Can’t Keep My Dentures In
I have been having massive trouble with my dentures not staying in. When I went in to see a dentist, he told me that most of the ridge is gone that supports the dentures. I’ve been wearing dentures for 23 years, even though I’m only 59 years old. I’m too embarrassed to go anywhere. Is there anything that can be done? The dentist I saw seemed to indicate it was too late.
Evelyn
Dear Evelyn,
I have some fantastic news for you! There is definitely a solution for what you’re going through. First, let me explain what has happened. When your teeth were first removed, your body instantly recognized that. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources it began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone that are no longer needed to help support any teeth roots. This way it can use those minerals elsewhere in your body where they may be more needed. It’s a beautiful design in efficiency.
The unfortunate side effect, though, is your jawbone begins to shrink. Eventually, as you are experiencing now, there is no longer enough jawbone left to retain your dentures, which depend on that bone. In dental circles, we call this facial collapse.
When you first lost your teeth, your dentist should have warned you about the long-term consequences of wearing dentures. However, there is nothing that can be done about the past, so… we move forward.
The Solution to Facial Collapse From Dentures
The first thing you’ll need to do is build back up the lost bone structure. This can be done with a bone grafting procedure. Once that is completed and healed, you have two choices. You can get dentures again. Just bear in mind that the whole process of facial collapse will start again. Second, you can get what is known as implant supported dentures.
With this procedure, you will have between four to eight dental implants placed, then after a period of time, allowing the bone to integrate with the implants and healing to take place, a set of dentures will be anchored to your dental implants. This will signal to your body that you still have teeth and it will leave your jawbone intact.
As a side benefit, you will also enjoy a higher quality of living. No longer will you have to worry about the dentures slipping or sliding. Plus, you can once again eat anything you want. Even the best fitting removable dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. With dental implants, that is no longer a problem.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
How to Keep Your Jaw Intact with Dentures
I am in my late 30s and have just been told that I should have all of my teeth extracted. I was recently diagnosed with a severe calcium deficiency. My dentist said that would explain why he’s always having to work on my teeth. As a result of the diagnosis, he think my best option is to extract my teeth and get dentures. I have been looking into it and there seems to be a complication with this that results in the jaw bone shrinking. I’ve seen the pictures and I am in tears. These people look ancient. Is there no way to save these teeth? I don’t want to look like that? If the teeth can’t be save, is there a way my jaw can be protected?
Kate
Dear Kate,
I am sorry you are going through this. I have to tell you that I have doubts that you need to have your teeth extracted. Some dentists really like to save teeth. Others prefer to extract them. I think your dentist does not enjoy working on teeth. He is more the extraction type and he’s using your diagnosis as an excuse.
The truth is that having a calcium deficiency in adulthood has zero effect on your teeth. There are serious problems associated with it, including nerve problems, cramps, and even osteoporosis. You will need to get treatment for your calcium deficiency.
As for your teeth, the first thing I would do is get a second opinion from a different dentist about the status of your teeth. Find a dentist who prefers to save as much natural tooth structure as possible.
In Case You Do Lose Your Teeth
On the off chance that you do need to extract all of your teeth there is a way to prevent the jaw shrinking. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse. The reason this happens is because when your teeth are removed, your body recognizes this and, in an effort to be as efficient with your teeth as possible, begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. The way to prevent that is by making your body think you still have teeth roots there that need to be retained.
My suggestion, if that happens, is that you get implant retained dentures. In this procedure, between four to eight dental implants are placed in your jaw. This signals to your body that you still have teeth and the jawbone needs to remain intact. Once the bone has integrated with the dental implants, then your dentist can anchor your dentures to the implants. You will have secure teeth and a healthy jawbone.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Dental Implants Keep Falling Out
You know that nightmare you have were some of your teeth just fall out? Well, I feel like I’m living that. I had four dental implant placed on my lower ridge. These were supposed to eventually have dentures anchored to them. I’m also getting two individual implants on my upper arch. Here is my problem. I’ve only had the implants about a week, and two of them have already fallen out. I have a few questions. First, should I be expected to pay for dental implants that fall out? Second, do I need to be worried about the other two? Third, should I bother getting the two upper ones? Fourth, is it possible to get working dental implants or do I need to find another alternative? Finally, if I do need to find the alternative, what do you recommend?
Wallace
Dear Wallace,
I am sorry this has happened to you. I will tell you that most trained implant dentists have a 5% failure rate. Even then, most of them won’t fail for at least a year. Your dentist has a 50% failure rate in a week. There is something really wrong here. Priority number one will be figuring out why your dental implants failed.
Some Reasons for Dental Implant Failure
- Development of an infection. This is generally accompanied by pain and/or a fever. This can happen if the dentures are not fit properly., often because of poorly fitting fixtures.
- Diagnostic shortcuts. It is important for your dentist to determine if you have enough bone to support the dental implants. If you don’t, there is a bone grafting procedure which can be done.
- The use of substandard implant fixtures. Some dentists will do this to increase their profits without raising their prices.
- Incorrect placement of the implants.
- Placing the dental crown before the bone has had enough time to fuse with the implant fixtures. Dentists call this premature loading.
As for your questions, here are my thoughts:
First, no, you should not have to pay for the failed dental implants, especially ones that failed this quickly. Should you be worried about the other two? Absolutely. Before you do anything else, I want you to see a dentist who has extensive post-doctoral training in dental implants. Don’t tell them who your dentist is, just what happened and ask if they can tell you what caused the failure. Without that information there is no point in moving forward.
Once that is pinpointed, he or she should be able to tell you how to proceed. If you are in good general health, there should be no problem getting dental implants or even the implant supported dentures you are working on. It will require some bone grafting first, but it is very likely you needed that anyway and, failure to obtain that information on the part of your dentist, was why they failed to begin with.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
How Far Back Should Dentures Go?
I had to get lower dentures. They don’t cover my wisdom tooth area, which means I am pretty much just chewing on my gums. My dentist said this is normal, but it is very uncomfortable. Is there anything to do about it?
Stan
Dear Stan,
This is not normal and something your dentist could have prevented. The dentures should not only cover the wisdom tooth area, but go a little past it to what is called the retromolar pad. You don’t want the entire pad covered because that will interfere with any upper dentures you may have. That is the only limitation, however.
The solution, unfortunately, is to completely redo the denture. If you have already paid for it, then your dentist won’t have much incentive to replace it, unless he has a high sense of ethics. You could try showing your dentist this blog post and see if this helps. Before you do that, though, I want to make certain you understand the risks of completely removable dentures, especially lower dentures.
The Down Side of Dentures
When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that there are no longer any roots of your teeth in your jawbone that need to be supported. In an effort to be efficient with your body’s resources, it immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere. While a great way to handle your body’s resources, it has the unfortunate side effect of shrinking your jawbone. After ten or so years, you will no longer have enough of your lower jawbone to retain your dentures. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.
The solution to this is to have dental implants placed and secure your dentures to them. Some people call this implant overdentures. The dental implants serve as prosthetic teeth roots. Because you have “roots,” your body will preserve the minerals there in order to support the teeth.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.