historical dental history

This is an important question and the current wisdom is not to have implants placed until jaw and facial growth are complete. Although it varies from person to person, growth of the jaws in most cases is not complete until late teens. Of course, we are faced with the dilemma of waiting for the optimal […]

This is from our friends Steven Kendrick, DDS; and David Wong, DDS Inside Dentistry Abstract The process for deciding when to restore or extract a tooth is often a “gray area” based mostly on clinical experience and rough predications on the long-term prognosis of the tooth in question. As a result, the clinician often makes […]

Dental implants traditionally have a very high success rate. The majority of studies indicate long-term success rates well over 95%. However, there are many factors that can compromise the success rates of dental implants. These can be divided into three categories: general health concerns, local factors and maintenance issues. It is important to consult with […]

An immediate dental implant requires planning and skill, in fact it requires team work between the patient – restorative dentist, implant surgeon and laboratory technician. There is no question that given the current state of the art in dentistry, that dental implants are pretty much the best way to replace teeth; they are stand alone […]

Drs. Craddock and Godat use special procedures to help improve your healing after certain procedures. One of these is listed below. The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) following tooth removal appears to speed healing and bone formation, according to an article in the Journal of Oral Implantology. When a tooth is removed, poor healing […]

For some people, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of a trip to the dentist. Even scarier for some is the prospect of replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant. However, as dental implants grow in popularity as a permanent solution to tooth loss, it is time to put nervous minds at […]

Prevalence rate of necrotic jaw bone is low in patients taking Fosamax®-type drugs. Dental implant success in Fosamax patients. Home Two reports are described in this month’s newsletter relative to users of oral bisphosphonates. First, a low prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw bone (ONJ) was reported in a published comprehensive literature review on the […]

Dental Implant Crowns  We know how and why implants successfully fuse to bone, but making the crowns (the parts of the teeth that attach to them) look real is another matter. That is where art really meets science. What drives the result is how the tooth or crown shape actually emerges through the gums, and […]

“Dear Dr. Godat, I just wanted to thank you and your staff for the outstanding care I received during my dental implant procedure.  Everyone was so nice and accommodating.  I must admit when I came in for my initial evaluation I was concerned over the cost and the procedure looked quite painful. I was surprised […]