problems with dentures Archives - Atlanta Dental Implants

New Denture Wiggles

Posted on October 27, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am so unhappy with my new denture. My dentist says it is a good fit, but eating has become a nightmare. It does not feel secure and wiggles. I knew they wouldn’t be as good as dental implants, but I didn’t feel I could afford that option. Is there anything in between?

Millie

Dear Millie,

So you know, even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. It is one of the many issues with completely removable dentures. There is another, more serious, issue you should be aware of as well. Once your teeth were removed, your body began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. Eventually, you won’t have enough of a ridge on your jawbone to even retain your dentures. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse. I am hopeful your dentist warned you about this.

The solution is dental implants. This is because the implants serve as prosthetic teeth roots which signal to your body you still need the jawbone. Of course, knowing that does not make the implants any more affordable. The closest thing to an in between solution is to get snap-on dentures, pictured above. This can use mini implants to help anchor your denture. It won’t be as secure as something like an implant overdenture, but it will preserve the bone where the mini implants are and it will keep the denture from falling out completely.

This is a decent affordable option to give you time to save up for the better solution.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Dental or Oral Surgeon for Dentures

Posted on January 21, 2021 by writeradmin.

I need to remove my teeth for dentures and wondered if I need to go to an oral surgeon or if the dentist can do it?

Mira

Dear Mira,

You don’t necessarily have to see an oral surgeon. A dentist can do the extractions. The surgery for this procedure is fairly straight forward. However, I would go to a dentist who can do the surgery and place the dentures. You want to make sure they do this regularly and not just that they are doing so because is what you want. To figure that out, call the office and ask what the dentist normally does in that situation.

A Consideration Before Getting Removable Dentures

When you remove all your teeth your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. This begins the process of shrinking your jawbone. Eventually, you won’t have enough jawbone left to even retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse. It can be devastating to both your health and your appearance.

Not only does the shrinking jawbone make you look years older, but not being able to keep your dentures in means you will be reduced to eating nothing but mushy foods and liquid. This can lead to malnutrition.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

If instead of getting removable dentures, you get implant-supported dentures, it will protect you from developing facial collapse. You would have about four to six dental implants placed and then, after a period of healing, your dentures will be anchored to them. The implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots, which signals to your brain that you still need your jawbone.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Insurance for Dental Implants

Posted on March 1, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’m losing all my teeth. I was going to get dentures, but my dentist said I need to get dental implants or I’ll have serious problems. They’re pretty pricey. If you figure 32 teeth that is way more money than I have. If I get a dental insurance plan will they help with that cost?

Camille

Dear Camille,

Implant Supported Dentures

Some dental insurance plans with help with dental implants, but not very much. Even then, there is usually a waiting period so you wouldn’t be able to get them right away. However, I have some great news for you. Based on your question, it seems like you are thinking you have to get a dental implant for each missing tooth. That would be impossible for all but the wealthiest of the wealthy.

Instead, what you want is called implant overdentures. This uses four to six implants per arch. Then, after a period of healing, your dentist will anchor a denture to it. These are called implant overdentures and are very different from the completely removable dentures your dentist warned you about.

The Danger with Removable Dentures

The concern your dentist had was bone resorption. When your teeth are removed your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to utilize them where it perceives the minerals will be more useful. Unfortunately, this has the result of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After about ten years, you will no longer have enough bone structure left in your jaw to retain your dentures.

In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse. Getting implant-supported dentures signals to your body you still have teeth. Because of that it leaves your jawbone completely intact. There are other benefits too. You’ll find having the implants there to secure your denture means no slipping or sliding. You’ll never have to worry about them falling out and you’ll have a much greater chewing capacity than you would otherwise.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

I’m Not Adjusting to Dentures

Posted on February 18, 2020 by writeradmin.

I feel trapped and am looking for some advice. I had to get dentures, way earlier than expected. While I realize this is my own fault, it doesn’t change how difficult it is. I have hated the dentures from the beginning. My dentist assured me I would get used to them. I haven’t. They’ve made my life a total misery. Is there a way to improve the situation?

