Backed by a top team, Dr. Fitzgerald uses high-tech tools, soothing sedation, and finely honed skills to make bone grafts comfortable. If you’ve been told that you’re not a candidate for dental implants because of diminished jawbone structure, a bone graft can put you on the path to a pleasing new smile.

Why does the jawbone diminish?
The chewing forces of natural teeth keep jawbone mass at a healthy level. When teeth are missing, the jawbone is no longer stimulated in those areas. Gum tissue starts to shrink and jawbone mass declines.

What happens when the jawbone loses density?
As jawbone is lost, the area of the face from the nose to the chin seems to move closer and closer together. That’s why the faces of people with several missing seem to shrink in on themselves.

Denture wearer experience slippage because there’s the original jawbone structure for which the denture was created is no longer the same size.

Additionally, there’s no longer enough solid bone structure to successfully secure and bond with dental implants.

How does a bone graft work?
After a diagnostic assessment of your jawbone loss, Dr. Fitzgerald will surgically place new bone in the areas of diminishment. Three types of bone grafts are available:

• Your own bone tissue
• Donor bone
• Synthetic bone substitute

Your bone graft will be performed while you experience total relaxation through the use of sedation. Dr. Fitzgerald may use your own platelet-rich plasma to speed healing at the graft sites.

Will I receive my implants at the same time as my bone graft?
Oftentimes, Dr. Fitzgerald places the dental implant posts in conjunction with the bone grafts. If the area grafted is large, healing will need to occur prior to implant placement.

Call Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center in Plano/North Dallas today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fitzgerald and discover full-service implant dentistry for a great smile.

Dr. Lee Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center is pleased to sponsor the International Oral Cancer Association, a group dedicated to eradicate this deadly disease.

The Facts
Oral cancer can occur on any soft tissue in the mouth or throat. Lesions can even appear on the lips. The disease affects twice as many men as women and is more prevalent in people aged 40 and over. It’s the 6th most common cancer for men and the 14th for women. More people die of oral cancer than of melanoma and cervical cancer.

The Symptoms
Common symptoms of this disease include:

• Painful swallowing
• An unexplained lump in the neck
• White or red patches in the mouth
• A lingering mouth sore
• Oral bleeding
• Loose teeth
• An unexplained earache

If you experience any of these symptoms, call our office or your medical doctor to be screened for oral cancer.

The Causes
Tobacco use and alcohol consumption increase the risk, as does exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Frequent sun exposure plays a role in lesions that appear on the lips. A history of head or neck cancer also increases the likelihood of developing oral cancer.

Early Detection is Key
The key to survival is early detection. Dr. Fitzgerald performs an oral cancer screening at each new patient exam and subsequent checkup. He teams with organizations such as the International Oral Cancer Association to increase awareness of the disease, promote prevention, and someday find a cure.

An oral cancer screening could save your life. To learn more about oral cancer or to schedule a screening, call Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center in Plano/North Dallas.

Dr. Lee Fitzgerald is a source you can trust. He provides comprehensive implant dentistry at Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center in Plano/North Dallas. Today, the doctor debunks some common myths about dental implants.

Myth: Dental implant surgery must be performed in a hospital.
Reality: Dr. Fitzgerald performs all aspects of implant dentistry, including the surgery to place the implant posts, in our Plano dental office. No hospital stay is required.

Myth: People in their “senior” years are too old for dental implants.
Reality: Almost anyone with missing teeth or an ill-fitting denture is a candidate for implant dentistry. Age is not a factor, with the exception of children whose mouths are still developing. Smokers and those with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, may experience slower healing following implant surgery. However, these habits/conditions don’t eliminate these individuals as implant dentistry candidates.

Myth: Dental implants haven’t been around very long. They’re not a proven solution.
Reality: Implant dentistry research began in the 1950s, and the first dental implant was placed in 1965. Since that time, millions of people around the world have proven the durability and longevity of dental implants. Studies show that dental implants have a 95 to 98% success rate. They may last a lifetime with proper care.

