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Going on 3 years
1 month post 4th trip to Vegas
So I have been back from Vegas a month now. I wanted to give myself time to adjust to the new lower PMMA prosthesis before commenting. When I arrived and went over my list, I felt as if my concerns were being taken seriously. After explaining what I was feeling Dr Golpa had the lab make a new lower PMMA prosthesis. It needed a lot of customizing to make it fit better. And for the most part the issues were being addressed but after 4 trips I knew that no matter how good it feels while I am in the office, it's how it feels after a month.
These are a list of the issues I brought and discussed with the Doctor. ( new comments by *)
1. Sharp pain in lower right back when I yawn or move jaw certain way.
*this is mostly gone now, only happens 2 or 3 times a week.
2. The lower right 3 teeth feel as if they are being pushed in when I eat things like a steak or apple.
(The other side meets perfectly and the bite pressure is perfect. No problem chewing and it feels strong)
*This was fine for the first couple of weeks but then the pressure feeling started to return.
3. Aching jaw (lower right) after steak dinner, usually the following morning.
*This has stopped so far
4. The lower prosthesis feels uncomfortably snug and hard to get under it to clean.
*The fit also feels a little better
5. Prosthesis gum line is uneven (top and bottom).
*Now I laugh at myself for even listing this
6. Lower prosthesis feels as if it is not aligned with my gumline or upper prosthesis.
*Alignment feels better
7. Why is lower right back teeth much thicker than lower right left ? (uncomfortable)
*Still thick, that is the side the implant is on the outer edge of the prosthesis as well.
8. Why does Top left back extend 1 tooth past the end of the lower prosthesis
*Fixed with the new prosthesis
9. Area of top left prosthesis at gum line that sticks out and always gets big chunks of food caught.
*One of the several adjustments made to the Zirconia while I was there – Fixed but found out from the lab tech that when they do things to the zirconia they then have to 'fire' it in the oven and they can only do this a few time as it makes it weaker.
The first thing becoming more apparent is ' The lower right teeth feel as if they are being pushed in' statement. I realized that the implant on the lower right back, where I get that feeling, is actually on the very outside edge of the prosthesis (see picture) so the pressure when I bite is not evenly distributed. Kind of like a table with 3 legs, it's only ok as long as the pressure or weight is directly over the legs. If that implant was centered like the others, I think that this would be perfect and not such an unnatural feeling. But I think that would mean redoing the Zirconia prosthesis which I was told they can only 'fire' Zirconia prosthesis in the oven so many times because they get weaker so they would have to make a new one. I actually wished they had made a new one that was wider in the back when I was there. That would make that implant and prosthesis sync up with my natural gum line. My concern is over time if this type of stress will loosen the implant and maybe break the prosthesis, especially now that they changed it from Zirconia to PMMA which is not as strong. My wife is even worried about making me a steak because the cost to have it done was a lot for us and the trips from New York are not cheap and I agree that a fifth trip is a bit much.
I would love to hear thoughts from anyone who might have some experience with this procedure.
These are a list of the issues I brought and discussed with the Doctor. ( new comments by *)
1. Sharp pain in lower right back when I yawn or move jaw certain way.
*this is mostly gone now, only happens 2 or 3 times a week.
2. The lower right 3 teeth feel as if they are being pushed in when I eat things like a steak or apple.
(The other side meets perfectly and the bite pressure is perfect. No problem chewing and it feels strong)
*This was fine for the first couple of weeks but then the pressure feeling started to return.
3. Aching jaw (lower right) after steak dinner, usually the following morning.
*This has stopped so far
4. The lower prosthesis feels uncomfortably snug and hard to get under it to clean.
*The fit also feels a little better
5. Prosthesis gum line is uneven (top and bottom).
*Now I laugh at myself for even listing this
6. Lower prosthesis feels as if it is not aligned with my gumline or upper prosthesis.
*Alignment feels better
7. Why is lower right back teeth much thicker than lower right left ? (uncomfortable)
*Still thick, that is the side the implant is on the outer edge of the prosthesis as well.
8. Why does Top left back extend 1 tooth past the end of the lower prosthesis
*Fixed with the new prosthesis
9. Area of top left prosthesis at gum line that sticks out and always gets big chunks of food caught.
*One of the several adjustments made to the Zirconia while I was there – Fixed but found out from the lab tech that when they do things to the zirconia they then have to 'fire' it in the oven and they can only do this a few time as it makes it weaker.
