Posts Tagged ‘missing several teeth’

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Dental Implants, Facial Collapse, Partial Dentures | Comments Off

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Dental Implants, Facial Collapse, Root Canal Treatment | Comments Off

I only have three teeth left.

Saturday, January 7th, 2012

I only have three bottom teeth left in my mouth and I was wondering if a Snap-on Smile would work for me?

- Shannon in California

Shannon,

A Snap-on Smile is a temporary smile makeover that works well under certain circumstances. Unfortunately if all you have left is three teeth and if they happen to be in the front, then it will not work well for you. The Snap-on Smile may be used when an individual is missing several missing teeth but not if the majority of teeth are missing. The appliance would put too much stress on the few that were left.

Another option that is relatively similar in fee to a Snap-on Smile is a removable partial denture. There are types of partial dentures out there that can work if you are missing almost all of your teeth because it rests mainly on soft tissue. This means it won’t put any added stress on the remaining teeth.

The ideal solution for your case would likely be dental implants. They tend to be more expensive but are a permanent, natural-looking way to replace your missing teeth. There are affordable dental implants called mini implants that may be another option for you. Just be very careful when price shopping for dental implants. If a dentist cuts corners on the quality of implants, they could fail leaving you with a greater expense in the long run. Dentists vary in fees so they can be more affordable, just don’t go for cheap implants. Call around and be sure to check out the dentist’s credentials and experience in placing dental implants.

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

Related link: dental implant failure

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Dental Implants, Snap-On Smile | Comments Off

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

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Dentures, Facial Collapse | Comments Off

Dental flipper for bottom tooth

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

I was wondering if a dental flipper could be used to fix a missing tooth on my lower jaw?

- Katie from Nebraska

Dear Katie,

A dental flipper can be used if you are missing one tooth or even two. It is a simple, but temporary fix. The appliance is made of a fake tooth that is secured in place by wire clasps. Typically, it is used for teeth on the top of your mouth. This is because the top teeth are more frequently replaced due to their visibility. It will depend on your particular dentist and also how much room is available in your mouth. But to answer your question, a dental flipper can be used for a bottom tooth replacement.

If you are missing several teeth, there are other option. Dental implants are a permanent and natural replacement. Also, a removable partial denture is an option.

This post is sponsored by Cleveland Implant Dentist Dr. Brad Hylan.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dental Implants | Comments Off