Archive for the ‘Facial Collapse’ Category

Dental implants vs. removable partial dentures

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012

Hello,

I currently have removable dentures and I am sick of them! I have been missing several upper teeth for over 20 years. I am considering dental implants and was wondering if that would be a good way to go even though it has been many years?

Currently I have nine teeth missing on top and three missing on the bottom.

- Dolores in Minnesota

Dolores,

Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. They are a permanent solution that looks, feels, and functions just like your natural teeth used to.

There are three main problems when it comes to removable partial dentures and they are outlined below.

  • First off, they can place additional stress on the the teeth that are used to fasten them in place. Over time, patients can actually end up loosing those teeth that they are attached to. This is especially frequent in individuals that are missing many upper teeth as you have mentioned.
  • Removable partials also trap food particles in the clasps that are used to attach them to the teeth. This means that tooth decay can become a serious problem in those areas.
  • Patients also complain of the discomfort caused by removable partial dentures. The upper partial sometimes covers up your palate. In these cases patients have complained of having issues with gagging.

Dental implants will not present any of these problems that you are facing with partial dentures. There is some healing time during the two main parts of the dental implant procedure. And although they tend to cost more, the quality of life you will experience will be well worth it.

When searching for an implant dentist, it is imperative that you proceed with caution. Many dentists make the claim to be implant dentists and in actuality may not have any additional implant training to speak of. And since the designation is not a regulated field within dentistry you need to research the dentist and really look into their credentials and experience with dental implant cases.

It is also quite possible that you may require bone grafting. This step will need to happen before you get the implants placed and is largely due to a condition called facial collapse. What happens over 10 to 20 years of not having teeth is that your body resorbs the jawbone to be used elsewhere in the body. Bone grafting will build the bone back up so the implants can be surgically implanted.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Related link: dental implant failure

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Will a tooth infection poision my body?

Sunday, September 9th, 2012

I am wondering what kind of symptoms are to be expected if I have a tooth infection that has not been treated for awhile? I have been experiencing on and off aches, most often in my legs, and my temperature has been up to 102.4 (F) at times. At first I just thought I had a bug of some sort but now I’m starting to think it is because of my teeth. I have had abscesses in the past and several of my teeth are exposed to food and drink because the cavities have fallen out. Do you know if my body can be poisoned from an infection in my tooth?

- Ron in Washington

Ron,

The symptoms you have described can all be caused from a tooth infection. So the answer is, yes, a tooth infection can poison your system. You need to see a dentist immediately to find out what kind of treatment is needed. The teeth may require root canal treatments to heal them.

It is also possible that when you see the dentist they may recommend having multiple tooth extractions if the teeth are in that bad of shape. Unfortunately, this may cause you issues later because you will have trouble eating. Then, it may be possible to have all your teeth extracted which leads to a condition known as facial collapse. What happens when you are missing several teeth is that the bone is resorbed to be used elsewhere in the body. Some facial collapse patients can’t even wear a denture after their jawbone has shrunk significantly.

Dental implants will prevent facial collapse. So if your teeth are at all salvageable, then you may want to consider replacing them with implants.

I hope you feel better soon.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

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Should my son have all of his teeth extracted?

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Hello,

I have a son who is 22 years old and he is a recovering drug addict. Sadly his drug problem has destroyed his teeth and our dentist is recommending he have all of his teeth extracted. This means he wants to remove 27 teeth and fit him for dentures. That sounds like a lot to me, but I’m not an expert. Do you know if dentures are made to custom fit? If this is the best thing for my son, then I’m on board. He has difficulty eating and chewing right now. But I’m a bit apprehensive.

- Carla in Illinois

Carla,

In my opinion 22 years old is far to young to have all of your son’s teeth removed and replaced with dentures. He will be dealing with long-term consequences for the rest of his life.

What happens when all of your teeth are extracted is that your jawbone shrinks in a condition called facial collapse. This is because the body senses that the bone is no longer needed to support the teeth. Therefore, by the time he is 40 years old this condition may prevent him from wearing any type of denture. He will be a dental cripple and have extreme difficulty eating. At this time bone grafting can be done to rebuild the jawbone, but the procedure is very expensive. Then as he ages, the condition will only worsen.

If any of this teeth are salvageable, that would be ideal to preserve any of the jawbone that you can. It may end up being more work for your dentist over time, but the result will likely be better for your son’s overall dental health and quality of life.

If none of his teeth can be saved, dental implants are a permanent solution that will prevent facial collapse. They are more expensive than dentures, but even placing a couple implants on the top and on the bottom will go a long way in maintaining his bone preservation.

Your son may have had a tough road with drug addiction, but that doesn’t mean he should only have one option for his treatment.

If he does move forward with the tooth extractions, the amount of novocain required for so many extractions is quite large. And the possibility for trauma is increased.

It is difficult to make recommendations without actually seeing your son, but I would recommend seeking other opinions. You want to make the best long-term decision for his dental health.

I hope this information was helpful.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Related links: denture problems, immediate dentures

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Should I get a bridge or partial denture?

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Hello,

I have been told that I need a dental bridge. My dentist called it a five unit bridge to be specific. As I understand it, he was afraid that placing a partial denture wouldn’t work since I suffer from gum disease and bone loss. This could end up putting to much pressure on my already loose teeth. I received a quote of $5500 without the tooth extraction costs. Does that sound fair or should I keep looking?

- Paul in Louisiana

Paul,

The price sounds appropriate for your geographic area. Although, it may be a good idea to get a second opinion to see if a dental bridge truly is the best option for your situation. Typically, a removable partial denture is known to place less stress on the surrounding teeth. Additionally, it is a lot less risky of a procedure. The bridge actually places quite a bit of stress on the teeth that surround the area. If you end up with a problem on one of the supporting teeth, you’d likely have to start over.

Best of luck!

This post is sponsored by Cleveland implant dentist Hylan Dental Care.

Other links you may be interested in: Partial denture problems; Dental implant vs. bridge; Facial collapse

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Dentures don’t fit and are painful

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Is there anything that can be done to the lower jaw bone to stop it from curling forward and getting less height? It does not hold up my bottom plate so it hits my lip crevice and causes massive blisters where I have to completely remove my teeth in order to eat without pain. My lower bone structure is like folding or starting to roll forward so it makes my dentures not fit well and very painful.
- Nancy from Missouri

Nancy,
You have very little jawbone left, and this is what happens when you haven’t had teeth for many years. Your jawbone keeps shrinking and it gets more and more difficult to wear a denture comfortably. When your jawbone gets thin like it has for you, it gets sharper, and trying to rest a denture on it can be painful. We call your condition facial collapse, and it happens gradually over a period of ten to twenty years after all your teeth are extracted.

It’s a difficult problem, and the only solution is to have bone grafting done to increase the amount of jawbone, and then you can have dental implants placed which will anchor your denture.

This is why we encourage patients to have dental implants done when they first lose their teeth. When dental implants are present, it prevents facial collapse.

My suggestion is to find a dentist who does a lot of dental implants. You may find dentists who tell you that your case is hopeless and there is nothing that can be done for you. But there are dentists who are successfully treating cases of facial collapse like yours, so keep looking until you can find one. If you can find a dentist who is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, that is an excellent credential that tells you the dentist is truly an expert in this work.

Links:
Cleveland dental implants
Best implant dentist in Cleveland?

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