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Getting Dentures- How Do I Prevent Facial Collapse?

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I recently found out that I have a calcium deficiency. I am recieving treatment for it. At the same time, I’m also having a significant amount of trouble with my teeth. My dentist said because of my calcium deficiency I am fighting a losing battle and he wants me to just extract my teeth and get dentures. The “upside” he told me is that I won’t be throwing time and money away to try and save unsaveable teeth. However, I have read about dentures and how they cause facial collapse. I’m only in my late 30s. Is there some way for me to prevent facial collapse or is it a done deal?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

Implant overdentures

Implant Supported Dentures

The only way facial collapse is a done deal is if you get completely removable dentures. While the cheapest option, they have the greatest cost when it comes to quality of life. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Add facial collpase on top of that and in about ten or so years, you won’t even be able to keep your dentures in anymore. Leaving you with no way to chew food at all.

Having implant overdentures placed prevents all of that. The dental implants signal to your body that there are still teeth in your mouth. As a result, it keeps all the minerals in your jawbone, which are necessary to help retain your teeth or, in this case, implant overdentures.

Before you go through this massive expense, I want you to get a second opinion about your teeth. Your teeth were completely formed before you had your calcium deficiency. I have many doubts that this is causing your current dental issues. In fact, I’ve never heard of a calcium deficiency in adulthood causing anyone to have problems with their teeth. What it can cause are cramps, nerve problems, and osteoporosis.

My suspicion is your dentist is one who doesn’t like investing a lot of work in saving teeth. When they show problems, he gets rid of them. In this case, he’s using your calcium deficiency as an excuse. That’s fine for him but can cause a lifetime of problems for you. Find a dentist who is willing to do everything he or she can to save your teeth and you’ll have a much greater quality of life moving forward.

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

Will Switching to Dental Implants Give Me a Better Smile?

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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,

Implant overdentures

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?

before and after facial collapse

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.

Will Medical Insurance Pay for Dental Implants?

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I have been trying dentures. Really trying. The problem is the denture plate makes me gag every single time I try to wear it. I haven’t been able to eat solid food for weeks. I had a little weight to lose, but not as much as I am losing. Will medical insurance cover the cost of me getting dental implants because of the impact it is having on my health?

Madeline

Dear Madeline,

Illustration of dental implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

 

The good news is that getting dental implants to support your dentures will solve the gagging problem you have been having. There is no apparatus to cause gagging. The dental implants serve as teeth roots and the dentures will attach directly to them. Not only will you be able to eat, but you will be able to eat absolutely anything you want to.

The bad news is that medical insurance will not cover them, even if not having teeth is having a negative impact on your health. Medical insurance always has a dental exclusion clause.

If you have dental insurance, that will pay for some of it. Probably not as much as you are hoping, but some. Most dentists have you pay in two parts, so that helps some as well. You’ll pay the first portion when the dental implants are placed. Then, after a period of healing and time for osseointegration to take place, you get your dentures and pay for the second part.

If you are in difficult financial circumstances, you may find a dentist who offers a further break down of payments.

I will tell you, in the long run, it will be much better and less expensive for you to get the implant overdentures now. The longer you are wearing dentures, the more jaw bone structure you will lose. In about ten years or so, there won’t be enough bone structure left for you to retain your dentures at all. This is known as facial collapse. Getting implants prevents this because it signals to your body that you still have teeth and it leaves your jawbone intact.

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

I Can Smell My Husband’s Dental Implants

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My husband has received his dental implants for some implant overdentures. Currently, he has temporary acrylic dentures but will be getting porcelain ones soon. The problem is I can smell this awful rubber smell coming from his mouth and I am certain they are his dental implants. I even have to sleep under the blankets with my face to avoid smelling them while we sleep. I would like him to remove them and get some non-metal ones, but his dentist says that the implants are not causing any smell and doesn’t want to remove them. Is there a way to prove it is the implants?

Alison

Dear Alison,

Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures

 

I am inclined to agree with your husband’s dentist. The metal used in dental implants is titanium. These are very inert and are unlikely to release any smell. You can even ask the dentist to let you see an implant so you can smell it. You will see it does not give off a smell. Switching out implants is not as simple as just taking some out and putting in some others.

When the implants are removed, they will take bone with them. That bone is necessary in order to retain the new implants. That will mean a second surgery for bone grafting before a third surgery for the new implants. That is a lot to put your husband through unnecessarily.

If there is a smell, the most likely culprit will be food and other bacteria getting caught under his acrylic overdentures. I would try having him use a Waterpik for his flossing. It will help him to get that debris out better and will clear up any smell. Once a week, it wouldn’t hurt to rinse with some peroxide. I wouldn’t do it more than once a week though or it could lead to him getting an oral yeast infection.

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

Are All On 4 Dental Implants Okay?

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My husband is losing his teeth and we went to see our dentist about some options for him. He said we should get the all-on-4 dental implants. Are these as good as the regular ones?

