant. The dentist also put a membrane over the graft. The tissue over the extraction seems to be healing very slowly.

      Read More and Comment  | 45 Comments »
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  • Exposed Dental Implant

    I had a dental implant placed and the sutures were removed 3 weeks ago. I have had pain in that area ever since the procedure was done.

      Read More and Comment  | 6 Comments »
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  • Coating Tetracycline on Implants?

    Has anyone had experience or read anything about coating tetracycline on dental implants at the time of placement? I have tried this and feel integration is quicker and superior.

      Read More and Comment  | 11 Comments »
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  • Malpositioned Dental Implant

    Dr. H. asks:Last night, I had inserted a fixture in right central incisor with diameter of 4.1 mm and 11 mm length. When I incised and reflect the flap I was confronted with a protruding crestal bone in the right central area because of malalignment of the extracted central.

    It was impossible to place the […]

      Read More and Comment  | 2 Comments »
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  • Tightening the Crown on an Implant

    James asks us:
    The threaded collar under my dental implant crown will not remain tight.  Therefore, my crown rotates on the implant (which is approx. ten years old, with a round body). 

    It has been tightened repeatedly and will not remain tight.  Is there a
    preferred method for locking the
    threaded portion to the dental implant?  I would […]

      Read More and Comment  | 5 Comments »
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  • Titanium Implants Fracturing?

    Dr. Rubin asks:There seems to be some danger of narrow pure titanium dental implants fracturing.

    I thought that all dental implants today were alloy but when I called a few
    companies to check, I found out that there are still many pure titanium
    dental implants on the market even though the alloy implants are stronger.
    Have you seen any […]

      Read More and Comment  | 7 Comments »
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