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Archives for May 2023

Will a Dental Flipper Make My Teeth Look Straight?

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Some of my teeth are crooked and I’m looking for a way to make them look straight without getting a mouth full of braces. Someone told me that a dental flipper can snap over my teeth and make them look straight. Would that be a good solution for me?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Example of a dental flipperI think whoever told you about this has a dental flipper confused with snap-on smile. The image to the left is a dental flipper. It is used as a temporary tooth replacement while you are waiting on (or saving up for) a more permanent solution, such as a dental implant. They fit in empty spots. They will not fit over anything.

While snap-on smile will fit over your teeth to make them look straight, they are made of acrylic. They will not be as natural looking in close proximity and because they fit over your teeth can look a bit bulky. They’re mostly useful for things like a photoshoot and not as a permanent solution to crooked teeth that are making you uncomfortable to smile in front of others.

This doesn’t mean that you have to get traditional braces in order to get a beautiful, straight smile. You have other options. There have been many advancements to dentistry and orthodontics in recent decades. One of those is a way for adults to straighten their teeth without anyone even knowing.

Invisalign – Orthodontics for Professional Adults

Invisalign aligner

If you want to truly straighten your teeth without all those metal wires and brackets, then I suggest you get Invisalign or another quality brand of invisible braces. They use clear aligners to gently move your teeth into their correct position. Even at a conversational distance no one can tell that you are wearing them.

Additionally, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays which allows you to straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously. This gives you a mini smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

Help! My Dentures Won’t Stay In?

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Can you tell me if there is a solution to a problem I’m having? I’ve been in dentures for 20 years. Recently, I can’t even keep them in with those adhesives. I went to see a dentist and they told me I didn’t have a ridge anymore and that was part of having dentures. Is there any way to fix this?

Laura

Dear Laura,

An image showing before and after facial collapse

What you are dealing with is known as facial collapse and while your dentist is right that it is part of dentures, he left out the solution. This occurs because when your teeth are removed, your body immediately recognizes that. In an effort to be as efficent with your body’s resources, it begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. The problem with that for you is that your jawbone begins to shrink. After ten or so years, you no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures because the ridge is no longer there to hold them in place.

That being said, there is a solution. I am not sure why your dentist didn’t tell you about it unless he doesn’t know how to do the procedures necessary. However, he could have referred you to someone who does.

Fixing Facial Collapse

The first thing that needs to happen is the building up of the bone. This can be done with a bone grafting procedure. Once that is healed, you have a couple of choices. You now have your ridge back. You can just get new dentures. However, the whole cycle of facial collapse will start over again.

If you want to permanently keep that bone in place, I recommend you get dental implants placed. Then, your dentist can anchor the dentures onto them. This is known is implant overdentures. Not only, will you never have to worry about facial collapse, but your dentures will never move again. They will be completely secure. You’ll find your quality of life goes up tremendously.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.