I recently married a woman in the Philippines, she has moderate to severe periodontal disease.Before she comes to the US we are trying to have some dental work done. The dentist has performed 14 root canals and has recommended telescopic crowns on the lower jaw (b/c of the gum disease) and traditional crowns on most of the teeth on the upper jaw. My question is why not use traditional crowns on the upper and lower jaw?
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Male Person's Age: 49 Already Tried: NA
Thank you for your question. I'll do my best to answer it for you.There are different type of dental appliances and technique for each case in dentistry and prosthodontics.When I have a patient with the periodontal disease most of the time I use telescopic denture or crown for the treatment. because it prevents bone loss,improves chewing efficiency and gives a proper jaw alignment.Periodontal disease causes the gingiva to recede, loosening teeth,and leading to loss of teeth one by one.Telescopic technique (crown , denture)restore new teeth for periodontal patients.Telescopic technique ensures that bite stress is distributed evenly between each tooth(if we use normal crown each tooth has its own chewing efficiency according to size)and protecting the remaining teeth and periodontal tissues and the end result look quite natural and can last a lifetime and increase chewing power.Finally As a dennist specialized in prosthodontics, I prefer telescopic crown for the patient with periodontal disease and your dentist's choice was correct.If you have any more questions, I am happy to help as much as possible so feel free to ask.
Thanks for your reply and advise. I understand that this technique is not used in the US, if at some point the appliance needs repair or there is more tooth loss for any reason can the repair be made in the USA in the event of tooth loss can adjustments be made to the devise here in the USA?
And one more thing... how comfortable is the telescopic denture/ crown when used on the lower jaw?
thanks!
Experience: Doctor of Dental Medicine, MClin Dent Prosthodontics
Thank you for your question.Telescopic Crown system may be called German crown technique or telescopic over denture in the US and I know there are some doctors which using this system in US for example Dr. Kevin B. Sands specializes in cosmetic dentistry from Beverly Hills, CA. But as I mentioned before they can last lifetime.It is so comfortable for upper and lower jaw the main reason is that bite stress or chewing deficiency is distributed evenly between each tooth.As a prosthodontist I believe it is the best technique for prosthetic treatment of patient with the periodontal disorder.If you have any more questions, I am happy to help as much as possible so feel free to ask.
Thanks for your replyThis looks like a good option ,but I'm concerned in the event that changes or repairs are needed to the divice... I assume most of the repair work, if needed, will be done in a dental lab. Is it necessary to know the technique of this telescopic crown? Or once the device is made can repairs adjustments be made by most labs/ dentist/Prosthodontist in the USA? Thanks!
Thank you for your question. I'll do my best to answer it for you.Telescopic crown technique was developed in Germany and most of the best laboratories in the world placed in Germany,and most of prosthodontist and dentist of europe send their work to Germany and they will make them.But as I know there are some dental laboratory which using this technique in the US and other dental technician.About your question, making of some prosthetic appliance need special instrument and models but a simple technician can repair different prosthetic appliance and it is quite easy,but I must mention again that telescopic crown appliance are one of the best according to quality and most of the time last a lifetime(15-20 years)and the repair cost is less than other type of implants crown.If you have any more questions, I am happy to help as much as possible so feel free to ask.