Q: I am missing three molars. My dentist wants me to have three implants and three crowns. If I did two implants and three crowns, this would save me $2600. Is this safe to do? Melvin in Boynton
A: Let’s compare kiwis and pomegranates here. If your bone is super dense and plentiful as verified by digital imaging, you can get away with two implants to support three crowns, HOWEVER these three crowns will be connected to each other, like a permanent bridge, with a floating tooth in the middle that can trap food and will require the use of a floss threader. If you are OK with this and have great oral hygiene and see your hygienist regularly (at the dental office, not at Starbucks.) then, you are OK with the two implants. The ideal treatment would be three implants.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Josephs will be giving a FREE LECTURE on Incision-Free Dental Implant Surgery, Digital Crowns & Veneers, Choosing a Dental Office and NEW TOPIC: Oral Care for Cancer Patients, at the Double Tree Hotel, PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday January 19th at 4:00 pm. Attendees will receive a FREE copy of his book: “Tooth Talk”. There are only 30 seats left. Call today to register at 561-832-2917
Dr. Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and hosts the “Tooth Talk” radio show on Fridays at 11am and Tuesdays at 8:30am on WBZT AM1230. (www.radiotoothtalk.com) On staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center, Dr. Josephs is a Faculty Advisory Board member at McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry.
drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com 44 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480 888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684) www.palmbeachdentist.com