Myth: The body often rejects dental implants.
Reality: The body doesn’t recognize the titanium implant post as a foreign object, so it doesn’t reject it as it might donor tissue (heart, lungs, kidney) implanted in the body. The jawbone accepts the implant post and grows very tightly around it to provide a stable foundation for one or more replacement teeth.

If you have questions or encounter information that doesn’t sound quite right, give us a call. Dr. Fitzgerald and our team are happy to provide you with accurate information about dental implants and all facets of implant dentistry.

While you’re at it, schedule a consultation with Dr. Fitzgerald to learn how you can improve your smile and your life with state-of-the-art dental implants.

With 2011 right around the corner, you have an opportunity. We encourage you to resolve to take care of your smile. Dr. Lee Fitzgerald and the team at Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center want to help you stick to your New Year’s resolution and make your smile the best it can be.

If you’ve read a newspaper or watched the news on TV, then you’ve heard about the importance of replacing missing teeth, guarding against gum disease, and making oral healthcare a priority. It seems that every day a new study emerges showing the link between dental disease and whole-body health problems.

Where Do You Start?
First of all, don’t be embarrassed if you haven’t been to the dentist in awhile. You’re not alone. The important thing is to make an appointment at Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center and begin the process to heal your damaged smile.

Dr. Fitzgerald is a caring and compassionate restorative and implant dentist. He’ll take a look at your teeth and gums, evaluate your bite alignment, and assess your jaw joint function.

A Proven Solution
If you need to replace missing teeth, dental implants are an extremely popular replacement tooth option. They look and feel completely natural and deliver unsurpassed longevity and durability. Dr. Fitzgerald places and restores dental implants in our North Dallas office to replace single teeth, multiple teeth, even entire rows of teeth.

Implants are a great choice to secure a denture. You can throw away the denture paste, eat what you want, and never worry about slippage again. Some patients opt for replacement teeth permanently affixed by dental implants. Others choose removable implant-supported prosthetics. Either way, the results are life changing.

Make a resolution right now to take care of your smile. You deserve it. Call Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center today. We’ll take your smile to new heights for 2011 and beyond!

At our North Dallas practice, we help remedy the problems of missing teeth, and we educate patients on how to keep existing teeth strong and healthy. Today, we discuss the causes of tooth loss and how to combat this prevalent condition.

Tooth Loss Statistics
Sixty-nine percent of adults have lost at least one tooth, and fifty million Americans have lost all of their teeth. As these statistics indicate, tooth loss affects a large segment of the population. It poses a serious problem to oral and overall health.

Top Three Causes of Tooth Loss
Tooth loss can occur for many reasons, but here are the top three:

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: A bacterial infection of the gums, periodontal disease attacks healthy tissue. Caught in the early stage (called gingivitis), gum disease can be reversed. Left untreated, the infection can progress to its most severe form: periodontitis. The bonds between teeth and gums are destroyed, causing tooth, gum, and bone loss. Periodontitis is a major cause of tooth loss in people aged 65 and older.

Tooth Decay: Cavities occur when plaque hardens on tooth surfaces. The plaque produces acids that eat away at teeth. If not addressed promptly, the hole that forms on the exterior of a tooth can penetrate the interior of a tooth, causing pain and significant damage, including tooth loss.

Accidents are another common cause of tooth loss. Whether from a sports-related injury, automobile accident, or fall, teeth that sustain a major impact often sustain irreparable damage.

Prevention
Preventing tooth loss requires proactive steps that include:

• Brushing twice daily or as directed by the dentist
• Flossing daily
• Attending regular checkups and dental cleanings at our office
• Wearing a mouthguard when participating in athletic activities
• Being mindful of situations in which falls might occur
• Driving safely to prevent accidents

We want smiles to stay strong and healthy for a lifetime. As our patient, you’ll receive comprehensive care to maintain the teeth that you have and restore damaged or missing ones. Call Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center today and achieve your best smile.