Paula

Dear Paula,

Implant Supported Dentures

I completely sympathize with what you’re going through. While some people adjust to dentures, others never do. There are many reasons for that.

Reduced chewing capacity
They move around
Gag Reflex issues
Food gets under them
Facial Collapse

That last one is so important I’m going to deal with it more in-depth.

The Dangers of Facial Collapse

Our bodies are amazing. When your teeth were removed, it immediately recognized that. In an effort to be as efficient with your resources as possible, it began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone it perceived you no longer needed to sustain teeth, which it then distributes elsewhere in your body.

This has the unfortunate side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After ten years, you will likely be dealing with facial collapse and no longer have enough jawbone to even retain your dentures.

You mentioned this happened much earlier than you expected, which hints to me you are still fairly young. I wanted to emphasize the danger you were facing so you could intervene sooner rather than later.

Implant Overdentures: The Solution to Facial Collapse

If you have dental implants placed, these can be attached to your dentures. This has a two-fold benefit of completely stabilizing them and protecting you from facial collapse. Your body interprets the implants as teeth roots and leaves your jawbone intact. You’ll also find your quality of life goes up significantly as well.

While many times implant overdentures require between six to eight implants per arch, there are ways to make this more affordable. The key is good communication with a skilled implant dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Are Soft Dentures a Thing?

Posted on December 31, 2019 by writeradmin.

I hate my dentures. It’s hard to chew and my gag reflex isn’t working at all with the hard plate. Is there a way to switch to a soft denture? Then, is there anything which can help with the difficulty of chewing?

Kemal

Dear Kemal,

Implant overdentures solve the problems inherent with dentures

There are soft liners that can fit on the upper dentures which help people that have a bony ridge. But there aren’t currently any soft dentures. Even the soft liners have their problems. They don’t last as long and need to be replaced quite a bit. As for the chewing problems you’re having. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%.

I am going to recommend something completely different for you. Has your dentist spoken with you about implant overdentures? These use about four to six dental implants and then a denture is anchored to them. Because they are anchored, there is no need for a plate at the roof of your mouth at all. You’ll also find your chewing capacity is restored. However, the biggest benefit is that it will prevent you from developing facial collapse.

How Implant Supported Dentures Prevent Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed, your body immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. While it is doing this to be most efficient in its use of minerals, the slow leeching of your minerals has the side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone.

After ten years or so, there will not be enough jawbone left to even retain your dentures. Your body doesn’t see this as a problem because it knows you no longer have teeth, therefore you don’t need bone to support those teeth.

Implant overdentures prevents this because the implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots. This allows your body to interpret that as you still having teeth. Therefore, it leaves your jawbone completely intact.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Will Medical Insurance Cover Dental Implants

Posted on October 26, 2019 by writeradmin.

I needed to replace all my upper teeth due to severe gum disease. I’ve since been able to get a handle on that. However, I’m having the hardest time adjusting to the denture plate. My dentist did worry I’d have a hard time with it because I have a pretty severe gag reflex. I’m wondering, because this is sort of a medical condition, if my medical insurance will cover the dental implants. They are quite pricey.

Marjorie

Dear Marjorie,

Implant Overdentures

Most medical insurance has a clause that they won’t cover anything dental. That means you’ll have to rely on whatever your dental insurance is willing to cover. There are ways to make dental implants more affordable. Just don’t confuse cheap with affordable.

Dental implants are an advanced procedure that requires a great deal of post-doctoral training. Some dentists invest more time and training than others. Some dentists cut corners to keep their prices down, but you still end up paying—usually as the result of a dental implant horror story.

Affording Dental Implants

There are a few things which can help you get the dental implants you want. First, you should know that the payments are usually done in two stages. First, in the surgical stage. Then, after a healing period, you pay the second half when it is time to get the porcelain crowns to place on top of the dental implants.

In addition to that, some dentists are willing to do payment plans to help provide affordable dental implants. There’s one other thing you can do as well. Instead of getting eight dental implants, you can get four, this will be half the cost.

