Are Dentures Causing TMJ?
I’ve been in dentures for about 15 years and it feels like every year my jaw pain feels worse. I went to see a dentist about it and he said that I have TMJ disorder. He thinks it is because of my dentures and recommended that I switch to dental implants. Those are pretty pricey. Is this a legitimate thing or is he just trying to get some money out of a patient with no teeth?
Andrew
Dear Andrew,
I want to preface this by saying that I have not examined you, so the information I provide is more general in nature than specific to your case. It is true that you can develop facial collapse from dentures for a couple of reasons. One would be that your dentist made the dentures in such a way that it threw off the proper alignment of your bite. The would become noticeable fairly quickly. Based on what you described yours came on gradually, so I don’t think that is the case for you.
A second way this can occur is from the onset of facial collapse. When you removed your teeth, your body recognized that. Our bodies are extremely efficient. Realizing that you no longer have any teeth to support in your jaw, it will redistribute the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. This has the unfortunate side effect of shrinking your jawbone. In fact, after ten or more years you will no longer have enough jawbone left to keep your dentures in at all. This is known as facial collapse.
As your jaw shrinks, it will affect the temporomandibular joint. This is what helps your jaw move. When your bite changes, the way this joint functions changes too. This can lead to TMJ problems. You’ve been in dentures for 15 years. My guess is, in addition to the jaw pain that you feel, you are starting to have trouble with the dentures themselves. Maybe they’re sliding more than they used to. Or maybe you can’t even keep them in.
Dental implants can fix that. You will need a bone grafting procedure first in order to build back up the lost structure. After that, you can either get removable dentures again, which will restart the whole cycle of facial collapse, or you can get implant supported dentures.
The implants signal to your body that you still have teeth, therefore it needs to leave your jawbone alone. If you go this direction, make sure your implant dentist also has training and experience teaching TMJ. This is so they have the skills to reframe your bite in a way that it has proper occlusion. This should stop your jaw pain.
This blog is brought to you by compassionate dentist in Moline Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Does My Mother Have Options Other Than Dental Implants?
My mother is 84 years old with teeth that need a lot of work. Her dentist is suggesting that she remove them and get dental implants. I’ve looked into this and it appears to require a pretty extensive surgery. At her age, I am a bit concerned this is more than her body can handle. Are there better options for someone at her stage of life?
Danielle
Dear Danielle,
I am glad you wrote. Under normal circumstances, it would be important to get dental implants to replace her missing teeth, especially on her lower arch. When her teeth are removed, her body recognizes that. As a result, it will begin to resorb the minerals in her jawbone in order to use the resources of her body as efficiently as possible. The downside to that is it starts to shrink her jawbone. In about ten or so years, she will not have enough jawbone to even keep her dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.
If she were younger, this would be disastrous. Given her age, I don’t think facial collapse is her biggest issue. You know her best, but depending on her health, the surgery required for the procedure might not be worth the risk. In that case, what you can do is simply get her dentures. These can replace her teeth without the hardship of having dental implant surgery.
If she’s perfectly healthy and you think she’ll be around for quite some time, then dental implants will protect her jawbone. I would factor in her health before making a decision.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Is It Too Late for Me to Have a Pretty Smile with Dental Implants?
I am a denture patient and have been wearing them for over 20 years. My smile has been unattractive this whole time. Is it too late for me to get a pretty smile with dental implants? I’ve seen pictures of them and they look much better than my smile.
Alana
Dear Alana,
I’m glad you wrote. Technically, it is never too late to get dental implants. Given that you have been in dentures for over twenty years, you will need one additional procedure to make it work, though. When your teeth were removed, your body recognized that and immediately began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone that you no longer needed to hold in your teeth. It does this in order to be efficient with your body’s resources.
However, the side effect for this is it slowly shrinks your jawbone. Your lower denture rests on that jawbone. You’ve likely started noticing that your denture is slipping more. Soon, you won’t be able to keep it in at all. This is known as facial collapse. Hopefully, your dentist warned you about this when you first discussed getting dentures.
The prevention of facial collapse is to place dental implants in your jaw and anchor your dentures to those. Some people call these implant overdentures. The implants signal to your body that you still have teeth to retain so it leaves your jawbone intact. You’ll also find that it increases your quality of life significantly. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. With dental implants, you’ll be able to eat anything you want again.
In order for you to get those dental implants, you’ll first need a bone grafting procedure. This will replace all the bone structure you lost while wearing dentures. This bone is essential in order to retain your dental implants. Then, once that is healed you can move forward with the implants.
One thing to be aware of is that the beauty of your smile will have nothing to do with whether or not you have dentures versus implants. Instead, it depends on the artistic skill of your dentist. You can have a skilled cosmetic dentist create gorgeous dentures. Ask to see their smile gallery of cases they’ve done to get an idea of the type of results they get. Also make sure they have post-doctoral training in dental implants. This is an advanced procedure and you don’t want to end up in a worse situation than you started.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
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.
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.