Dr. O'Connor has been placing and restoring dental implants since 1988. The strength and beauty of your face and smile depend upon strong bones and teeth. Dental implants are a great treatment for your missing teeth because they maintain bone, and function as a strong replacement for lost or hopeless teeth. Dr. O'Connor places and restores Nobel Biocare implants (see NobelSmile.com for more information). Dr. O'Connor is a graduate of the Misch Institute and has earned Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. At the 2011 meeting of the ICOI Dr. O'Connor studied the utilization of growth factors and their effects upon fast wound healing and successful implant and bone graft placement. We can now use your own bone and blood products to enhance the replacement of missing teeth and bone and dramatically build upon a great history of success with Dental implants. Dr. O'Connor is also a member of the St. Louis Dental Society, the American Dental Assosciation, the American Equilibration Society, the Chicago Dental Society, and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. He maintains current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. He is a graduate of the Peter Dawson Institute, has completed Advanced TMJ education at the Piper Institute, and is a graduate of the Schuster Center in Scottsdale Arizona. Recent advanced continuing education includes study under Drs. Michael Pikos, Pat Allen, Maurice Salama, Jerome Niznik, Carl Misch, and Frank Spear. Dr. O'Connor has been associated with the Gateway Study Club and is currently a member of the Schuster-Dawson Study Club. (Implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are areas not recognized by the ADA and require no specific educational training to advertise these services)

Do you see someone around you who is having problems eating? Is there someone under your care or someone that you know who cannot chew their food well because of missing teeth or poor fitting dentures? There is something that you can do about it! I would like to extend an invitation to you and to your friend to join me in a discussion about their chewing problems. I would be surprised if there is not a simple solution that can help. Unstable dentures can usually be held in place by mini-implants or conventional implants. This is usually a very simple and stress-free procedure. It really helps. People who have been taking their dentures out to eat because they wiggle around when they chew, who glob on the denture adhesive, people who dont wear their teeth because they just will not stay down now have hope. The placement of dental implants to replace teeth or to help stabilize existing dentures is usually a procedure that can be tolerated without significant stress or pain. Simple procedures, even for those patients who are not in the best of health, completed under local anesthetic are done in our office every day to improve the way our patients chew, smile, and enjoy their lives. My name is Doctor Tom OConnor. I have practiced dentistry is South St. Louis for 29 years. I would like to help you learn about choices that will once again make eating a happy part of life and put a smile on your face.

Here is how Sedation Dentistry works. After an initial "sedation consultation" with Dr. O'Connor and his nurse, you will take a medication before your next dental visit. You will need a friend to help transport you to and from the office safely. When you arrive for your appointment you will be awake, but drowsy. Most important, you'll be relaxed and anxiety free. While you're in the chair, Dr. O'Connor and his team usually will administer more sedation medications and will monitor you closely throughout the dental visist. You won't be unconscious, you'll just enjoy a soothing mental and emotional "distance" from the goings on. Next thing you know... Dr. Tom is telling you the procedure is complete and it is time to go home - thanks to anxiety-free, sedation dentistry.

Dr. O'Connor has earned his fellowship in the ICOI and recently attended the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. The focus of the meeting was on regeneration and repair of bone defects for successful Dental Implant placement. Of particular interest to Dr. O'Connor is the repair and reinforcement of sites where teeth have been removed due to infections, failed dentistry, or trauma. Attendance at the meeting prompted new technology and innovations to our already state-of-the-art techniques. Piezosurgery and titanium reinforced membranes are now in our everyday armamentarium. A broad awareness of growth factors to stimulate bone growth in deficient sites guides our surgical techniques. Conservative, evidence based techniques for bone grafting and implant placement are used in our practice based upon the tested protocols of the leaders in the Dental Implant industry. Dr. O'Connor has trained under the guidance of Carl Misch, Mike Pikos, Pat Allen, Maurice Salama, Sam Strong and other technologically advanced clinicians in an effort to bring his patients the finest, most predictable choices in comprehensive Implant Dentistry and bone grafting.

Dr. O'Connor has teamed up with nSequence Center for Advanced Dentistry, and through the use of 3D digital diagnostic evaluation using our in-house Cone Beam CT scanner and state of the art 3D software, he can offer a safe and controlled Same Day Smile without the guess work or frustration of a denture or conversion prosthesis. With new digital techniques, a custom fabricated smile prosthesis can usually be delivered at the same time problem teeth are removed. Dr. O'Connor is a student of Dr. Mike Pikos, who has developed this technique in Florida. With all the systems developed for a great surgical success and beautiful cosmetics and function, he is now offering the technique to his family of patients in St. Louis.

