Your Host Lisa Scott

Expert Guest Dr. Randy Fong

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Lisa: Hello everyone, and welcome to Medical News Radio, I’m your host Lisa Scott. If you or a loved one have lost a single tooth, several teeth, or all your teeth, then today’s program will be of particular interest to you. Today, I have a very special guest, Dr. Randy Fong, a very experienced Dentist in Orange County, CA, with a practice specializing in replacing missing teeth with Dental Implants. Dr. Fong has been kind enough to share his expertise with all our listeners today. He’ll be answering questions such as…is dental implant treatment painful?  How long does treatment take from start to finish? Is everyone a candidate? Is it only for the rich and famous? And many other questions you definitely don’t want to miss! Dr. Fong, thank you for taking the time out of your busy clinical schedule to be here today with us.

Dr. Fong: Thanks for having me Lisa, it’s truly my pleasure.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, tell us a bit about yourself, your education, and experience as a dentist.

Dr. Fong: I grew up Orange County, California.  Attended University of California, Irvine and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. For my dental education, I graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1985. 

Lisa: Great, so you’ve been practicing dentistry for 25 years then?

Dr. Fong: Yes I have Lisa, and I’ve had the privilege of treating thousands and thousands of patients and families.

Lisa: Now, it’s a fact that only a small percentage of Dentists are actually involved with Dental implants. So what motivated you to specialize in this field of dentistry?

Dr. Fong: Early in my dental career I treated many patients with bridges, partial and full dentures and their inherent problems.  There had to be a better treatment option for patients with missing teeth.  Enter the field of implant dentistry!  Since that time, I have placed and restored so many implants that I have lost count! 

Lisa: Great - So how long have you been involved with Dental implants, and what type of training did you complete?

Dr. Fong: I started restoring dental implants in 1994 and in 1996 started performing both the surgical aspect dental implants as well as the restorative aspect.  I was trained by Dr. Carl Misch, the dentist who wrote the best selling text book on Implant Dentistry and I graduated from the world renowned Misch Implant Institute..  Being a single provider implant dentist, I am able to provide both the surgical and restorative phases of implant treatment to patients.  Currently, I am a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.  This allows me to stay current with the most state of the art advancements in implant dentistry.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, so let’s start from the ground up here for our listeners that don’t exactly know what dental implants are. So in very simple terms what are dental implants?

Dr. Fong: Dental implants are a replacement for the roots of teeth. When you look at a tooth, there is the visible part which you see when you look in your mouth.  I'll call that the "crown." And the root part or the tooth which you can't see that is embedded in the jawbone.  It's the jawbone that holds the tooth roots in place and the tooth roots help preserve the jawbone.  This can be compared to shrubs on  the side of a hill.   It's these shrubs with their roots that hold the hillside together when it rains so the hillside isn't lost. So, it's the roots that help preserve the hill!  Or in the case of your mouth, it's the tooth root that helps preserve the bone!  When you lose your teeth, not only do you lose your teeth you lose the bone also!  This is called resorption and it happens over time.  So the best time to get dental implants are when you still plenty of bone.

Lisa: Is it fair to say that dental implants can change someone’s life? How have you seen this with your own patients experiences?

Dr. Fong: Dental implants can absolutely change someone’s life!  I've seen it!  After dental implant treatment many of my patients seem to smile more.  They are more confident and their self-esteem goes through the roof! This seems to be more significant for the patients who have had dentures and now have implants to retain and support their denture.  And for the denture patient who now can get rid of their partial or full denture. Some of  the benefits that I have seen with dental implants is that the patient's quality of life is improved.  The appearance of the smile is more natural and the teeth function more like natural teeth.  There is increased comfort and confidence when smiling, talking, and eating.  And, there is the ability to eat all types of food again!  All without the use of adhesives! Dental implants preserve the integrity of facial structures.  By preventing the bone resorption that normally occurs with tooth loss, facial structure can remain intact.  This is most important when the face collapses due to loss of all teeth.  Placing dental implants before this occurs can preserve facial bone. Patients are in better health because now they can eat better.  Patients with dentures have problems eating certain foods and as a result, their nutrition and digestion can be compromised.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, there’s some confusion out there with how long a dental implant treatment can take. I’ve heard the treatment can take a year or longer…but I’ve also heard of teeth in a single day…So to clear up this confusion, I want to ask you how long does a dental implant treatment typically take? And why are there these mixed timelines? 

