No more yanking teeth! It has to be gentle and controlled. Tooth removal should be atraumatic and preserve bone. That way, patients have the best chance of success with dental implants. Chris Rafoth is the owner of Lyons Creek Dental Care, providing medical dentistry, dental implants, and facial esthetics since 1998 for Shoreline and greater Seattle areas, as well as communities in King and Snohomish counties. Any questions or comments? Contact him at chris@lyonscreekdentalcare.com today! [ Read More ]

Second in the series. Bone defects and bone atrophy are common byproducts of tooth removal, and need to be addressed before teeth are removed or dental implants are considered. Bone grafts are an important solution to discuss prior to removing and replacing teeth. Chris Rafoth is the owner of Lyons Creek Dental Care, providing medical dentistry, dental implants, and facial esthetics since 1998 for Shoreline and greater Seattle areas, as well as communities in King and Snohomish counties. Any questions or comments? Contact him at chris@lyonscreekdentalcare.com today! [ Read More ]

Dr. Rafoth has growing concerns about patients who are hoping for dental implants when they lose teeth. This is part one of a multi-part series on what patients need to think about when having teeth removed and replaced. Chris Rafoth is the owner of Lyons Creek Dental Care, providing medical dentistry, dental implants, and facial esthetics since 1998 for Shoreline and greater Seattle areas, as well as communities in King and Snohomish counties. Any questions or comments? Contact him at chris@lyonscreekdentalcare.com today! [ Read More ]

Most people understand that dental implants are a way to replace missing teeth. But there are some little known facts I want to share that everybody can take advantage of when we have a tooth that has failed. Let’s set this up in terms of dispelling myths. Myth 1: It’s more expensive to place an implant for my failed tooth than a bridge or a denture. Today’s implants are less expensive than they were 10 years ago, in terms of time and money. The costs of replacing teeth with a denture may be less costly in the short term, but… [ Read More ]

A study released by researchers on 9/3/14 suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil, may be associated with a greater incidence of bone loss or lack of bone formation in patients who use those drugs. This, in turn, motivated researchers to evaluate the potential for dental implant failure in patients taking SSRIs. But the debate is significant. In fact, a response released on 9/5/14 regarding a comprehensive study of SSRIs and bone fracture was recently released. This statement illustrates how SSRis were not responsible for a significantly greater risk for bone loss or bone fractures in… [ Read More ]