I’ve been in dentures for about a year and I hate them. Hate isn’t even a strong enough word. They move. It’s impossible to eat the things I love. What I can eat gets stuck in them. It’s humiliating. I think I might have been able to put up with this if my smile looked attractive. In all honesty, my one consolation to myself about needing dentures was that I could finally have a pretty smile…except I don’t. The dentures look fake. I feel like George Washington and his wooden teeth. I’m hoping if I switch to dental implants that I can at least have a beautiful smile. However, I don’t want to spend that fortune if it won’t make a difference. Any advice?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
I have some great news for you with a “but” attached. Getting dental implants can solve all the problems you mentioned above, plus some, BUT, you will probably need to do it with a different dentist. The reason I say that is because your smile could be beautiful even with dentures, though you would still have those other problems. The reason it isn’t beautiful now has to do with the cosmetic skills of your dentist.
My recommendation is you look for a qualified implant dentist who is also a skilled cosmetic dentist. The top cosmetic dentists in the country are AACD accredited, so I’d look for one of those first.
What Can Dental Implants Do for You?
Because your dentures will be anchored to dental implants they will be completely secure. No moving around. Plus, you’ll be able to eat anything you want again.
However, the most important reason to get dental implants instead of removable dentures is the prevention of facial collapse. Once your teeth were removed, your body immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone. This is to use your body’s resources as efficiently as possible. However, the unpleasant result from that is the shrinking of your jawbone. In about ten years or so, you will not only no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your denture, but will look decades older. Dental implants prevent this by signaling to your body that you still have teeth roots that need to be retained. As a result, your body leaves the minerals alone.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.