Dr. Fong: Dental implants function like natural tooth roots, and must be firmly embedded in the jawbone.  In order for this to happen, the bone must bond to the implants.  This process takes anywhere from two to nine months and depends on the quality of the bone in which the implants are placed.  This timeline can be increased if an area needs to be reconstructed in order to place the dental implant.  In certain instances, dental implants can be placed and teeth put on these implants in a single day!  For example, the All-on-4 procedure in which 4 implants are placed in the upper or lower jaw and teeth are placed over the implants, all in one appointment. And without bone grafts!

Lisa: Wow Dr. Fong!  Done in one day?  Tell us more about the All-on-4 procedure. 

Dr. Fong: Lisa, the All-on-4 procedure is a treatment for people with full upper and/or lower dentures or for people who lost or  are going to loose all their teeth and are in need of full upper and/or lower restorations. With advanced and minimally invasive technology and protocols developed in Europe, we're able to place 4 implants in an arch and place teeth over these implants all in one visit.  And, done without bone grafts!  People can leave the same  day with fixed teeth!

Lisa: Many of our listeners have been on the internet researching dental implants, or have seen the pictures of what dental implants look like. They are essentially small screws when you look at them?... and for some of our listeners the thought of dental implants being implanted into their jaw bone seems painful. is that true? Or is the pain a common misconception? What options are available for the dental phobic’s out there that want to benefit from implants but are just too scared of pain? 

Dr. Fong: Well, the truth is that most of my dental implant patients say that the discomfort is much less than they expected.  The actual amount of discomfort differs for each individual, but many patients report that it is less than having a tooth extracted.  For the dental phobic’s out there, we offer oral sedation, IV sedation or general sedation by an anesthesiologist. (if you can elaborate on how patients that  go with sedation feel about the whole treatment after its done)  Patients who have had sedation absolutely love it!  They seem to feel so much better after treatment. Patients that have gone through procedures with sedation, say that they would use sedation again.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, a lot of our listeners have lost a single tooth, several teeth, or all their teeth. Unfortunately, the teeth that nature had provided failed for one reason or another. What about dental implants? Do dental implants ever fail? Does the body ever reject dental implants? Are they in any way stronger that natural teeth? How long do dental implants lasts? 

Dr. Fong: Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful procedures in the field of dentistry with success rates over 95%.  Although successful treatment is very predictable, there are rare occasions when the bones does not completely bond to the implant.  When this happens, new implants can be placed and are the success rates of these implants can be even higher.   Things such as smoking or excessive grinding which put too much pressure on the implants, can interfere with the bone bonding to the implants and should be avoided. Dental implants are made of titanium or titanium alloy.  This is the same material used in knee and hip replacements and as a result, they are biocompatible with the human body.   Dental implants can last a very long time.  In fact, research tells us that implant supported replacement teeth have been successful for over 30 years!  Insurance statistics indicate that bridges, partials and dentures lasts 5 years and as a result, dental insurance generally pay for replacements every 5 years.  Dental implants are designed to be permanent.  However, many factors contribute to the long term success of dental implant treatment, such as home care and regular maintenance visits to your dentist.

Lisa: Why wouldn’t someone have dental implants done tomorrow? 

Dr. Fong: It’s usually due to fear.  We offer oral sedation and IV and general sedation by an anesthesiologist. 

Lisa: When people think about dental implants, immediately they think of high cost – are dental implants just for the rich and famous?

Dr. Fong: Absolutely not! I try to customize dental implant treatment to the patient's budget and what the patient wants. I also inform the patient of possible payment options available to them, as well as other treatment options.

Lisa: So what options do you have available for patients that don’t have the immediate finances available for the treatment?

Dr. Fong: Many of our patients don’t have the finances readily available, and we offer interest free financing for six months, or financing by Care Credit. Our patients have been very happy with both these options.

Lisa: Many of our listeners have dental insurance, and are wondering if dental implants are covered completely or partially by their plans, what is the deal between dental implants and insurance? 