Even though information about dental implants abounds, many people still have questions. Dr. Lee Fitzgerald and our team at Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center are here to provide the information you need. The more you know about dental implants, the better choices you’ll make regarding your current and long-term oral healthcare needs. Here are answers to some questions we frequently receive…

Q&A

What exactly is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a durable, long-lasting method to replace one or more missing teeth. An implant consists of two parts: a surgical-grade titanium post inserted into the jawbone to serve as a tooth root and a replacement tooth or dental prosthetic mounted atop the post. Dental implants look and feel completely natural. With proper care, including checkups at our Plano dental implant center, they last most patients a lifetime.

Do dental implants just replace single teeth?
Implants have many uses, including replacing individual missing teeth and stabilizing dentures and bridges.

Who makes a good candidate for dental implants?
The best candidates have good overall health, good oral health (including an absence of gum disease), and adequate jawbone mass to support implants. Smoking and certain chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, slow the healing process and lessen implant success.

Do I need to go to different doctors to complete the implant process?
No, Dr. Fitzgerald is an experienced and accomplished implant dentist who performs every facet of the dental implant process in our Plano office, located in the heart of North Dallas. He’ll conduct your examination and diagnostic tests, perform your implant surgery (called “placing” implants), and attach your custom replacement teeth (called “restoring” implants). You’ll receive all of your care, including pre- and post-treatments, in our comfortable, specially equipped facility.

What are “teeth in a day”?
In this process, patients receive replacement teeth the same day as their implant surgery. Another name for this process is “immediate load.” Dr. Fitzgerald offers the All-on-4 dental implants procedure to restore smiles in a single day. This procedure isn’t right for everyone. At your consultation, Dr. Fitzgerald will help you determine if it’s right for you.

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The staff at Fitzgerald Dental implant Center is here to serve you. We invite you to learn all that you can about dental implants, then experience this amazing restorative dental procedure for yourself!

What is a dental crown? A dental crown is a dental restoration that covers the tooth. The covering is cemented to the tooth and will fully cover everything that is at and above the gum line.  A filling will restore a portion of the tooth and a crown will cover the entire tooth.

What are dental crowns made of? Dental crowns can be made from either porcelain or a metal alloy such as silver or gold.

Why do people have crowns put on? Crowns are often used cosmetically, to restore a tooth to the original form or to improve the look of the teeth in overall appearance. They can also be used for health reasons. For those that have weak teeth they can be placed in order to strengthen the teeth.

The Fitzgerald Dental Center is equipped to place crowns. Please contact the office if you wish to schedule an appointment.

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To simplify - according to USA Today, “BPA or bisphenol A, is a ‘toxic chemical’ that has been linked to a variety of health problems in human and animal studies.” In addition, “Studies have linked BPA to altered hormone levels in men and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adults.”

Some of the dental materials that contain bis-DMA (not bis-GMA) will actually break down into BPA (that toxic chemical referenced above) once it comes in contact with the saliva.

The American Dental Association’s Response

There are articles that are calling into question the safety of BPA levels in dental sealants, however, according to the American Dental Association, “BPA can be detected for up to three hours after sealants are placed, then levels quickly drop off… the benefits of dental sealants outweigh the potential risk of a brief BPA exposure. Dental materials are far less likely to cause BPA exposure than other consumer goods such as plastic bottles and linings of metal cans.”

