In our October 17th post, we mentioned that popular denture creams like Fixodent and Poligrip had been linked in the past to cases of zinc poisoning, and that one way to avoid zinc poisoning, if you need dentures, is to rely on Houston Prosthodontic Associates. Dr. Gittleman’s West Houston office is dedicated to providing patients with custom-made dentures that fit snugly, making adhesive creams practically unnecessary.
But we also mentioned that there’s another way to avoid zinc poisoning, one that’s even better than custom-made dentures—implant supported dentures.
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At Houston Prothodontic Associates we’re pleased to announce the completion of the remodeling of our office. Not only has a “facelift “ been completed to the existing equipment, but we have also added two new treatment rooms. With our patients’ comfort in mind, state-of-the-art devices including a digital panoramic X-ray machine and a CEREC machine (that enables ceramic restorations to be prepared and delivered the same day) have been added to our working environment. Amenities available include television and Wi-Fi connections, as well as nitrous oxide and intravenous sedation (I.V.) to relieve patients with anxiety. The treatment rooms are equipped in such a way as to provide optimal dental care in a light and airy atmosphere. Our objective is to provide a pleasing, inviting “dental home” with a high standard of patient care. We welcome our existing patients to visit and most certainly invite new patients to come by and see our facility which includes a-one-of-a-kind in-house dental laboratory.
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I recently attended the 60th annual meeting of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry which was held October 19th through October 22nd in Las Vegas Nevada. Sixty years ago, a small cadre of dental pioneers braved a firestorm of professional criticism and met in Chicago to share ideas to stimulate research and training in implant dentistry. This was the beginning of the practice of implant dentistry and paved the way for eventual public and professional acceptance of the procedure. That meeting led to another meeting held February 4, 1952, also in Chicago, with 14 dentists and four laboratory technicians. It was the inaugural conclave of the American Academy of Implant Dentures, which today is AAID. During my stay in Las Vegas, I attended several lectures concerning the “All-On–Four” technique, as well as the more traditional approaches to help restore the edentulous (missing all teeth) patient. I also spent time with two past presidents of this prestigious organization: Dr. Francis J. DuCoin & Dr. Richard A. Guaccio.
It is estimated that 69 percent of Americans age 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth and one in four over the age of 74 have lost all of their natural teeth. Aging Baby Boomers are fueling high demand for dental implants, but the aggressive advertising aimed at them does not provide information they need about the procedure and qualifications required to perform it. Therefore, AAID’s message in commemorating 60 years of dental implants is that implants promote good oral health and restore self confidence, but successful outcomes are best assured by careful and informed selection of a highly trained and skilled implant dentist.
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This past February, WebMD reported that popular denture products, like Fixodent and older version of Poligrip, had been linked to cases of zinc poisoning.
Zinc is an important mineral for the human body, but high levels of it can cause bone marrow suppression, spinal cord degeneration, nerve damage, and even death. Conversely, patients with high zinc levels have low levels of copper, another mineral the body needs to stay healthy.
So, if you have dentures, the question on your mind might be, “How can I protect myself?”
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Have you been told you don’t have enough bone density for traditional dental implants? Are you having trouble keeping your dentures in with adhesive creams or natural suction?
All-on-Four dental implants from Dr. Gittleman’s Houston office may be able to help.
With this revolutionary implant technique, many patients are finally able to have a more stable and functional smile than they ever thought possible. And the best part is an All-on-Four procedure can be finished in just one visit. You may even be able to enjoy a light meal with your new smile that same night.
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In the final installment of our Why You Need a Prosthodontist series (click to read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3), we’ll be discussing how Dr. Gittleman can help you improve the esthetics of your smile.
The issue of esthetic is about more than just having bright, natural-looking teeth, although that’s definitely a large part of it. Improving the esthetics of your smile is also about giving your entire face a “dental facelift.”
Boost Your Appearance with a Brand New Smile
If you have missing teeth or you’ve experience bone loss in your jaw, your lips can appear to lose volume and even begin to droop, almost like a frown. This “collapse” can make you look years older.
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In part one and part two of our Why You Need a Prosthodontist series, we talked about what a prosthodontist is, why it’s important to replace missing teeth, and the benefits of dental implants. But let’s say you’re not a candidate for dental implants—and not everyone is. Can a prosthodontist still help you fix your smile?
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June 21 marked the beginning of summer. But that’s not all that was significant about that Tuesday. It was also, according to a well-known theory, one of the few days of the year when it’s possible to stand an egg upright on its end.
This year, Dr. Gittleman and his team decided to take a little time out of their day to put this theory to the test.It wasn’t easy, but after a few wobbly starts they actually succeeded, at approximately 12:16 pm.
But was it because of the alignment of the Earth and the sun’s gravity, as some claim, or is it possible to balance an egg on any day of the year? That’ll just have to be an experiment for another day!
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In our last post, we talked about what a prosthodontist does and why it’s important to replace missing teeth. Today, we pick up where we left off to talk about dental implants.
With dental implants, you can replace missing teeth and have the strong, supportive smile you’ve been missing. How’s this possible? Because dental implants do more than just replace a missing tooth—they replace your missing root, too.
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Losing a tooth is one of those curveballs life throws your way from time to time. It’s not fun, but what matters isn’t if you’ve lost a tooth but what you do about it.
Whether you’re missing one tooth or several, seeing a prosthodontist is vital, and not just for maintaining your oral health. Restoring your smile could prolong your life.
But First, What Is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is someone who specializes in replacing and restoring missing teeth. It’s a job that requires years of extra training on top of a dental degree. And because prosthodontists are concerned with building esthetically pleasing smiles, you might even say they’re like artists.
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In our October 17th post, we mentioned that popular denture creams like Fixodent and Poligrip had been linked in the past to cases of zinc poisoning, and that one way to avoid zinc poisoning, if you need dentures, is to rely on Houston Prosthodontic Associates. Dr. Gittleman’s West Houston office is dedicated to providing patients with custom-made dentures that fit snugly, making adhesive creams practically unnecessary.
