Olalekan Okunuga, DDS, FICOI, FAAIP, is a general dentist and the practice owner of this South Hill location. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at University of Pacific in San Francisco and completed his post-graduate residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Based on many years of valuable dental experience, Dr. Okunuga and his staff are proud to offer professional, compassionate care to patients that visit this practice.
I will be having Dr. Athari do my 7th dental implant. I have had 6 implants done at various locations ... family dentist, oral surgeon, and local dental school over the past 7 years. I was impressed with the clean modern office, friendly professional staff, and the price. Dr. Athari and his assistant made me feel relaxed and comfortable. They presented and explained to me a couple of treatment plans along with the pros and cons of each ... I chose to have another implant. I am confident that Dr. Athari and his staff will make my tooth beautiful and functional again.
When are Dentures Necessary?What are Temporary Partial Dentures?If you’ve had teeth removed due to decay or gum disease and will be receiving permanent dentures, your dentist may suggest temporary or “immediate” dentures. These are dentures you can wear for the first two to three months immediately after tooth removal. They can be especially helpful for someone with a history of sensitive teeth and gums, since the patient does not have to be without teeth while the area heals, and any remaining sensitive teeth are subject to less pressure from chewing food.The creation of temporary dentures may require four to five dental visits prior to tooth extraction. Temporary dentures are made using basically the same technique as a permanent denture, but because they are made in advance of any surgery, you can’t tell exactly how your mouth will look after teeth are removed. By contrast, the molds for conventional dentures are made once the gum tissues have healed following any tooth extractions, which takes about six to eight weeks. During this time, the gum tissues will shrink and so the fit of temporary dentures will change.Temporary Dentures CostThere is an added cost associated with immediate dentures, but when you’re trying to determine what dentures cost and how to pay for them, remember that you have several options.Most dentists take major credit cards and some offer financing plans that let patients pay for major procedures, such as tooth removal and dentures, over time with low monthly payments. Ask your dentist about financing. Also, if you know in advance that you want to get dentures, you may be able to set aside money in a flexible spending account or health care savings account to help cover the cost of dentures.Immediate dentures cost more than conventional dentures because more time goes into preparing them. There are several advantages that may make them worth the cost. The main advantage of immediate dentures is that you don’t have to go out in public without teeth following tooth removal. An immediate denture is placed at the same visit as your tooth removal, so they serve as a bandage to control bleeding and protect gum tissue. Also, if you have immediate dentures you can start adjusting your speech to wearing the denture immediately.Not everyone is a good candidate for immediate dentures. Cost can be a prohibiting factor, or your dentist may advise against immediate dentures depending on your general health and oral health.What are Permanent Dentures?Dentists will work with you to preserve your natural teeth if at all possible, rather than extract them, but sometimes permanent dentures are the only way to provide the appearance of teeth and facilitate eating and speaking.Permanent Dentures ProcedureGetting permanent, full dentures takes about three to six weeks. The denture-making process involves several dental appointments and follows these steps:Impressions: Your dentist takes several impressions of your jaw and measures the space in your mouth.Models: Your dentist makes a mold of wax or plastic in the exact shape of the denture so you can try it and make any adjustments to the color, shape, and fit before the permanent dentures are made.Cast: The final dentures are cast, and then adjusted as necessary.When you first receive your permanent dentures, your dentist may recommend that you wear them 24 hours a day, even while sleeping, because this is the easiest and quickest way to determine whether there are any spots that need adjustment. It’s important to ensure a good fit right away, because poorly fitting dentures can be irritating to the gums.Once you have adjusted to the dentures, you can remove them at night to allow normal stimulation of the gum tissues by the tongue and saliva, which helps keep your gum tissue healthy.Temporary Dentures vs. Permanent Dentures Pros and ConsOne main disadvantage of temporary dentures is that, because they’re made in advance and placed as soon as the damaged or decayed teeth are removed, the fit will not be exact. So they may require more frequent adjustments to get a good fit. Consequently, they should only be considered a temporary solution until the permanent dentures are ready.You may find that both temporary and permanent dentures take some getting used to. Don’t worry if the dentures feel loose at first—your cheek and tongue muscles will need to adjust to them. And don’t worry if you notice more saliva in your mouth than usual, or if you notice minor soreness or irritation. These problems usually resolve on their own. But if you experience major discomfort that doesn’t seem to improve, see your dentist to have the dentures adjusted.You may also opt to have your temporary dentures realigned for a better fit so you can use them as permanent dentures. Or, you can keep them as a spare set so you won’t find yourself without teeth if your permanent dentures should get lost or become damaged. If your dentures need repair or realignment, they will have to be sent to a laboratory and probably kept overnight.When are Dentures Necessary?Not everyone needs a full set of permanent dentures. A dental bridge fills a gap created by one or more missing teeth. Removable partial dentures are another option for replacing missing teeth. There are several reasons to consider removable partial dentures. Not only can partial dentures improve your appearance, they can improve your oral health by keeping your remaining teeth in place. If you opt for a dental bridge, your dentist will fit customized crowns to the teeth on either side of the gap to be bridged. A false tooth (or teeth) called a pontic is attached to the crowns and replaces your missing tooth (or teeth).Depending on your oral health care needs, you can choose partial dentures that are removable, but bridges are permanently cemented into place. There are three main types of bridges to suit a variety of dental restoration situations:Traditional: This style involves placing crowns on the teeth that border the missing teeth.Cantilever: This style is used if you only have teeth on one side of the missing tooth or teeth.Maryland bonded: This type of bridge consists of a porcelain tooth (or teeth) in a metal framework, with wings to attach it to existing teeth.Keeping the surrounding, supporting teeth healthy is essential to get the maximum benefit from a dental bridge, so be sure to follow a regular oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. If you practice good oral hygiene and see a dentist regularly, partial dentures can last from 5 to 15 years.
