My dad has been staying with us since July 2019. He has mild dementia at age 75 but is basically healthy otherwise. Last week was the second time he lost a denture in seven months. We love having him around. However, I’m unsure what to do if he continues to lose his denture. He has upper and lower dentures and has the lower denture twice. Is there a protection plan for oral appliances or something we can negotiate with a lab if we must buy dentures more frequently? I don’t think insurance will keep paying if losing his dentures becomes a habit. Thank you. Kelsea from NJ
Kelsea,
We understand your concerns.
Although you may get a warranty plan for the breakage of oral appliances, it is unlikely that you can get coverage for lost appliances. There is another more effective option you can consider for your dad—particularly if he is otherwise in good health.
What Can You Do About Repeatedly Losing Dentures?
All-on-4 dental implants
If you or someone you love repeatedly loses their denture, you can consider dental implants to lock it in place. A periodontist can surgically place four to six implants in the jawbone and attach dentures to them.
Look for a periodontist (teeth, gums, and dental implant specialist) who partners with an artistic cosmetic dentist. Your dad can receive stable, natural-looking dentures. You will no longer have to worry about him losing them. The implant dentures will also save future inconvenience and money because they prevent the jawbone from shrinking. When all a person’s teeth are missing, the jawbone shrinks, eventually leading to a shrunken or shriveled facial appearance, making it difficult to keep dentures in.
Schedule a consultation with a periodontist. After an exam and CT scan, the doctor will explain options for stabilizing your father’s denture with implants.
Atlanta periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey sponsors this post.
