Dr. Carolina Giraldo

Implants, if purchased from a reputable company, are made of the same Type 4 or 5 Titanium used in knee and hip replacements. Although a metal allergy is very rare it is a existing possibility and most likely patients with this allergy would know due to other metal allergies. Implants are not routinely 'rejected' but fail for many reasons. Narrow bone width, existing infection, smoking or bite trauma can cause implants to fail. With proper planning and home hygiene protocols followed, implants provide a tremendous service. Discuss all of the pros and cons with your doctor and ask him to share with you the digital plan of the implant placement which is crucial to success. Good luck and enjoy them!!

Yes, you can get a cavity under a veneer. Decay is even possible around a crown and the reason is that bone of these restorations cover natural tooth. Natural tooth is prone to decay in the presence of these risk factors: diet, home hygiene routine, inadequate seal of the restoration to the tooth. Even if the restoration's finish line (margin/border) is under the gum initially, as years pass recesson occurs and 'uncovers the margin' thus exposing the tooth surface to the elements. I have seen terrible dentistry last for years in patients that have a healthy/low to no sugar diet. The opposite is true: pristine dental work can fail in the presence of poor hygiene and diet. You have to do the hard work at home to make dental work last.

If you felt well after the extraction and three days later or so a dull ache develops, that is the beginning sign. The pain will radiate through the jaw if it is a lower (may even do the same for an upper extraction).

There are different techniques used to stimulate tooth movement that have shown to accelerate the orthodontic processes. One is invasive call Propel and one is not invasive. The non-invasive treatment is with the Acceledent which uses 20min of vibration delivered through a small apparatus that looks like an athletic guard. Both of these can be found on Google

Absolutely! But like anything in life, maintenance is the key. If you don't use your retainers for the rest of your life religiously, you will have relapse. Every case is different and Invisalign helps with just about 95% of cases I have treated but retainers are the most valuable part of treatment--no retainers, no long term success. It's like losing a ton of weight and to celebrate you go to an all you can eat buffet--counterproductive. :)

Hello, your gums are most likely bleeding because of chronic inflammation and bacterial proliferation (if you do not suffer from an autoimmune disorder or are on psychiatric medications). There is good and bad news. Bad news is that chronic inflammation is the #1 cause of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and kidney diseases. Diabetes is also affected by this and vice versa. This bacteria has a tail that allows it to swim to different parts of the mouth which is why bleeding can be generalized, but it also has been found in the blood stream and inside coronary arteries that have calcifications. It is a very serious problem that most take lightly. The good news is that it can be controlled. If the problem has progressed to the bone, it will be a problem you will have to deal with for the rest of your life but it can be controlled and managed so that it does not worsen. You can get into remission which is the good news. You should see a dental provider ASAP. You are concerned enough to post this question, then you are in the right frame of mind to get this under control right away. Wish you the best.

The cone beam technology currently in use can give you the image in 5 minutes and takes about another 5 minutes to get the patient ready for it (i.e. remove jewelry and place cotton rolls along the soft tissue for retraction). The size of the image can be customized for as few as three teeth or as large as to assess airway size, sinus condition, jaw abnormalities and the presence of carotid calcifications.

Yes, calcium deficiency will affect the health of his teeth and bones. Calcium as a necessary mineral that affect the hardness of the teeth. He can get the necessary calcium through many other foods like green leafy vegetables, grains and nuts and beans. Fluoride pills can also be given before his permanent teeth erupt ( I don't know how old your son is) because the Fluoride ions will adhere more to potassium in the bones and teeth making them stronger. The only caveat is that this only happens before the teeth erupt and are in the development phase. The dose has to be controlled because it will fight for the calcium in bones and this can affect bones negatively (unlike enamel which fluoride has a positive affect). It is difficult to know what you mean when you say his teeth are not strong . If he is prone to decay, this will happen with or without a calcium deficiency because decay is completely preventable with proper diet and hygiene (hygiene being the most important). If they are not strong because they are brittle and fracturing then there is possibly another cause (i.e. genetic considerations, grinding and clenching, etc). Hope this helped!

