It is successful because it is highly resistant to corrosion and the cells love to attach to its surface, a phenomenon seen under high-resolution microscopy. The most common risk associated with dental implant placement is infection, especially since there’s a high number of bacteria in the oral cavity. The risk of infection can be minimized by taking a prophylactic antibiotic one hour prior to your procedure and sometimes even for a few days following your procedure.

But what about a titanium allergy? Some practitioners believe that the titanium allergy does not exist. An allergic reaction is an excessive immune reaction when coming in contact with a certain substance. Some researchers believe that if a patient suffers from multiple metal allergies, then they have more of a likelihood to develop a titanium hypersensitivity. It is advisable that if you have multiple metal allergies to get tested in order to avoid failure of an implied due to an allergic reaction to titanium.

In the 14 years I’ve been practicing, I have never seen a true titanium allergy. A dental implant fails either due to infection or overload, very rarely due to an allergy to titanium. Very few tests are available to determine the titanium allergy. The most accurate to date is MELISA test, which is a blood test. However, this fast can you give false positives.

If someone is allergic to titanium, then I recommend zirconia dental implants or non-metal dental implants. Zirconia dental implants are actually ceramic dental implants, they are not metal. Because they are ceramic, they can break more easily than the titanium. Because of this, we see a higher failure rate of that zirconia implants when compared to the titanium dental implants.

With advances in technology, this will change. Since we have so much more research about titanium dental implants, I do recommend these instead of the zirconia dental implants, because they generally last longer.

The post When to Choose Titanium vs Zirconia Dental Implants appeared first on Dr. Sanda Moldovan.

I was invited to give a lecture at NYU together with Dr. Olga Malkin. We presented cases that have to do with transitioning someone from a full mouth of teeth into dental implants without the use of a denture. Traditionally, someone who is losing all their teeth due to decay from dry mouth, or rampant periodontal disease, or an accident, will go through a temporary phase of wearing a removable denture. However, things have changed.

Some of my patient’s biggest year is going into a denture, especially women. It’s a Hallmark that says “now you are old”. Professor Branemark, the inventor of dental implants said that that “no one has to die with their teeth next to their bed in a glass”.

That dream he had, is now a reality. Scientific evidence has shown that dental implants placed immediately following the removal of teeth is predictable and highly successful. Our lecture and NYU showed success story after a success story of transitioning patients smoothly into All-on-4 prostheses.

One of the important questions that came up was what do we do when an implant fails, given the fact that there are four implants supporting a full set of teeth.

Even though this procedure has been over 92% successful in the last 20 years, implant failure can happen, but there are ways to get around it. What exactly does it mean when an implant fails? It either can get infected, or it gets loose from too much force. If one implant gets loose, then we simply replace, and engage the prosthesis on it that same day.

But it is important to prevent these things from happening in the first place. As a patient, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for oral hygiene immediately post implant placement. A pulsating water flosser, such as the WaterPik, is a must! There’s lots of bacteria in your mouth which can affect the health around an implant, so it’s important to keep your mouth clean. In the first four months following implant placement, there is a period of osseointegration, when the implant fuses to the bone. During this time, it is important to eat soft foods and don’t overuse of them. The bone is not fully ready for maximum bite force until four months post surgery.

To see if you’re candidate for this dental implant procedure watch this video:

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

For more information on dental implants contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.

The post What If My Implant Fails? appeared first on Dr. Sanda Moldovan.

Last week and I was invited to participate in the North American Dental Implant Advisory Council, sponsored by Nobel Biocare, one of the largest dental implant companies in the world. A group of experts of about 60 doctors from North America were selected to evaluate the current status and future protocols for dental implants to make it easier for you out there. It was such an honor to be part of this group, especially since I was the youngest one there.

My friend Dr. Olga Malkin from Coast to Coast Smiles was also invited and we were rubbing elbows with some of the most esteemed dental surgeons in the world. Many of you out there may wonder what is possible today and the dental implant field. Many of you are part of billions of people in the world missing several teeth. You don’t need to suffer anymore. Predictable dental implant treatment is available and YES, you can get your smile back in one day. But a lot of doctors out there are not prepared or even trained for this quite yet.

So here’s what you should know as a consumer looking for dental implant treatment:

• Getting your smile back in one day using dental implants is predictable in the right hands
• Computerized dental implant placement is possible and shortens the time of you sitting in the dental chair
• If you are losing all your teeth, you do not need to wear a removable denture today – we can place implants right away to secure a new smile with minimal pain
• If you are losing or missing all teeth, as little as 4 implants per arch may be used without any bone grafting to give you an immediate smile
• We are working with financial institutions to make this affordable for you with no interest monthly payments

So if your dentist tells you that you need to wear a removable appliance because you will be losing teeth, get a second opinion! Most of the time you can get an immediate tooth or teeth replacement secured on dental implants.

