I had to replace a tooth adjacent to my right front tooth. Right now I have a dental flipper and absolutely hate it. I wanted a dental implant but my dentist said that’s not possible because I take Fosamax. I suggested a dental bridge and he doesn’t want to do that either because it will crown the adjacent teeth which he says are fine. That’s true, but I want to get rid of this flipper. Would an Encore Bridge be an option?
Bruce
Dear Bruce,
Can you get a dental implant while on Fosamax?
It is possible to get a dental implant while on Fosamax. Your dentist’s concern has to do with the increased risk of local bone problems when having oral surgery. While the risk is small, the complications are serious. Don’t minimize the risk. One possibility is to temporarily suspend taking Fosamax, under the cooperation of your physician who should oversee this.
If you decide against getting a dental implant, a dental bridge is fine, and a better permanent option for you than a dental flipper. That being said, let your dentist pick the type of bridge. You definitely don’t want to be the first patient he or she has done an Encore Bridge on. Some dentists are your basic bread and butter dentists who can only do the “standard” work. That brings up an important point about your dental implant.
Who Should Place Your Dental Implant?
The concern your dentist mentioned is legitimate, however you should be aware that sometimes a dentist will steer you away from a procedure because they aren’t comfortable or qualified to do it. They don’t want a patient to lose confidence in them so instead they come up with reasons to discourage that particular procedure.
You don’t want to push a dentist into a procedure they are not comfortable doing. This usually ends in disaster.
Dental implants are an advanced procedure. You’re in a high-risk group, so it makes it even more important you have an experienced, qualified dentist to do it for you. Look at Dr. Weiss’ qualifications to get an idea of what type of dentist you are looking for.
Another consideration is cosmetic. You’re talking about matching a single crown to your front teeth. You want someone with the cosmetic skill to make it blend both beautifully and naturally. The best cosmetic dentists are accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist who has a high success rate in dental implants.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.