The ADA doesn’t believe that there is a health risk that is “related to the use of resin-based sealants and composites.” Below are some notes from the article that may help answer any additional questions you have. For the full article click the link at the bottom to our primary resource from the American Dental Association:

• Dental sealants and composites have been used for many years. Sealants prevent tooth decay and composites are tooth colored dental fillings.
• Resin-based sealants and composites are made from plastic. Some types of plastic have been in the news lately because of a chemical called BPA, a chemical that acts like estrogen. Some studies with laboratory animals suggest a disruption in normal hormone activity. This has led to speculation about the effect of BPA on humans.
• An article that was just published in a medical journal assessed various existing studies on dental materials and BPA. A low level of BPA may be present in the saliva a few hours after placement of resin-based sealants, but based on current evidence, the American Dental Association believes that this low level and brief exposure time poses no known health risk.
• Trace amounts of BPA may be present as a byproduct of the manufacturing process or with certain sealants (those with bis DMA) after coming in contact with enzymes in saliva.
• The one-time exposure to BPA from sealants is about 200 times lower than the daily level EPA considers safe. Dental materials are far less likely to cause BPA exposure than other consumer goods such as plastic bottles and linings of metal cans.
• The researchers say sealants and composites should continue to be used because of their proven benefits which outweigh potential risks of BPA. The researchers also say that BPA exposure can be reduced if a newly-placed sealant or composite filling is rinsed or wiped.

Primary Resource:

American Dental Association

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At your consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns and the treatments you need performed. I’ll review your medical history and go over the details of our sedation options. Together, we’ll choose the sedation technique that’s right for you.

For some procedures, I may recommend nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. This safe, commonly administered gas has been used for years to induce a sense of calm and eliminate discomfort. Patients breathe the gas through a comfortable nasal mask. The effects diminish quickly upon removal of the mask to let you get on with your day.

For invasive, time-consuming procedures, oral sedation and IV sedation are the best options. With oral sedation, patients take a sedative prior to their appointment. IV sedation is administered directly into the bloodstream before your treatments. Both oral and IV sedation create intense feelings of mental and physical relaxation. Patients aren’t completely “under,” but they are unaware of treatment details and unable to feel discomfort. These sedation methods wear off gradually. Most patients resume normal activities the evening of or the day following their appointment.

Sedation dentistry makes time fly for the patient, and you won’t remember undergoing your procedures. My expert team will monitor you throughout your sedation dentistry appointment and attend to your needs and comfort.

Contact my North Dallas office today and schedule your appointment. Let us know if you experience dental anxiety. We can help.

1. Dr. Fitzgerald’s Experience & Reputation
   The doctor has built a solid standing in the Plano and North Dallas communities, as well as across the country. He’s known for delivering extraordinary service and top-of-the-line care. Our patients appreciate Dr. Fitzgerald’s dedication, focus, and integrity. As a testament to his advanced skill and knowledge, Dr. Fitzgerald lectures to and mentors dentists interested in implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.
2. Innovative Solutions
   At Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center, we pride ourselves on offering leading-edge implant dentistry. Dr. Fitzgerald and our team adopt only the tools and techniques that will result in safe, comfortable, and successful dental implant placement and restoration. We use dental implants to replace single teeth, multiple teeth, and entire sets of teeth. As a leader in the field of implant dentistry, Dr. Fitzgerald offers the All-on-4 dental implants system, a revolutionary method that provides patients with implant-supported replacement teeth in a single day, in most cases.
3. Technology
   Our implant center houses the best of modern technology, including digital X-ray and the Kodak 9500 Cone Beam Scanner, the premier scanner in the world. In fact, our office was the first in Texas to employ this technology on site. We also have a lab on our premises, something that’s rare to find in a dental office. Our lab technicians utilize high-power microscopes for an extraordinary level of precision when working with dental implants.
4. Comprehensive Care
   If you require a sinus graft or bone graft to prepare your smile for implant surgery, Dr. Fitzgerald can perform your procedure(s) in our Plano/North Dallas office. He offers oral and IV sedation to ensure your comfort during surgery. We’ll walk you through each step of your smile’s restoration; answer all of your questions; and provide outstanding service and care before, during, and after each appointment.
5. Happy Patients!
   Listen to what some of our patients say about their experience at Fitzgerald Dental Implant Center, then contact us today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with leading implant dentist Dr. Fitzgerald – because we’ll give your smile our best.