To determine if dental implants are the best option for you contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.

The post Breakthroughs in Dental Implants appeared first on Dr. Sanda Moldovan.

Just imagine firing up your kitchen blender, only to realize a blade is missing or damaged–well, your recipe wouldn’t come out right, would it? So it is with missing molars. The 12 teeth located on the upper and lower jaw in the back of our mouths next to our cheeks deserve our loyalty. They work hard.

The adult mouth houses 32 permanent teeth, consisting of the following teeth types:

• 4 third molars (also called wisdom teeth)
• 4 second molars (also called 12-year molars)
• 4 first molars (also called 6-year molars)
• 4 second bicuspids (also called second premolars)
• 4 first bicuspids (also called first premolars)
• 4 cuspids (also called canine or eye teeth)
• 4 lateral incisors
• 4 central incisors

You might be tempted to think that with an even dozen, your mouth won’t miss a couple of teeth–and after all–since they are way in the back, they won’t be seen either, especially when you smile, so what’s the big deal?

Well, the big deal is that nature intended for your molars to grind and crush your food. The front teeth are meant for shearing food–biting and tearing it. When you press on the incisors in the front  to do the back teeth’s work, you will wind up with loose and accelerated wear on them. Eventually, your smile will suffer, due to flaring of the front teeth. This causes increasing gaps between the teeth, which will involve timely and costly procedures to provide posterior support.

So, do you see now that missing molars, which are designed to grind and support your bite can mess up your entire mouth and affect your oral health? Lower molars are relatively easy areas for implant placement and the benefits they offer for chewing and restoring function are worth the investment. Wisdom teeth are not typically recommended to be replaced since most people don’t have room for them anyway.

How do you choose the right dental implant?  There are hundreds of dental implant companies out there. Watch this video to find out.

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

Are you in need of dental implants? Contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.

The post Will Missing A Molar Affect My Health? appeared first on Dr. Sanda Moldovan.

Modern science has allowed us to restore a smile in a day. What used to take weeks, even months of visits to your dentist can now be handled in two appointments. However, that doesn’t mean we can do all the work for you. Taking care of your teeth and gums is every bit as important as eating healthy foods, brushing your hair, or grooming your nails.

Why is it then–that so many people can’t see that good oral health is about action and more action. You can’t passively sit on the sidelines by not regularly brushing and flossing, professional teeth cleaning and twice-yearly dental exams and expect no consequences. Your entire body’s health will suffer.

Last week I had two patients in my office who refer to themselves as holistic healers of the mind and body. I was shocked when I looked in the mouth one of the women. Here was a stunning woman in her early 50’s, who looked amazing on the outside, but on the inside–I found her teeth hanging by a thread. If she sneezed, her teeth might have ended up across the room! She had the worst case of periodontal disease I have seen in 10 years–and she’s teaching others about how to heal their mind and body!

I wondered,  “How can she be so disconnected and not know the mouth is the opening to our entire overall wellness.” Her mouth told me her history, that the devastating bone loss did not happen overnight. I felt her terror as we went over each tooth and her gums, as she told me, “I can’t go without my teeth for even an hour.” My heart ached to tell her that most likely–she had waited too long. So much infection had eaten away at her bone, making the likelihood of implant placement and immediate restoration nearly impossible. Even so, even in the worst oral health cases, while teeth may not be able to be saved and bone loss may be extreme, you can’t give up trying to reverse periodontal disease.

I recommended along with committing to the discipline of frequent brushing what was left of her teeth while we developed a treatment plan, that she use a  WaterPik oral irrigation flosser regularly. It is my preferred flossing alternative method.

Our mouths provide us clues just like the rest of our body does–that there are problems we need to address. Check to see whether your teeth are loose. If they are, then you are having dental issues that must be addressed. The longer you wait and put that trip to the dentist office off–the harder it is for us as dental health professionals to help you. The problem only gets bigger and any  solutions compromised by procrastination.

No amount of healthy eating and exercise will achieve total body wellness if your mouth is starving for attention. Love and look after your mouth as much as you do any other part of your body. Don’t neglect it and it will look after you for many years to come!

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

Make your oral health a top priority. Contact Dr. Sand Moldovan to schedule a consultation.

The post It’s An Inside Job – Can This Month Be Saved? appeared first on Dr. Sanda Moldovan.