Dental Implants Dentistry Blog

Testimonial For Ramsey Amin, DDS - Patient Had Full Upper Implants

2010-03-04T16:58:22-08:00

Dear Dr. Amin and Staff,

Nick and I want you to know how grateful we are to you and your entire team.

What you've done is nothing less than amazing. We are so happy with the results you have achieved. We have been to so many dentists who could not come close to these results, or one that we could trust to have our best interest at heart. Frankly, we tired of looking. I'm so glad I convinced Nick one more time to visit your office. He is very happy with his smile now. Finding a dentist you can trust is priceless. I must also say that your staff is wonderful. Everyone is so friendly and helpful, as well as professional. Nick was especially impressed that your emergency number is your personal cell number, rather than an answering service. That level of commitment is unheard of. Thank you, again.

You guys are the best.

Nick and Jeannie W.

Burbank, CA

Zinc Poisoning from Denture Adhesive? Burbank Dental Implant Dentist Review

2010-02-27T15:49:12-08:00

This is very new information that is yet another reason to have dental implants rather than using messy pastes and liners to hold in loose dentures.

Zinc is a component used to make denture adhesive. When you use excessive denture adhesive paste, you ingest zinc.

Excessive zinc intake may cause problems in the blood and nerves of your body.

There is no need for denture adhesive if you have an implant overdenture or have fixed dental implant bridges.

Below is the actual letter sent out to all dentists. If you wear loose dentures and use these products, I suggest you read this carefully. I have highlighted the important parts.

Please ask any questions in the comments section below.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

******************************************************************************************************************

GlaxoSmithKline

February 18, 2010

Dear Doctor,

This communication is to alert you of the potential health risk from long-term excessive use of GSK's zinc-containing denture adhesives Super Poligrip 'Original', Super Poligrip 'Ultra Fresh', and Super Poligrip 'Extra Care.' As patient safety is our foremost concern, as a precautionary measure GSK has voluntarily stopped the manufacture, distribution and advertising of these products. GSK has discussed this situation with the FDA and no further action is required.

GSK continuously monitors published scientific literature and the adverse events we receive in relation to all our products. There is a variety of sources of zinc and it is an essential part of a healthy diet. However, in 2009 we received an increased number of adverse event reports. Together with the published literature", these suggest that excessive use of these products, typically for several years, may lead to the development of excessive levels of zinc in the blood (associated with copper deficiency). The reports describe the development of myeloneuropathy and blood dyscrasias. Neurological symptoms may include sensory disturbance, limb weakness and difficulty walking. These reports are very rare, given that several million people are users of the products.

It is important to note that zinc is not absorbed through the mouth, remaining bound to the adhesive and is only absorbed when swallowed. A small amount of adhesive is swallowed during normal use. This is not considered to be harmful.

Patients who have used Super Poligrip 'Original', Super Poligrip 'Ultra Fresh', and Super Poligrip 'Extra Care' in accordance with the instructions may continue to do so safely. While the majority of patients do use these products safely, some patients apply more adhesive than directed and use it more than once per day, usually due to ill-fitting dentures. These patients have been advised to consult their dentist for advice.

We have instructed denture wearers who have used GSK zinc-containing denture adhesives Super Poligrip 'Original', Super Poligrip 'Ultra Fresh', and Super Poligrip 'Extra Care' in excess of the product directions for several years or are concerned about their health to discontinue use, consult with their Doctor and use a zinc free alternative (e.g., Super Poligrip 'Free', Super Poligrip 'Comfort Seal Strips', Super Poligrip 'Powder'). A typical 2.4oz (68g) tube should last 8-10 weeks.

If you have any patients who describe neurological symptoms associated with long-term excessive denture adhesive use, you should refer your patient to their Doctor for assessment. We also ask that you report the case to us toll free (866)640-1017.

Regards,

Dr. Howard Marsh

Chief Medical Officer

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

# Hedera P, et al. (2009) Myelopolyneuropathy, and pancytopenia due to copper deficiency and high zinc levels of unknown origin II. The denture cream is a primary source of excessive zinc. Neurotoxicology 30: 996-999.

Nations SP, et al. (2008) Denture Cream: an unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease. Neurology 71:639-643.

Does Insurance Cover Dental Implants? - Burbank Implant Dentist Advice

2010-02-17T14:51:00-08:00

Usually not.