After deciding on having the extractions and the full plate, I decided on the "Premium" denture. You can see 3 different types of dentures. Economy, Good and Premium. It's pretty easy, if you want the longest lasting, then get the premium. Economy dentures often break after a couple years... I had to pay the full amount right then, before they would go any further. They want all the money in advance or they don't do the dentures. Be prepared to pay up front in full, before you go, or don't go.
This is long,but I writting this to hopefully save someone else from going through this,self pay people are at the mercy of blood sucking dentist.Well,I carefully compared several NC Affordable Dentures,I read reviews from many sources.The one near me is pretty bad,went many years ago and the currant reviews are down right scary,couple with a serious fear of dentist,did not want to put myself through that again. Soooo the search was on,after being quoted 632.00$??? at DentalWorks!! Who the he'll can afford that out of pocket,so after reading the reviews for this location I called asked questions,asked what I needed to bring along with time to be there.Then I read website to make sure everything was a go.Had x-rays sent over along with bringing a copy myself incase something went wrong.Website&Receptionist both confirmed needing to arrive by 7:30am.Okay,I cancelled one of my accounts (means I lost money),woke up at 4:30am then drove hour n half to A.D. Apex Highway Location.Stood in line,filled out forms,handed over X-Rays,took a seat.After watching people come in at 10 am be seen before me,denture customers get teeth pulled come back sit down in lobby again,then be called back for fittings or whatever of course started to get anxious.I just needed one extraction.There was a very loud girl there who had to have one tooth pulled as well.At the four hour mark,she asked them what was going on.Receptionist tells her denture people should all be done being treated by 3pm.So she may or may not be treated sooner.What?????Been waiting 4hours,drove almost two to get there with less then 5 hours sleep to make sure I'd be on time and it's going to be another 4hour wait??? and then that's not guaranteed.So I asked receptionist if this was the case,told her my issue,she just looked at me blankly"yep"..This information is no where on website,I told her on phone what I needed asked if there was anything I needed to know.She even said for treatments had to be there at 7:30am.NO WHERE DOES IT STATE JUST EXTRACTIONS WILL BE DONE AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE.The whole ordeal was just inexcusable.I got my x-rays and left,I am now sitting with a abscessed tooth waiting to make an appointment on Monday at one of them blood sucking offices,got small loan because the price of extractions is inexcusable too.You know what though,I Will expect it,I will also be treated better,will not automatically assume I have no other options but them so they can treat me however an if they mess up oh well.How would these ppl like to be treated this way,this issue may sound insufficient but the fact is I lost a day of my personal time along with a days work and still need to see a dentist because of thier mistake not mine. You slap the word affordable on a business,make em line up,play by your rules or else,because you know they cannot afford it anywhere else,its borderline cruel.I'm positive there has got to be a hundred other poor souls that will go through something similar to me,I if I can help one person avoid it,good!!..
When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. The teeth in the other jaw may also shift up or down toward the space. This can affect your bite and place more stress on your teeth and jaws. You may find it harder to clean teeth that have shifted, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. That is why it is important to replace missing teeth.
Often more affordable than dental implants, dentures are removable dental appliances meant to look and function like natural teeth. Many patients who have experienced tooth loss and are concerned about the loss of both functionality and aesthetics turn to dentures to meet their needs. The cost of dentures varies considerably, according to geographical location, the dentist, and type of dentures.
Our doctors and friendly staff are ready to help you enhance your smile or completely restore a smile affected by decay or missing teeth. In order to keep your smile beautiful, we also offer free teeth whitening for life services. We have 3 confident dentist - all of whom have had additional residency training. Owned and operated by Dr. Damon, he cares about your care! Our staff cares and we Listen to our patients! Our dental services range from porcelain veneers, crowns, dental bridges, single implants, multiple implants, permanent "Teeth in a Day", and dentures. Our practice is an exclusive provider of Nobel Biocare® products, which are renowned for their quality and durability. Nobel Biocare led the way in advancing the All on Four Dental Implant Concept, developed Immediate Implant placement protocols, Immediate Load protocols, and developed the newest Trefoil Implant Concept. Dr. Damon is a lecturer for Nobel Biocare on the All on Four and Trefoil Implant Concepts.
