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Archives for August 2019

Are Implant Overdentures Permanent

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I need to replace my dentures, but this time I’m looking for something that stays put and is permanent. My dentist only does dentures and can’t help me figure out what’s best. I keep hearing dental implants are better than implant overdentures, but overdentures are more affordable. Are the overdentures permanent like the implants?

Morgan

Dear Morgan,

Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures are a combination of dental implants and dentures

I’m afraid you are getting some mixed information. Implant overdentures use dental implants. The reason they are considered more affordable is because with a traditional dental implant you are using a single implant with a dental crown on top. You are talking about replacing every tooth, as I’m assuming you had complete removable dentures. To put a dental implant and crown on every single tooth would have an astronomical cost, as it would require 32 implants.

To make that more affordable implant overdentures use around six dental implants per arch. Then a set of dentures are anchored to the implants. They are definitely permanent and stable. Like all dental implant procedures, their biggest benefit is that they protect you from facial collapse.

Implant Overdentures and Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed for your dentures, your body recognized you no longer had any teeth roots in your jawbone. In an effort to be efficient, your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere throughout your body where it perceives the need to be greater.

This has the unfortunate result of shrinking your jawbone. Eventually, you won’t even have enough jawbone left to even keep your dentures in. Getting dental implants prevents this because the implants themselves stand-in for your tooth roots, allowing your body to recognize there are still “teeth” there.

Depending on how long you have had your dentures, you will have lost some jawbone. There is a chance you won’t have enough jawbone left to secure dental implants. If that is the case, you can still get that treatment option; however, you’ll need to have one additional procedure done. Bone grafting can build up the bone loss in order for you to get the best procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Can I Get a Beautiful Smile with Dental Implants?

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I’ve had dentures for about ten years. I’ve hated them from the very beginning. They’re unattractive and uncomfortable. Their comfort has been going downhill from the beginning. I’m wondering if dental implants will be better. Will they be more attractive than the dentures? And possibly even fit better?

Kitty

Dear Kitty,

Implant overdentures

A beautiful smile isn’t dependent on whether or not you have dental implants or dentures. What creates the beauty is the skill of the dentist. The other issues you mentioned, however, are specifically a denture issue. Those can be fixed with dental implants. Let’s go over that first, then we’ll talk about how you can be sure they’re beautiful.

When your teeth were removed, your body recognized there were no longer any teeth roots in your mouth. As a result, it began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in an effort to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible. This has the unfortunate result of shrinking your jawbone. This is known as facial collapse and why it feels like your dentures no longer fit properly. Eventually, you won’t have enough jawbone left to even retain your dentures.

The dental implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots, thereby letting your body know the minerals in your jawbone are still necessary. This preserves your jawbone.

When you’re talking about full removable dentures, such as you have, you wouldn’t do a one-to-one ratio dental implants to teeth. While you could, it is the “Cadillac” of tooth replacements and would cost a pretty penny. Instead, it’s usually recommended you get implant overdentures, which you see pictured above. This uses dental implants spaced around your arch and anchors your dentures to them. They’ll fit perfectly and be completely secure. You won’t feel uncomfortable with your dentures any more.

Dental Implants after Years of Dentures

You will have to deal with the loss of jawbone you’ve likely experienced after ten years with dentures. In order for the implants to be secure, there needs to be enough bone there to retain them. It’s possible you won’t have enough, but that can be solved with an outpatient bone grafting procedure. This builds up the bone enabling you to get the secure treatment you want.

Getting Beautiful Dental Implants

As I mentioned earlier, the best way to get a beautiful result is with an excellent cosmetic dentist. The best of the best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. That’s what I’d look for in your case. In a way, this is a blessing in disguise. It gives you a chance to get a stunning smile, like you see celebrities get.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Smile Makeover During Pregnancy

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I was planning on getting a smile makeover but just found out I’m pregnant. Can I go through with it or do I need to wait?

Avery

Dear Avery,

A woman smiling with a beauttiful smile

Congratulations on your upcoming blessing. Babies are the best. Whether or not you can go forward with treatment depends on a couple of things. The first is what procedures you were planning. The second is whether or not you’re in a high-risk category in your pregnancy.

Let’s start with the procedures.

Teeth Whitening

Getting your teeth whitened hasn’t been officially cleared for pregnant women. It’s not because there is evidence of it doing harm to the baby, it is because we’ve had no tests to say it doesn’t do harm. As you can imagine, there aren’t a lot of women lining up to have their unborn child be a test subject.

I’m sure you can find a dentist to do it for you. Just make sure you understand the risks. By that I mean we don’t yet know the risks.

Invisalign

These are clear aligners you wear over your teeth to straighten them. It’s perfectly safe to use during pregnancy. However, if you are prone to morning sickness and vomiting, you may find this an inconvenient time to straighten your teeth. The aligners have to be worn almost full-time, with the obvious time exceptions being during meals.

Vomiting will mean thoroughly cleaning out the aligners so you don’t get stuck with anything acidic in them. This will lead to massive decay.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a safe procedure, even during pregnancy. The only chemical used would be the Lidocaine which is used for numbing during tooth preparation. Lidocaine is one of the medicines which has been FDA approved as safe to use during pregnancy. It’s even sometimes used during the delivery process.

The only cautionary tale I’d offer here is to make sure you see an expert cosmetic dentist or you will be disappointed with your smile makeover results.

All that being said, if you are in a high-risk pregnancy group, you’ll need to scrap everything I just said and talk to your obstetrician and get clearance on everything first. There will likely be special considerations.

Best of luck to you and your baby.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.