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.
So I wound up with my partial getting a tooth put in it as I thought they would pull my tooth but when the doctor's fax came, it still was not good enough for them. I believe that he just did not want to service me by pulling my tooth. I have a partial I cannot wear because the tooth put in there it will not fit in my mouth. I have to say that never in my life and I'm 59 now, have I ever been treated so badly by a doctor. The way he spoke to me in front of everyone in the office and people in the waiting room. I was so taken off guard by that.
Later that afternoon I came back to have 16 teeth extracted. I got to the office and waited about 30 minutes before I was seen. I got to the back and began injections. After this I went to a full blown panic attack and came close to passing out. The one positive is the dentist who was working on me took it in stride. I wasn't treated disrespectfully and after about 30 minutes the panic subsided and she was able to finish my injections and begin pulling teeth.
I do not know where to begin. If you are looking for a quality Dentist with excellent staff then this is the place. Dr. Searby is great at what he does. He is very straight to the point and he talks you through the process. I appreciated the fact that he listened to me during the almost painless procedure. His staff is the best set of professionals that I have ever encountered in the dental field. I have and will continue to refer anyone that I know. I love this place.
As you may know, dentures are removable substitutes for missing teeth. Full dentures provide value when a person is missing all of their natural teeth while partial dentures replace only individual missing teeth to eliminate gaps and improve chewing. Denture treatment is customized specifically to each patient, and Dr. Yonan, Scott, Bushnell, Fairbanks & Quigley can help you decide which option works best for you.
DENTURES DO NOT FIT! DO NOT USE AFFORDABLE! #BOYCOTTAFFORDABLEDENTURES. My father went in for dentures, they are so loose he cannot eat healthy. The first time he went back they put a liner in the uppers to make them tighter, he is using a lot of Poligrip on both the uppers and lowers. He had teeth removed from the bottom and they waited for the gums to heal before measuring for dentures. It has been about 3 months and the dentures, especially the bottom are so loose it hurts him to eat because food gets stuck under the dentures. It is funny because on his first visit the Affordable dentist made fun of how loose his upper dentures were (he has had them for 4 years), they were done by a different dentist. On his first visit he was told by the dentist that the Affordable dentures would fit tight, they don't!
I have both upper and lower dentures, but the uppers, which are newer, are very white compared to the bottoms. It will cost me a lot (like $500) to replace them, but I want them to match. Can I whiten my dentures?Answer: It is not possible to whiten dentures like natural teeth because dentures are made of plastic. To minimize staining, properly clean your dentures daily to remove food and plaque bacteria. Brushing with a denture brush or soft toothbrush will prevent dentures from becoming permanently stained and will keep your mouth healthy. Moisten the brush and apply a nonabrasive denture paste (regular toothpaste is too abrasive) or use liquid soap. Brush every surface, inside and out, scrubbing gently. A variety of over-the-counter denture-cleanser products may be safely used (by following the manufacturer’s instructions) to remove some stains. You may also consider soaking your dentures in a cup of water with a teaspoon of household bleach, but be sure to rinse them off well before putting them back in your mouth. When cleaning your dentures, be careful not to drop them as they can break. You should clean your dentures over a sink that is filled with water or has a washcloth in place to prevent the dentures from breaking should you drop them while cleaning. More stubborn stains may require removal by your dentist or prosthodontist, a specialist in denture care and maintenance. To locate a prosthodontist near you, visit www.gotoapro.org. Response provided by the American College of Prosthodontists. Back to top
I've had the immediate dentures for a year now and the office has been great the whole time. I've had a number of relines as my gums healed. I'm excited to get my permanent set. To be honest, when I first got the immediates placed, I didn't like them. Something seemed “off” and I couldn't put my finger on it. Looking back, it was just odd seeing myself with different teeth. I soon loved them. They look great and function like they should.
It’s important to take good care of them so they stay fresh and comfortable in your mouth. Adopting a daily cleaning regime is important to keep them looking their best. To help remove tough stains, soak your partial dentures in a denture cleaning solution, such as Poligrip Overnight Whitening Daily Cleanser or Poligrip 3 Minute Daily Cleanser, as indicated by the directions on the pack.
The lower denture's teeth surface is even with the gum surface making the lower plate essentially flat. I mean there is no white tooth higher than the pink gum material. Not knowing the difference and trusting these so called "professionals," I have worn the partials for 8 years now and my bite is so off that my upper and lower front teeth butt against each other and has resulted in wearing them flat, taking the edge off them.
Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace missing teeth. Unlike dental implants and dental bridges, which are more or less permanently affixed to the bone, dentures are prosthetic teeth attached to a supporting structure. Dentures can be removed at night, for cleaning, or whenever desired. The most affordable dentures are those made with traditional plastic prosthetic teeth, but even more expensive porcelain cosmetic dentures usually cost less than implants.
As far as back office goes, Carlos the assistant has the patience of a saint. Seriously. We had to do a full series of x-rays because my mom couldn't stand up for the pano. My mom had trouble holding still and repeatedly failed to follow instructions. Carlos never stopped smiling and encouraging her. He had a lot of positive energy and kept joking with her throughout, which I know went a long way to making her feel good about the office. He did the same during the other visits, but the x-rays I'm sure were the biggest challenge.
If you still aren’t sure whether or not dentures are right for you or if you have other questions or concerns, talk to your dentist at your next regular dental checkup to discuss the right path for you. If you are looking for a dental professional who specializes in dentures and can best address your specific needs, check out 123 Dentist and find a dentist in your area who’s a perfect fit for you.
Problems with dentures may arise because patients are not used to having something in their mouth that is not food. The brain senses the appliance and interprets it as 'food', sending messages to the salivary glands to produce more saliva and to secrete it at a higher rate. This usually only happens in the first 12 to 24 hours, after which the salivary glands return to their normal output. New dentures can also be the cause of sore spots as they compress the denture-bearing soft tissues (mucosa). A few denture adjustments in the days following insertion of the dentures can take care of this problem. Gagging is another problem encountered by a minority of patients. At times, this may be due to a denture that is too loose, too thick or extended too far posteriorly onto the soft palate. At times, gagging may also be attributed to psychological denial of the denture. Psychological gagging is the most difficult to treat since it is out of the dentist's control. In such cases, an implant-supported palateless denture may have to be constructed. Sometimes there could be a gingivitis infection under the completed dentures, caused by the accumulation of dental plaque. One of the most common problems for wearers of new upper complete denture is a loss of taste sensations.
A complete denture can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional type is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed (usually takes 4 to 6 weeks). During this time, the patient will go without teeth. Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments will have to be made.
Dentures provide several cosmetic benefits. They fill in gaps left by missing teeth so a person can feel more confident about his or her appearance. Dentures also prevent further shifting of the remaining teeth and improve facial structure. They offer a range of functional benefits, which include helping the patients chew food more easily and improving speech.
Your dentist or prosthodontist will instruct you as to how long to wear dentures and when to remove them. During the first several days after receiving your denture, you may be asked to wear it all the time, including while you sleep. Although this may be temporarily uncomfortable, it is the quickest way to identify the areas on the denture that may need adjustment. Once adjustments are made, you should remove dentures before going to bed. This allows gum tissues to rest and allows normal stimulation and cleansing by the tongue and saliva. The denture can be put back in the mouth in the morning.