Retention is the principle that describes how well the denture is prevented from moving vertically in the opposite direction of insertion. The better the topographical mimicry of the intaglio (interior) surface of the denture base to the surface of the underlying mucosa, the better the retention will be (in removable partial dentures, the clasps are a major provider of retention), as surface tension, suction and friction will aid in keeping the denture base from breaking intimate contact with the mucosal surface. It is important to note that the most critical element in the retentive design of a maxillary complete denture is a complete and total border seal (complete peripheral seal) in order to achieve 'suction'. The border seal is composed of the edges of the anterior and lateral aspects and the posterior palatal seal. The posterior palatal seal design is accomplished by covering the entire hard palate and extending not beyond the soft palate and ending 1–2 mm from the vibrating line.
Other denture cleaning methods include enzymes, ultrasonic cleansers and microwave exposure.[32] A Cochrane Review found that there is weak evidence to support soaking dentures in effervescent tablets or in enzymatic solutions and while the most effective method for eliminating plaque is not clear, the review shows that brushing with paste eliminates microbial plaque better than inactive methods. There is a need for studies to provide reports about the cost of materials and the negative effects that may be associated with their use as these factors could affect the acceptability of such materials by patients which will in turn affect their effectiveness in a daily setting in the long term. Additionally putting dentures into a dishwasher overnight can be a hndy short cut when away from home. Additionally, further studies comparing the different methods of cleaning dentures are needed.[39]
It is extremely important to practice healthy dental hygiene when wearing dentures. There is an increased risk of developing a more serious medical condition should oral irritation result from improper dental hygiene. These conditions include, but are not limited to, periodontal disease, leukoplakia (thickened white, potentially precancerous patches on the mucous membranes, also called smoker’s tongue) and fungal (denture stomatitis) infections.
The low-end cost for a full-mouth restoration is about $11,000, a reasonable financial investment compared to a mouthful of single implants (which could run $160,000). A dental practice representing that they can provide a complete-mouth restoration starting at $1,000 is certainly being disingenuous and deceptive. At a minimum, such a procedure requires at least 4 implants and would “start” at a figure closer to $9,000, although probably much higher when considering extractions and prosthetic costs.
Processing a denture is usually performed using a lost-wax technique whereby the form of the final denture, including the acrylic denture teeth, is invested in stone. This investment is then heated, and when it melts the wax is removed through a spruing channel. The remaining cavity is then either filled by forced injection or pouring in the uncured denture acrylic, which is either a heat cured or cold-cured type. During the processing period, heat cured acrylics—also called permanent denture acrylics—go through a process called polymerization, causing the acrylic materials to bond very tightly and taking several hours to complete. After a curing period, the stone investment is removed, the acrylic is polished, and the denture is complete. The end result is a denture that looks much more natural, is much stronger and more durable than a cold cured temporary denture, resists stains and odors, and will last for many years.
More modern dentures can be fitted immediately after removal of the last tooth. They are made prior to the operation and allow the user full faculty of their mouth straight after their insertion. However, immediate dentures may lose their fit as the bones and gum shrink during the healing process. Immediate dentures are often used as a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be fitted at a later date.
Over fifty patients were seen on the day I was. They were herded through the clinic, with their dentures made as fast as credit cards can be swiped, and regardless of quality. When mine were placed in my mouth, a definite elevation on the upper right was noticeable; the length of the right side teeth was pronouncedly shorter than the other side. I noticed this after I went to my car and called in the message. The hateful assistant **, left a recorded reply, "Your teeth were made the way they are supposed to be, so I don't know what your problem is." No mention of "We'll fix it any time." Certainly, no consideration for the pain of the patient was forthcoming.
The field of dentistry has made incredible strides over the last 50 years, and we take great care to remain at the forefront of outstanding dentistry. Tools such as cone-beam computed tomography (CT) allow us to look beyond the soft tissues of your smile to assess the health of the jawbone. This technology provides high-definition three-dimensional images of your craniofacial structure. This is crucial to determining exactly where dental implants should be placed in order to ensure beneficial long-term outcomes. Our patients have experienced life-changing benefits thanks to our sophisticated treatments.
Conventional dentures are installed after the last teeth are removed, to allow for healing (typically six to eight weeks). There are typically separate appointments for impressions and measurements; checking a "try-in" model for fit; inserting and adjusting the final denture; and follow-up appointments to check comfort and function. Immediate (same-day) dentures are made in advance and inserted when the teeth are pulled. The University of Iowa provides an overview of immediate dentures[2] and a California dentist has a immediate denture video[3] .
While we strive to offer the highest quality of care possible, we know that a person who can’t afford treatment is not going to come in, regardless of how great a job we do. That is why we work with our patients as much as we possibly can. We want to make sure that they get the care they need and that they get it a price they can afford. To that end, we offer significant discounts over other care providers. Additionally, we are always happy to help set up a flexible financing program with our clients.
