I need some help. I received dentures when I was thirty. Now I’m 50 and the stupid things just won’t stay in. I just found out I’m going to have my first grandbaby and want to be able to smile in the pictures. I can’t afford dental implants. What do I do?
Evelyn
Dear Evelyn,
There are ways to make dental implants more affordable
I’m sorry you’re facing such difficult trials. I completely understand why you’ll want to be able to smile in the pictures with your upcoming baby. What an exciting event to look forward to!
What you’re experiencing, is something known as facial collapse. It happens to patients who’ve had dentures for a while. Your dentures will never stay in because you no longer have enough jawbone on your ridge to keep them in. The solution is two-fold.
Step One: Bone Grafting
You’ll have to build back the bone you’ve lost through years of wearing dentures. This is a simple procedure, but it needs to be done by a periodontist who is experienced.
After that healing is completed you have two choices: First, you can get dentures re-made to fit the new bone properly. Just bear in mind that you’ll be back in the same position in about 10 to 20 years depending on how fast your minerals from the new bone are absorbed. Your second option is to get dental implants. There are ways to get affordable dental implants.
Step Two: Affordable Dental Implants
Using implant overdentures, you can have a new set of dentures made but instead of it just resting on the ridge of your jawbone this time, you use a few dental implants to anchor them. Obviously, the more implants you use the more secure they will be. For financial reasons, you can secure them, with as few as two implants.
However, if you’re able, it’s to your benefit to have more. Ideally you’d get six, but they will stay anchored to your jawbone with two.
Most periodontists are willing to work out payments with you, which will make it even more affordable.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Peridontist Dr. David Pumphrey.