It is really unfortunate that dental insurance usually does not cover this very common procedure.

What most patients don't know is that dental insurance has a "cap" or "ceiling" of money (benefit) on a yearly basis. Unlike medical insurance, most dental insurances max out at $1500 per year! That means anything above that amount is owed by you.

Medical insurance may cap off at the 1 - 2 million dollar mark!

This maximum of $1500 has been the same since the 1970's! If it would have kept up with inflation, the maximum yearly benefit would be about $8800.

Dental insurance just has not kept up with the times!

About 75% of my patients in Burbank do not have dental insurance for their dental implants or bone grafting procedures. They seek me out as an authority of the dental implant procedure. I do not suggest you "shop" around by price, but rather pick the best implant dentist and check out their credentials very carefully.

That said, I have had written extensive narratives for my patients and got their insurance to pay for implants many times over the last ten years. I have also gotten them to pay for it when it wasn't even a covered benefit.

Bottom line...don't let your insurance dictate the proper treatment you need or want. You control your health care.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Root Canal Apicoectomy Failure - Relation to Dental Implants (Ramsey Amin DDS - Burbank, California)

2010-02-13T22:01:53-08:00

If you have a root canal and now need a dental implant there are some very important issues to be aware of. This is especially important if the tooth to be extracted is in the upper front area. It will have consequences on the final result and cosmetic appearance of the implant.

A previous failed root canal can be a major detriment to having an implant. The problem is related to a hole that develops in your bone which dissolves the very thin outer wall of bone.

Although root canals work, they are not 100% effective. Some teeth may not respond as expected to the root canal therapy. Sometimes, it is clear from the beginning that the root canal is not working as planned. Other times, it may be years later that a problem arises.

The problem is usually re-infection of the root canal or a broken, fractured root. This usually shows up as a painful pimple on your gums.

Often times a root canal is “re-done” if the root becomes re-infected. I have seen patients that have had the same root canal done 2-5 times before finally

extracting the tooth and having a dental implant!

The infection causes bone loss to occur around the root where you would need bone for a dental implant.

An apicoectomy, or “reverse root canal,” is sometimes done as a last ditch effort to save an almost hopeless tooth with a root canal. It does not have a very high long-term documented success rate. You have about a 40% chance of losing the tooth in 5 years.

The Procedure: Surgical access is made through the bone, and the tip or apex of the root can then usually be seen through this “window” in the bone. The tip of the root is cut off, and a sealing filling is placed at the end of the root.

Examples:

That is where the problem occurs. The hole made in the bone to do the procedure does not always heal leaving a defect under your nose if it is in the upper front.

This CT scan image of my patient that I treated in my office in Burbank shows this exactly:

Although, this hole is correctable, it usually requires a more extensive bone graft to correct. This increases the cost and time to have the dental implant.

The worst case scenario is where the “apico” fails and the entire outer bone wall is lost. This usually requires and onlay block type bone graft taken from your chin or the side of your jaw to correct.

My recommendations…look at all your options and plan for the long-term. Saving a hopeless tooth may in fact be more problematic and costly than extracting and maybe having a same day immediate implant.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions in the comments section below.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Upper Molar Dental Implants to Replace Missing Teeth - Case Study -Dr. Amin, Burbank

2010-02-07T18:45:00-08:00

Here is a nice basic case to follow from beginning to end.

This man's upper molars on one side were in bad shape:

The teeth were extracted and replaced with three dental implants in my office in Burbank. He also had a deep cleaning.

The color denotes the size of the implants.

Standard abutments were able to be used rather than custom abutments. This helps reduce cost, but most implant surgeons don't know how to place implants to prevent having to use custom abutments.

Final Teeth:

He was really happy to have teeth again. He can eat anything he wants!

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Unusual Broken Dental Implant Corrected By Dr. Ramsey Amin in Burbank

2010-02-04T16:43:00-08:00

Tom had a strange situation. He had two implants placed by another dentist in the 90's. The problem was that the two dental implants were too far from the adjacent tooth.

This caused a pocket to form and he was always catching food there. Worse yet, the pressure from the bite on the area that was "hanging" over caused the implant to fracture!

A fractured implant is extremely rare!

The broken implant and the bridge removed.

