Princeton's Ask the Doctor January-February 2020

QUESTION: Many of my teeth are not in good condition for various reasons. What are some of my options to allow me to smile and eat with no difficulty?

In my practice I place a minimum of six implants for better stability. After the implants are in their prescribed position, the prosthesis is retro-fitted onto the implants and verification of alignment is made. Most patients are both pleased and amazed with the results they see.

It is important to keep in mind that teeth can become non- restorable for various reasons. Initially, one thinks of decay and periodontal (gum disease) issues as the cause. In many cases, these two issues can effect teeth that are natural, with or without fillings / crowns on them. Trauma or grinding of teeth can also cause potential loss of teeth. Regardless of the reason, loosing teeth can create many esthetic and functional problems for most people. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on complete loss of teeth in either the entire upper or lower arch. When someone looses all the teeth in an arch, several treatment options are now available. Many people think that dentures are the necessary treatment, but today that is not the case. Dental implants can be utilized in many combinations. The most discussed treatment option for complete arch restorations involve immediate implant placement and insertion of teeth in one day. This technique requires the placement of four to six implants followed by a single unit set of teeth.

David P. Young, DMD, DICOI

It is important to keep in mind, the clinical treatment can take place in one visit, but there needs to be a few appointments prior to the surgical day to take the necessary impressions and gather all the necessary clinical date. Each patient’s pre-treament condition will determine the number of presurgical appointments. For the next few months a modified diet is followed since the implants can not be placed under heavy chewing function. The details of the diet will be discussed prior to treatment. After about 4-5 months the final prosthesis is fabricated to give you your new beautiful smile and wonderful chewing ability. If you have any questions regarding full arch dental treatment, feel free to contact my office for a complementary consultation and CT scan.

4432 Route 27, CN-201, Kingston, NJ 08528 Phone: 609.497.0808 www.David YoungDMD.com

WANT TO DITCH THE BOTTLE? FIND ECO-FRIENDLY, HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES TO BOTTLED WATER

Staying hydrated is incredibly important. Most Americans are aware of the problems caused by dehydration, and as a result over the years we have developed a new love: bottled water. It’s clean, safe and relatively inexpensive — and according to some it tastes better than tap water. But, unfortunately, there is nothing green or sustainable about bottled water. Americans drink more than 30 billion bottles of water each year. That is a pretty hairy figure. Even scarier is the fact that all of those bottles create around 1.5 billion tons of waste each year. What is green about that? And there is no evidence that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water, especially when it is combined with a water filtration system. So, if you want to live a sustainable lifestyle, what are your options? 1. Buy larger containers of bottled water. If you absolutely must drink bottled water, use five-gallon jugs or larger. That way, you’re still reducing the amount of plastic waste you create. 2. Use a reusable water bottle. Reusable bottles are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel and BPA-free plastic. They are also available in many colors and styles. Attach a water filter to your sink if you’re worried about the water quality. 3. Become more educated. What we’re doing to our water sources is just as frightening as the amount of waste we create. Pollution is causing many of our water sources — and those that supply water to bottling companies — to become contaminated with bacteria, pollutants and even pharmaceutical residue. Become educated and do your part in helping keep our water safe for us and the rest of the planet. By making these changes you can help become part of the sustainable solution to our waste production problem.

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ASK THE DOCTOR

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020