Since 1988 I have been helping patients who have lost their teeth enjoy their meals again using dental implants.  Being able to eat and smile and to live without juggling loose dentures are major steps toward holding on to our self esteem, to our independence, to our ability to write our own story.

A typical scenario I see frequently is this.  A new patient has been wearing dentures for decades.  They have lost the bone that held their teeth in place, and they find themselves gluing their dentures in with globs of dental adhesive.  Life starts to revolve around managing the embarrassment and inconvenience of this unsuitable replacement for a comfortable set of teeth.  Typically, there has been some expected decline in overall health such that a major dental procedure or surgical repair becomes a very complex, expensive , and risky proposal.  New dentures usually don''t solve the problem.  Many people just leave their dentures out, or they alternate wear with "no wear" and misplace their teeth on a regular basis.

With new digital 3D technology, thorough diagnosis, and an experienced dental implant team it is now possible to stabilize new or existing dentures for patients in simple, virtually pain-free procedures with minimally invasive treatment and surprisingly low cost.  TV advertisements luring patients to dental implant centers for treatments costing 25 thousand dollars per arch have caused many to abandon their search for help.  For years I have been placing implants and helping our patients look great and chew their food without the use of dental adhesives, with a stable prosthesis that is affordable for most people, and with dentistry that does not require major surgical procedures for safe, predictable, and comfortable results.

If you have clients whose quality of life could be enhanced by implant stabilization of their dental prosthesis using minimally invasive, digitally guided dental surgery please have them call to talk to me.  Our practice, private parking lot, treatment rooms, and schedulijng are designed for their convenience.  Hundreds of reviews are posted by our satisfied patients on Dr. Oogle St. Louis or on my website SmilesR4sharing.com  Please look us up on the web or call 314-351-2900 for a new patient examination and consultation.

Sincerely,

Tom O''Connor DMD

Adult Restorative and Implant Dentistry in South St. Louis since 1979

Three dimensional diagnostics are now available at Dr. O'Connor's office with the addition of the Carestream 9300 Conebeam CT.  Flexibility and precision are the best attributes of the new 3D imaging system.  Quicker diagnosis, finer placement techniques, and more precise diagnostics with state-of-the-art radiology are now available in our new imaging center.  Optimal dose selection guarantees the safest and lowest dose of radiation while acquiring the finest and most detailed 3D images anywhere. 

When you are evaluating the Dental professional who will help you and your family maintain the highest level of health, I think you need to consider a few factors beyond whether or not the Dentist is on your insurance list and if the Dental office is in the next block.

What are your dental needs?  Are you sure that you are even aware of the condition of your mouth?  Has anyone sat down with you and explained what a healthy mouth looks like?  Have you been offered a chance to see how your mouth measures up to "great health"?  This process takes time.  It does not happen in a five-minute exam and a five-minute consultation.

Who selected the Dentists on "your list"?  Did you know that almost any Dentist can be on any list of "preferred providers"?  The requirement is that he or she will sign the contract to work for a fee set by the insurance company following  the treatment "guidelines of the insurance company".  That's about it!

There are few (if any) extraordinary requirements for education, experience, excellence, or patient satisfaction--few (if any) requirements beyond those of state licensure for participation in most dental insurance preferred provider plans.  It's about "the buck"--accepting a reduced fee so the insurance company (middle man) can make a profit while corralling as many participants from as many employers and agents as possible.  And usually the less treatment you receive, the more the insurance company makes.  If that is all you are looking for in a health care provider, just about any Dentist should keep you happy.

If you have high expectations for you and your family, you might want to evaluate your choice a little closer.

Your needs determine the right Dentist for you.  If your mouth is truly healthy, if you are blessed with healthy gums and strong, straight, perfect teeth and a relentless daily drive to personally maintain them by flossing and brushing, there is a good chance that almost any Dentist can help you monitor your Dental health.  Congratulations!

Unfortunately, most of us have somewhat greater needs.  Consider that many of us have lost a tooth or teeth, or have had a number of restorative Dental procedures by the time we reach adulthood.  Also consider that the old restorative techniques--silver fillings and "porcelain-fused-to-whatever metal" crowns--deteriorate and discolor our teeth and gums over time.  Teeth shift and wear.  Bone levels change.  Gums recede. Is the Dentist who spends his day seeing 30 or 40 patients, two or three or even four patients at a time, going to spend the time educating you and finally helping you clinically to your highest potential?  Is this Dentist going to personally have the time to treat you and your family, or will the details of your treatment be left to his "helper" (whose last nameyou don't even know) as he sprints on to the next person on "your list".  If you feel like a number in the Dental office...that's exactly what you are!

Verify your Dentist's expertise and credentials with the State Board.  Have there been disciplinary actions taken against the Dentist's licenses to practice? Is that OK by you?