Dr. Fong: In short, dental insurance coverage of dental implant treatment depends on your individual policy.  Though, more and more dental insurances are beginning to add dental implants as a covered benefit. 

Lisa: I’m sure some of our listeners tuning in may very well be 80, maybe even 90 years of age and have been wearing dentures for years maybe decades. Then we have those at the other end of the spectrum, maybe teenagers that have lost a tooth due to a sports injury for example…my question is, is everyone a candidate for dental implants? Or are there any age, health, or any other type of restriction that would prevent someone from being eligible for the treatment? 

Dr. Fong: More important than age, it's the overall health and the desire to improve their quality of life that's the driving factor if someone wants dental implants.  Dental implants were originally designed as a solution for older patients that were missing all of their teeth.  Since then many people 80 to 90 years of age have had successful implant treatment.  Simply put, if you're missing a single tooth or missing several teeth, you are a candidate for dental implants.  There really is not a contra-indication for dental implants other than failing health. 

Lisa: Dr. Fong. If you can explain What is involved with the dental implant procedure from beginning to end?

Dr. Fong: The first step is a consultation and   examination and  to see if you are a candidate for dental implant treatment.  This usually involves x-rays, and taking impressions for models. If you have lost a significant amount of bone, specialized x-rays may be recommended. A thorough review of your medical history will done to determine if there are any medical conditions that may prevent you from having dental implant treatment.  During the examination, we will evaluate your mouth and the area(s) that are missing teeth and the amount of bone available to place dental implants.  We will then further evaluate the number of implants necessary, as well as the quality and quantity of bone needed and whether there is a need for procedures to add bone or gum tissue.  We will also determine the kind of replacement teeth that will meet your needs.  The dental implants are then gently placed into the bone.  Depending on the situation, the implant may or may not be placed completely under the gum tissue. The implants are typically left undisturbed for a period of two to nine months so healing can occur and the bone can grow around the implants and form a bond to them.  During this healing phase, you can have some type of temporary replacement teeth, so you will not be without teeth during treatment. After the appropriate amount of bone healing, a connector called an abutment is attached to the implant(s).  The abutment is what the permanent teeth will eventually be attached to.  Then a series of appointments will be needed to fabricate your teeth with the appropriate color and fit.  A dental laboratory will make your teeth that will be attached to the dental implants.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, What is the recovery process like after getting implants?

Dr. Fong: The recovery process for dental implants depends on the procedure.  We also have to realize that everyone's pain tolerance differs.  With that said,  if the procedure is for small diameter implants for denture retention for example, the recovery is similar to having a filling done...maybe a little sore afterwards, but usually for not more than a day.  If it's a single implant, there is usually little or no swelling along with minimal or no pain. Again, everyone differs with regard to pain tolerance, most patients are comfortable with just taking over the counter medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen. Patients can return to their normal routine in a day or two. 

Lisa: What's the biggest misunderstanding about dental implants?

Dr. Fong: That there is a lot of pain after the surgery.  Again, most say that is not as uncomfortable as they thought it would be. With our minimally invasive techniques, we are able significantly reduce the amount of the amount of discomfort for the patient. 

Lisa: For those listeners that are interested in moving forward with dental implants, what is the difference between having the treatment in your practice versus going to many other practices that offer dental implants? 

Dr. Fong: First, we are a single provider implant practice which means we perform both the surgical and restorative phases of implant treatment.  A patient does not have to travel to another office to have a portion of their treatment done.  Most of the associated implant procedures are done in house.  Secondly, my implant experience.   I know how to place dental implants,  how to avoid implant complications and I know how to deal with complications when they arise.  Many dentists can place implants, but not many know what to do when those implants encounter complications.

Lisa: Dr. Fong, for those listeners ready to take the next step and see if dental implants are for them, how can they get in contact with your office?

Dr. Fong: Lisa, Listeners can call my office at 714-549-1903 or they can visit my website at www.randyfongdds.com and request an appointment.   

Lisa: Thank you for joining us Dr. Fong, you’ve really helped our listeners get the FACTS about dental implants. Until next time everyone, stay informed and stay healthy.