Removing this implant could have been very risky due a risk of nerve damage so I opted for an unusual fix. I placed one skinny implant in front off the broken implant using IV sedation. It was a VERY tight spot! Just wide enough for a very small dental implant. I did a bone graft on top of the fractured implant and let the gums heal over it.

The implant healed for 3 months. After it was healed, I made a new bridge using one of the old implants and the new, small one.

He was thrilled to have this solution. It was less risky, and very affordable compared to removing and replacing the broken implant.

Any questions?

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Dental CT Scans and Bone Width For Implants - Burbank Implant Expert Explains

2010-02-02T09:15:00-08:00

There’s a good chance I will need to obtain one or more x-rays of your jaw, teeth or facial skeleton at some point during the diagnostic evaluation (or workup) of your bone loss or missing teeth areas.

3D Cone-Beam CT scans allow me to view bone in a very special way. What most people don't know is that a regular x-ray can only show how "tall" your bone is; it can not show the "width." CT or "CAT" scans allow the width to be determined.

These pictures of a real patient that I treated in my office in Burbank should help. I placed five dental implants in his lower jaw.

So often times a regular x-ray, just doesn't show enough information to safely place a dental implant. Your bone may "look" wide, but only really be just gums!

A regular x-ray is a 2 dimensional image while the jaws and facial skeleton are 3-dimensional structures-therefore, they are unable to provide all the information sometimes required. Often times films (or copies of films) from your previous dentist can be utilized without the need for additional imaging; however, please be aware many times these film images are of inadequate orientation or quality.

When an image has been transferred to paper, critical areas of anatomy cannot always be discerned adequately in order to safely plan. Transferring radiographic data from electronic media to paper can result in significant loss of image resolution and clarity. In these cases a new image in my office is typically obtained.

Each patient and area is very unique. Not all patients need CT scans.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Dental Implant...Can't Get Numb? Dr. Amin in Burbank Explains

2010-01-29T20:56:03-08:00

Are you unable to get numb? Are you terrified of having a dental implant? Does Novocaine just not work?

Sedation can help!!! Over the last few years, I have noticed in my practice an increase in patients that have this difficulty. It is not uncommon for this to develop later in life.

When sedated, these patients have no difficulty in getting the dental treatment that they need. Pain and fear are eliminated.

Intravenous Sedation produces a very predictable sedation. I do 1-2 IV sedations per day for the last 10 years.

Unlike pills, the medications are delivered intravenously and can be easily adjusted to the your needs. With longer treatment times, the drugs can be re-administered to keep you comfortable at all times. This is not possible with oral medications. IV Sedation also uses pain relieving drugs like Fentanyl or Demerol. When a patient needs complicated dental implant or bone graft procedures in a single session, IV Sedation is clearly the method of choice.

Sleep dentistry also helps those who may avoid dental implant care due to gagging.

Can all work be done in one appointment?
I try to do as much treatment as possible in one visit. My average sedation appointment is 2 1/2 hours. However, some appointments last up to 5 hours. What we can accomplish with each patient, and how many visits it takes, is determined after a complete examination.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

Burbank Dental Implant Update - Photo Series Shows an Implant Fusing to the Upper Jawbone

2010-01-16T07:57:00-08:00

This is a great visual example of an implant fusing or "osseointegrating" to the jaw. You can easily see the difference.

This lovely elderly woman came to see me with a tooth that broke down to the gum.

In one appointment. I extract the remaining root and placed an immediate dental implant into the socket and made a tooth also.

***Note the spaces around the newly placed implant***

After 2 months of healing, the space around the implant is gone! (see below)

Healing time varies, but a successful dental implant should look like this. In fact, over time, the bone will look better and better.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com

The Process of Having a Dental Implant - Video by Leading Burbank Dental Implant Dentist

2010-01-10T10:33:00-08:00

The process of having a dental implant is very unique for each situation. This video, that I made in my office in Burbank, will help you understand the basics of what is involved. It explains how the procedure is done and sequenced.

A dental implant can be completed in as short as one single appointment in one day, or it may take a few months.Depending on the process, the cost can vary.

The process is illustrated on my website.

If you cant see the video, watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlDRhHH8tsM

A related topic is "immediate dental implants" which is something I have done very routinely for about 10 years.

Your comments and questions below will be answered! (No need to sign up, just click the "comments" tab below)

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California
http://www.burbankdentalimplants.com