Talk to your dentist. I’m sure the two of you can work something out. Patients with a strong gag reflex often have trouble with dentures. You’ll be happy to hear, they just as often find dental implants to be a wonderful solution.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

What If I Can’t Afford Dental Implants

Posted on September 13, 2019 by writeradmin.

My dentist is really riding me about my teeth. Yes, they’re in bad shape. But, my insurance only covers $1000 of work a year. That adds up quickly. To fix my teeth the way my dentist wants me to would cost me over $18,000. I don’t have that kind of money. At the current rate I’m losing teeth, I’ll need dentures by the end of the year. My dentist wants me to get dental implants but that is way more money than I have. What if dentures are my only option?

Jacob

Dear Jacob,

Snap-on dentures are affordable dental implants

You are in a tough position. It’s obvious you’re trying because you’re going to the dentist even though things seem hopeless to you. I’m hoping I can help you a bit. First, I’ll discuss why your dentist is pushing dental implants and then we’ll go into some options you may have.

Most people aren’t happy with their dentures. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. However, your bigger problem is that your jawbone will start shrinking. Eventually, you’ll lose so much of your jawbone, you’ll be dealing with facial collapse.

I realize that none of that information solves your problem. Likely, you are just more depressed at this moment. However, I have hope for you.

Affordable Dental Implant Options

First, you should know having dentures on your upper arch doesn’t have the same consequences as on your lower arch. So, I’d focus on the lower teeth.

Next, if you have to get dentures on your lower arch, there are some affordable dental implant options. One of those is to get snap-on dentures. These use just two dental implants and will attach your denture to them. This has the benefit of keeping your dentures from falling out. However, their most important function is they will preserve your jawbone where you have the implants.

This is because your brain senses the implants and assumes you still have teeth roots there, determining you still need that bone structure. Obviously the more dental implants you have the better, but you can start with two and eventually get more as you are able.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

All-on-4 Implant Failed After 8 Years: Normal?

Posted on August 13, 2019 by writeradmin.

About eight years ago, I went and had All-on-4 dental implants done. It was a pretty intensive process and it wasn’t cheap, but my dentist said it would give me the best results and would likely last the rest of my life. A couple of months ago, I started noticing a bad taste in my mouth. Nothing had changed for me. I’m a good brusher and I floss. I use mouthwash to stay fresh as well. I was a little self-conscious about it, worried it also meant I had bad breath too, so I mentioned it to my hygienist at my visit roughly one month ago. The doc was pretty quick to act and did x-rays then and there. He determined that one of my All-on-4 dental implants was infected and put me on antibiotics. However, he also said he was worried that the infection would come back and, if it did, it would mean the implant was a loss—I’d lose my appliance and would have to go through surgery again to redo the one that is being problematic.

The whole thing is a mess and it looks like I’m not only going to have to go through the whole process again, but have to pay for everything all over again. How common is it to have this procedure fail at this point? And, if I go ahead and start over, what’s the likelihood that the new work will fail again? I’m almost at a point where I’m ready to just have them give me a set of regular dentures and leave it at that. I’m 64 years old, if that matters.

Thanks,

Rick

Dear Rick,

All-on-4 dental implants

All-on-4 Dental Implants Have a High Success Rate

So sorry to hear about your challenges. There are a couple of ways to break down the statistics with your all-on-4 dental impalnts. One study involving 245 patients who had 980 implants placed in total followed their success rates for ten years. At the ten-year-mark, only 13 of the 245 patients had their dental work fail, which means people-wise, there’s a 94.7% success rate at ten years. Of the 980 implants placed, a total of 21 failed, resulting in a 97.8% success rate for the individual implants.

Certain Things Can Impact Success Rates

Clearly, the All-on-4 dental implants procedure works well for lots of people, but it doesn’t work well for everyone. A few things that can lead to dental implant failure include:

1. Periodontal Disease
2. Health Conditions (Diabetes, Inflammatory Diseases, etc.)
Smoking
3. A Placement Problem.

After Eight Years, It’s probably not a placement problem

If something was off about the way the procedure was performed or how your body adapted to the treatment, you would have started having issues much sooner. Think in terms of months or maybe a year or so after. Given the length of time that’s passed, something else likely contributed to the infection. If you don’t fit into one of the high-risk groups, it may be impossible to determine what caused the infection or contributed to the failure.