I would visit with an orthodontist, if you dentist does not do ortho, to have your bite evaluated. If the click is due to a traumatic event like a car accident or sports injury, then an oral surgeon may help but if there is no history like that, the best place to start is with a full extra and intra-oral muscle exam and the bite to see what is causing the click to happen. Do you have a history of clenching or grinding, recent extensive dental treatment, are you symptomatic, etc. are questions that should be asked by your treating dentist first.

Just a few questions you could ask yourself: do you brush the very very back of the tongue? When was the last time you had a dental cleaning? The odor causing bacteria related to the tongue are from the very back where there are large fungiform papilla the shape of a mushroom. The sulfur odor causing bacteria are under those papilla. You almost have to gag to get to them. There is a rinse I recommend called Closys and you can gargle with that to help eradicate the bacteria. Gum disease can also cause odor and it is possible to have even though you brush and floss. Gum disease develops under the gums and brushing and flossing will not remove anything past 1mm under the gum which is why regular dental cleanings is a must. I do not know how often you visit with your hygienist but bacteria that causes gum disease recolonize in three months so waiting 6 months is a long time. I highly recommend all my patients have a cleaning every 3-4 months. Reflux can cause bad breath and, even worse, enamel and esophageal erosion which can lead to cancer.

Hello! Yes, an electric brush can help if it has a pressure sensor. There are brushes that will send a message when you brush too hard so that you can relieve the pressure you are putting against your teeth. Why your dentist did not tell you about the recession is anybody's guess. Some doctors don't worry about it until there is erosion of the root surface and some are more proactive. It would be a good idea to have your bite checked as well because and interference during chewing can cause trauma which leads to gum recession. Hope this helps!!

Hello, studies have shown that a tooth will withstand having a filling done up to three times before it needs a root canal. Depending on the size and depth of the filling, sometimes a veneer is a more permanent option. Porcelain does not stain and can last many many years. This way the tooth is left alone for a long period of time and the nerve can recover from the trauma of the drill.

It really is just a mental task. You have to consciously think about it and rest your tongue against your palate when you drink. It is very important to continue to do it over and over again until it is second nature. Sucking on your lips once in a while will help move the teeth back into position as odd as that may sound. Also, don't forget the power of the retainers!! These need to be used for the rest of your life every night.

If there has been damage to the disc and the cartilage of the joint, it is like arthritis and the crackle may be there forever unless you have arthroscopic surgery to resurface the joint. The damage can be seen with a cone beam xray (CBCT). A custom mouth guard will also help and a full assessment of your bite with an adjustment will most likely be necessary as well. There is something happening with your bite that helped cause the crackle and if your teeth are in proper alignment, this could help relax the muscles. Try an over the counter mouth guard from the sports store (or online) to see if it helps while you sleep and then a custom one should be made to help your muscles not clench so much at night. Take care and good luck!

There are many reasons someone can be prone to decay. There is a mouth spray that has fluoride and neutralizes oral acids that fits in your pocket. It is by CariFree and you can ask your doctor to order it for you.
You can use that after each meal/snack. Cavities is a very preventable disease and plaque is the root cause of it. If there is no plaque on your teeth there should be no decay.

Everyone is borne with sharp canines but through overuse of that edge, it flattens away. Grinding, nail biting, etc can cause the enamel to wear. There are some people that have open bites in the front and the teeth don't touch each other so they never wear down. It's all in the bite and the habits. :)

Every doctor should offer services to the uninsured. If you give your doctor your credit card number he/she can charge out $45/month and this should be enough to cover three cleanings a year and xrays and and exam. I am not sure where you live so the fees may vary. Have an open conversation with your doctor and he/she should be very willing to help you. We love patients who care about their health and you obviously do. Take care!