Archive for the ‘Dr Caplan’s Answers’ Category

I’ve been getting different advice from 3 dentists, what should I do?

Friday, July 9th, 2010
Q.
i’ve been having alot of trouble with my teeth over the last year. Some have been breaking and 2 have started to turn black. I have been to 3 dentists and they all have different advice. what would you do?,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Food gets into the small gap between my dental implant and gum, what can be done about this?

Friday, July 9th, 2010
Q.
I have been fitted implants on the lower jaw with a small gap between the new teeth and the gum in which food gets stuck. While short after eating food tends to drain out, the experience of eating and feeling the gaps filled is not very pleasant. Is there anything that could be done to the gum to allow the teeth sitting onto it?,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Would the usage of sedation be better than anaesthetic when it comes to pulling teeth?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Q.
My 12 year old daughter has to have 2 teeth extracted, 1 from each side. These teeth are healthy adult teeth. Surely they will need some tugging to get them out. Bearing in mind her age, do you think sedation would be better than local anesthetic? It sounds a better option to me but i’m not quite sure what it involves. Can you explain?,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Why did the dentist pull my son’s healthy tooth?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Q.
My son is 14 and had 4 teeth pulled today. The dentist pulled a baby molar but it had a 3 point root and was a hard pull. I’m not even sure why he pulled it because he said there was not another tooth that would come into it’s place as shown on the x-ray. When I asked why he pulled it then, he said something about when he gets braces the doctor will fill in the gap so he kind of avoided my question. It was a good tooth but since it was a baby one, he pulled it. I want to understand this better. My thought was why fix something that’s not broken. Was it necessary? Thank you for any information/advice you can give!,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

What steps can I take to getting my teeth fixed?

Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Q.
Dr Caplin, i am 29 years of age and i have a severe problem with rotting teeth on my lower jaw.Some have already rotted away,teeth are yellow and hurting and breath is getting bad. Ive not been to see a registerd dentist for 8 years,but over the last 6 this problem has occured and is getting wosre.i brush daily,but am to emarrised and ashamed about my problem.i would like information about what steps i can take and at what costs.thank you
,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

What are the risks of dental implant surgery?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Q.
what are the risks of teeth implants?,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Are my teeth deteriorating because of my diet?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Q.
I feel so unlucky with my teeth, I have had several fillings when younger, so I always try to look after and clean my teeth well. Even using an electris toothbrush. I have just broken a peice off a preiviously filled molar tooth, I thought that there would be an alternative but my dentist has removed it saying it was too soft. But my real worry is that I have receding gums in the front, My dentist does clean them or flush them! and gives me cleaning instructions but I really don’t think this is the problem as they have never bled when cleaned and do not look like the pictures of gum disease, Please Help what can I do, the possibility of loosing them is my worst nightmare, could my diet be to blame or the fact I am on the depo injection,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

How can I get my ‘goofy’ teeth fixed?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Q.
Hello Dr Caplan, I’m coing up to my 42nd birthday and I hate my teeth so very much, I can’t express how unhappy I am about them and always have been. People say I look like the older version of Ester Ranson. I hate smiling, and even when I got married I refused to have any photo’s taken. They are what people would call goofy, it isn’t just the two front teeth, its a few. They are not over lappling a great deal or gapped, But I hate them and at times in the passed I have contemplated hitting them with a hammer, i hate them that much. Please can you or any of your fellow dentists help me, and what sort of cost am I looking at? Many many Thanks.,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Are there any alternative options available when not being able to see a dentist?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Q.
Hi Dr Caplan I’ve always had GREAT teeth never had problems until recently – my molar top left and one of my bottom teeth just started breaking into little pieces the broken tooth is soft and yellow, i’ve noticed that my front tooth is also starting to discolor. I need to know what i can do about this as i don’t have medical aid and don’t earn enough money YET to go to a Dentist – are there any “home” remedies or alternitive options ?? Thanks Tana,
A.
Unfortunately not

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan

Do I have to have new impressions made if I require a new plate?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Q.
I have had dental implants for about 15 years; they are the snap on style of implants with clips…my bottom plate needs to be replaced…it has been repaired but this time I need a new plate…will I have to go through the same procedure of having impressions etc…to get this done?,

Dr Julian Caplan – Director on the board of the BACD View My Profile Dr Caplan