Redoing the Work is a Personal Decision

If a cause can’t be determined and your dentist doesn’t have any insights, it’s really a personal decision whether you want to do the work again. Unfortunately, there aren’t any really good studies that look into longevity after a redo. But, bear in mind, three of the placements are still solid and holding strong, which is a great sign and also means you will pay considerably less for any additional work needed. For added assurance, you may want to visit a specialist, such as a periodontist, to get a second opinion.

Dental Implants are Far Superior to Dentures

Dentures come with a whole other set of problems. They reduce your chewing capacity by at least 50%, even with the best fitting dentures. The worst problem with dentures, however, is facial collapse. Without the dental implants, your body recognizes there aren’t any teeth there and begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. After about ten or so years, you won’t have enough of your jawbone left to even retain your dentures.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

This blog is sponsored by Atlanta All-on-4 dental implant provider Dr. David Pumphrey.

Are Implant Supported Dentures Permanent

Posted on July 31, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for ten years. I absolutely hate them. Absolutely. I was thinking of switching to the ones with implants but I don’t know enough about how they work. Are they permanent or do the implants come off like a prosthetic limb can? Are they any better than regular dentures?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

Implant Overdentures

You will be much happier with implant-supported dentures than you are with your current completely removable dentures. Unlike, prosthetic limbs, the implants are surgically placed into your jaw, making them permanent and secure. Once the healing is complete, your dentist will anchor your dentures to the implants. This allows your dentures to be as secure as your implants.

One of the things you’ll notice fairly quickly is a dramatic increase in your chewing capacity. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. You’ll be much more able to enjoy all the foods you once did.

Implant Overdentures and Facial Collapse

Because you’ve had dentures for ten years, you may find that when you go in for your evaluation that you’ve lost bone structure in your jaw and need an additional procedure first. This is because when your teeth were first removed your brain recognizes that. In a desire to be most efficient, it then resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to be used elsewhere in your body. Unfortunately, the result is your jawbone slowly shrinking. In dental circles, this is called facial collapse.

That bone structure is required in order to maintain the security of the dental implants. Without it, your implants will become loose and fall out.

Your dentist will let you know if you have enough bone still present and intact to have good osseointegration take place. If you don’t, there is still hope. There is a bone grafting procedure which will build back up the missing structure. This will allow you to get the dental implants you need.

The best thing about getting implant overdentures is having the prosthetic tooth roots in your jawbone fools your body into thinking your natural teeth are still there. This prevents the loss of minerals, thereby leaving your jawbone completely intact.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.

Can I Get Dental Implants Instead of Dentures?

Posted on July 16, 2019 by writeradmin.

I finally have dental insurance. I’ve lost eight teeth because of gum disease. I’ve been trying to get them healthy but know I’m going to lose a few more in the meantime. Is it possible for someone like me to get dental implants or will I have to get dentures?

Ellie

Dear Ellie,

You are definitely on the right track. Plus, dental implants are the top-of-the-line tooth replacement option for you, especially when you’re losing so many teeth. It’s great that you are getting your gum disease under control because that is the first step you’d have to take in order to be a candidate.

It’s possible that you’ve lost a significant amount of bone as well, which will require an additional procedure called bone grafting. This is necessary because you need the bone to integrate with the implant to keep it secure.

Once those things are taken care of you are good for getting your dental implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

No matter how well-fitted dentures are, they reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. With dental implants, your new teeth are completely secure. You’ll be able to eat whatever you want without any trouble.

The biggest benefit of getting dental implants, however, is it prevents facial collapse. When your teeth are removed it signals to your brain the roots of your teeth are no longer there. Because your body strives to be efficient, it resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere.

After about ten or more years you no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse.

Getting dental implants prevents this because the implants let your brain know there are still teeth there which need the bone support, so the minerals are left in place.

This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.