The first thing becoming more apparent is ' The lower right teeth feel as if they are being pushed in' statement. I realized that the implant on the lower right back, where I get that feeling, is actually on the very outside edge of the prosthesis (see picture) so the pressure when I bite is not evenly distributed. Kind of like a table with 3 legs, it's only ok as long as the pressure or weight is directly over the legs. If that implant was centered like the others, I think that this would be perfect and not such an unnatural feeling. But I think that would mean redoing the Zirconia prosthesis which I was told they can only 'fire' Zirconia prosthesis in the oven so many times because they get weaker so they would have to make a new one. I actually wished they had made a new one that was wider in the back when I was there. That would make that implant and prosthesis sync up with my natural gum line. My concern is over time if this type of stress will loosen the implant and maybe break the prosthesis, especially now that they changed it from Zirconia to PMMA which is not as strong. My wife is even worried about making me a steak because the cost to have it done was a lot for us and the trips from New York are not cheap and I agree that a fifth trip is a bit much.
I would love to hear thoughts from anyone who might have some experience with this procedure.
Leaving for Vegas in the morning.
I am leaving in the morning to try and get the issues with the perms fixed. Trip 4 and the office has been nothing but great about things. However the issues do need to be resolved and I am hoping this will be it. It has been mentioned to me by a few people that the issues I seem to be having are tied to the lab. Looking back on my previous posts, it does seem likely. The issues with the screws going in smoothly, the thick first perms that were too big, the repaired temps hurting, etc. I decided to take an inventory of the issues for this trip to show to Dr Golpa. I know he will understand and address my concerns. He always has so far. He really is my favorite dentist and I have had a lot !
But as I always say ' Eye on the prize' and in this case perfect comfortable and strong teeth are the goal.
My list of questions and things to address and hopefully fix are:
1. Sharp pain in lower right back when I yawn or move jaw certain way.
2. The lower right 3 teeth feel as if they are being pushed in when I eat things like a steak or apple.
(The other side meets perfectly and the bite pressure is perfect. No problem chewing and it feels strong)
3. Aching jaw (lower right) after steak dinner, usually the following morning.
4. The lower prosthesis feels uncomfortably snug and hard to get under it to clean.
5. Prothesis gum line is uneven (top and bottom). *See pic*
6. Lower prosthesis feels as if it is not aligned with my gumline or upper prosthesis. *See pic*
7. Why is lower right back teeth much thicker than lower right left ? (uncomfortable) *See pic*
8. Why does Top left back extend 1 tooth past the end of the lower prosthesis
9. Area of top left prosthesis at gum line that sticks out and always gets big chunks of food caught. *See pic*
Is there an problem with my gum impression ? Could that be why we are having so much trouble getting a good fit with the prosthesis.
It seems the Zirconia prosthesis is more bulky and not the same as the PMMA templates we made the last time I was there ?
Are these lab issues ?
Wish me luck !
Has anyone seen the new reality series on this subject yet ?
But as I always say ' Eye on the prize' and in this case perfect comfortable and strong teeth are the goal.
My list of questions and things to address and hopefully fix are:
1. Sharp pain in lower right back when I yawn or move jaw certain way.
2. The lower right 3 teeth feel as if they are being pushed in when I eat things like a steak or apple.
(The other side meets perfectly and the bite pressure is perfect. No problem chewing and it feels strong)
3. Aching jaw (lower right) after steak dinner, usually the following morning.
4. The lower prosthesis feels uncomfortably snug and hard to get under it to clean.
5. Prothesis gum line is uneven (top and bottom). *See pic*
6. Lower prosthesis feels as if it is not aligned with my gumline or upper prosthesis. *See pic*
7. Why is lower right back teeth much thicker than lower right left ? (uncomfortable) *See pic*
8. Why does Top left back extend 1 tooth past the end of the lower prosthesis
9. Area of top left prosthesis at gum line that sticks out and always gets big chunks of food caught. *See pic*
Is there an problem with my gum impression ? Could that be why we are having so much trouble getting a good fit with the prosthesis.
It seems the Zirconia prosthesis is more bulky and not the same as the PMMA templates we made the last time I was there ?
Are these lab issues ?
Wish me luck !
Has anyone seen the new reality series on this subject yet ?
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