Look at photos of cases in your Dentist's office that may be similar to yours. Compare pictures of your condition, before and after treatment, to other patients the dentist has personally helped.  You can see dental excellence in photos.  Are the tissues natural-looking after treatment?  Can you see the gum line and is it natureal looking? 

If being technologically up-to-date is important to you, look at your Dentist's web site and library of digital photography of his case work.  If the Dental office doesn't have these in 2014, maybe technology is not the focus of that particular office.  If all of the phoos are canned (purchased from a distributor of dental web sites--you can tell) then you have no documentation of the capacity for generation of beautiful Dentistry of this Dental office.  If the web site is all commercially generated information, not personally written by the owner, you can bet that there will be little personal contribution to the Dentistry you receive.  In other words, just like the cleanliness of the floor and bathroom reflects the clinical cleanliness of a Dental office, the web site of a Dental office should be a reflection of the personal care provided on a day-to-day basis by the Dentist.

My opinion is that the Internet can be a good source for finding a Dentist in this age of technology and information.  Read testimonials of existing patients carefully.  Verify credentials by reference to State board web sites.  Ask about your Dentist's recent continuing education.  A Dentist practicing at the standard levels when he graduated would probably be far below current standards of sterilization, barrier techniques, surgical excellence, and restorative techniques.  Responsible continuing education developes competence in modern dental technology including new CT-based diagnosis, digital radiology, implant dentistry, new and beautiful biologically compatible restorative materials, sterile technique, bone grafting and atraumatic surgical techniques.  Ask about it!

Don't be a victim of desparate marketing attempts to grab patients with loss -leaders like "free whitening" or "free exams and x-rays".  Believe me...Nothing of substance in Dentistry comes for Free".

If you are lookiing for the finest Dentistry available for you and your family, demand to see it in photos, in writing, in the words of existing patients, in continuing education credentals, in on-on-one conversations with the Dentist who will personally partner with you to help you get what you want!

You are the one responsible for your Dental health and the selection of your Dentist.

The bones of your face deteriorate when you lose your teeth. 

Did you know that when you have a tooth pulled you also lose the bone around it? If you lose several teeth in a row you quickly lose large quantities of the bone that kept you jaw strong and your face looking young.  The more bone you lose, the more your face sags.  If you ask the dentist to put those teeth back, odds are you will get a bridge, partial, or a denture that may even speed up the loss of bone.   

 How do you stop losing bone after you have lost your teeth?  A famous dental educator has stated that there are two ways to stop bone loss: eternal rest or dental implants.  You see, when a removable dental appliance or denture sits on your gums, it may look and feel good for a while, but the bone that it sits on always goes away, quickly at first, and then slowly, but with very dramatic results.  In fact, if you are wearing a denture that was made 10 years ago, it is likely that the denture does not fit your remaining jawbone or your face.  Why do you think so many older denture patients wear dental adhesive?  Their dentures just can’t hang on to what little bone is left. 

How can you avoid losing the precious bone that makes your face look young and healthy?  Keep your teeth and gums healthy.  If you lose a tooth, have it replaced with a dental implant before you lose the bone in your face.  Dental implants restore the stress and strain to the bone in a healthy way so that it doesn’t atrophy.  While it is unfortunate to lose one of your chewing tools, it is great news that it can be replaced with a long term dental implant.  Your new tooth can be made to look and chew just like the one you were born with!   

“But my tooth has been gone for a while.  The dentist didn’t offer implants as an option.  There is already a dent in my jaw where I know the bone is missing.”  A safe, inexpensive dental CT scan can precisely show the amount of bone lost so you can get the picture and make plans to stay healthy.  Some of these areas can be restored with bone from your own mouth--a bone graft. Ouch?  Not so bad.  Sort of the same discomfort you experienced losing a tooth should be expected when having a bone graft with current techniques and medicines.  After a few months healing, a dental implant and crown can be placed into the grafted bone to restore stability and beauty.  

“What happens if I ignore these areas of bone deterioration?”  If you wait too long you can plan on wearing removable dental appliances forever.  Frankly, dentures and dental adhesive were never something I wanted for me when I got old.  I’ll take every small step I can to hold on to my teeth and the bone around my teeth, so I can chew and smile like a kid, even when I’m eighty…or a hundred! 

Talk to your dentist about dental implants, bone grafting, and about how you can keep the bone of your jaws healthy.  Don’t become a "dental cripple".  Discuss this problem with someone with training, experience, and knowledge about maintenance of your jaw bone health. 

If you need help, please call (314)351.2900 and set up a time with me to discuss your dental health and future well-being.  I’m a graduate of the Misch Implant Institute and a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.  Visit us at our web site www.SmilesR4Sharing.com.

All the best,

Tom O’Connor DMD