Esther

Dear Esther,

Illustrations of all on 4 dental implants

All-on-4 Dental Implants

 

First, I want to check something. Was this the ONLY option he discussed with you? If so, I’d be wary. There are many options for tooth replacements. I’d be careful with any dentist who does not give you all of y our options. It means they are pushing a procedure on you. Where the all-on-four procedure is useful is when a patient has lost bone structure, but is not a good candidate for a bone grafting procedure. If he has plenty of bone structure, then this would be a stupid option for him. Instead, I would get him the traditional dental implant solution.

I am unclear from your question if he is losing all of his teeth or if he is just starting to lose some teeth. If he is only losing some teeth, then getting an individual dental implant for each of the lost teeth will be fine.

Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures

If he’s lost all of his teeth, then the more affordable option would be to get implant overdentures. This will use four or more dental implants and then, after the implants have had time to integrate with your bone, a denture will be anchored to them. These are very secure. Another way these are superior to all-on-4 implants is in failure. If one dental implant fails, you will replace that implant. With all-on-4, if one implant fails then the entire unit needs to be replaced.

What I would like you to do is get a second opinion from a dentist with good post-doctoral training in dental implants. To get an idea of the type of training you want, look at Dr. Weiss’s bio. This is important because dental implants are an advanced procedure and they are barely touched on during dental school. That additional training can make the difference between a successful case and a dental implant horror story.

There is an additional consideration. This is his smile. You want to make sure the dentist has some decent cosmetic skills. I would either go to an implant dentist who is AACD accredited and/or recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. They will be able to give them a smile he will be proud to share.

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

Will Dental Implants Look Fake?

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My mother had dentures and, to me, they always looked fake. I now need to get my teeth replaced. I want to get implant-supported dentures and am hoping they look more natural these days. I’m rather young for dentures at 40 so I don’t want to look old before my time.

Pamela

Dear Pamela,

Implant overdentures

Implant overdentures are a combination of dental implants and dentures

First, I’m going to say you were wise to choose implant overdentures, especially at your young age. Once your teeth are removed, your body will recognize that and begin to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body where it perceives it will be more useful. Eventually, you won’t have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse.

Getting implant-supported dentures, puts prosthetic roots into your jaw. This tells your body there are still “teeth” that need to be retained, therefore preventing facial collapse. You’ll also find it will improve your chewing capacity.

The Secret to Beautiful Dental Implants

Both dentures and dental implants can be made to look both natural and beautiful. That was true when your mother received her dentures. The beauty of dental implants is correlated to the artistic skill of the dentist. If you want a gorgeous smile, you need to find a dentist who creates beautiful smiles.

In your place, I’d look for a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) dentists have done extensive training and are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They will give you a stunning smile. You’ll actually be thrilled to share your smile with the world.

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.

3 Facts about Overdentures and Why They Matter

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For the past ten years, I’ve had my teeth examined and cleaned at the dental school. Although I haven’t been consistent with getting a cleaning every year, the dental school is my first option. It’s no fault of theirs, but I have lost several teeth. During my last visit, I learned that I have advanced gum disease. The dentist spoke with me and so did one of the hygiene students. The student mentioned that instead of getting all of my teeth extracted that I should consider overdentures. Whatever kind of dentures I need will not be provided by the dental school. Now I want to switch to a dental practice. I’m not satisfied with the hygiene student’s explanation. Can you give me some clarity on overdentures? – Carlo

 

Carlo – The term overdenture is used to describe dentures in a variety of situations.

1. General Overdentures

Diagram of an affordable dental implant, which is a snap-on denture hovering above two dental implants in the lower anterior gums and bone.

Snap-on dentures

A denture is made to fit over your remaining natural teeth. Your tooth roots will be kept intact, and the surface of the tooth above your gumline will be shaved down. The remaining tooth roots will continue to stimulate your jawbone and help prevent shrinkage.

2. Implant Overdentures

Implant overdentures are dentures supported by dental implants that are placed in your jawbone. After a healing period, your dentist will attach the denture to the implants.

Snap-on dentures, All-On-4 dental implants, and implant-retained dentures types of implant overdentures. What’s the difference?

  • Snap-on denture – Two dental implants are used to support a denture. The denture base snaps onto the implants. A bar can be placed over the implant fixtures to increase stability.
  • All-On-4 implants – Four dental implants are placed. The two implants closest to the back of your mouth are angled to increase contact with the bone. This technique was designed for patients who have begun to experience bone shrinkage.
  • Implant-retained dentures – This term refers to dentures that are supported by dental implants. It can include snap-on dentures, All-On-4 implants, and other methods used to stabilize dentures.

3. Implant Overdentures Improve Your Experience

Implant overdentures improve your experience with dentures and your quality of life.

  • Increase the comfort and efficiency of your dentures. You will find it easy to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
  • Provide stability. You won’t have to worry about your dentures lifting, slipping around in your mouth, or falling out.
  • Stimulate jawbone. The more dental implants you have, the wider the area of bone stimulate. Intact jawbone will support your facial muscles and help prevent premature sagging.

Before you select a particular type of implant overdenture, consult with an experienced implant dentist. Your research in finding a highly qualified provider will help avoid costly implant mistakes and ensure you receive successful results.

This post is sponsored by Philadelphia, PA dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.