6745 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30097

(770) 279-8800

Why Do Dentist Want Me to Have Dentures?

Posted on by .

I have a disaster of a smile. I always need a ton of work on my teeth. I am willing to invest in them and fix them, but it seems like all my dentist ever recommends is the most aggressive treatment possible. I have two teeth he just wants to pull and put in partial dentures. I’m only 32 and I feel like my life is over if I’m already getting dentures. Is there another option for me?

Patty

Dear Patty,

woman smiling with dentist behind her

The Best Dentists Try to Save Your Teeth

I’m going to tell you right off the bat that this is not going to be the best dentist for you. Some smiles are high maintenance. You can do everything right with your oral hygiene but they still end up needing a lot of work. Just as teeth vary, so do dentists. You have some that will just not want to put in the effort to deal with your smile. Others will make every effort to save as many teeth as possible.

My first recommendation for you is to get a second opinion on whether or not these two teeth can be saved. It may be you will not even need to worry about a tooth replacement. For argument’s sake, though, let’s say the teeth cannot be saved. Your dentist was under an ethical obligation to give you all the options available to you — not just the easiest for him.

There Are Other Tooth Replacement Options

Removable partial dentures are probably the worst option for you. If we want to go to the other end of the spectrum and tell you the best option, I would recommend dental implants. These are like having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth again. Though, they are pricey and surgery is required because they place a prosthetic root in your jaw to mimic your natural tooth. You’ll also want to find a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants because it is quite an advanced procedure.

If you decide that is out of range for you, the next best option is a dental bridge. This will suspend a false tooth between two dental crowns. Of course, that means the two adjacent teeth will have to be crowned, but if they happen to need work anyway, they may be a great option for you.

Find a dentist willing to put in the work and give you all your options.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

Two Vastly Different Dental Implant Plans

Posted on by .

I had a bridge replacing four front teeth. The bridge was anchored by the canine teeth. Now the canine teeth have come loose. I went back to the clinic where I had the dental bridge done and they suggested a partial denture to replace all those teeth (including the canines) and then another for a missing lower molar. I have found the partial to be incredibly uncomfortable. Now they’re suggesting using mini implants to replace the upper teeth. I decided to get a second opinion. This doctor had a vastly different treatment plan. He wants to do a bridge on the lower molar because he said one of the adjacent teeth needs a crown anyway. Then he wants to place three regular-sized dental implants one where each of my canine teeth were and a third directly between them. When that’s done he will attach another bridge to the implants. His plan is considerably more expensive. I’m totally confused as to which is right and am trying to not just let the price difference dictate my decision. Do you care to be the tie-breaker?

Bruce

Dear Bruce,

Right up front I am going to tell you that the second plan is by far superior, but I want you to understand why. Let’s start with the mini implants the first dentist is suggesting. These are not meant to support individual teeth, including dental crowns. They don’t have the necessary strength. Instead, they can sometimes be used to help stabilize a denture, but even then, they won’t be as strong as traditional dental implants.

At some point, likely sooner rather than later, these mini-implants will fail. Then what will you do? When dental implants fail, they take bone structure with them. In order to have new implants placed, that bone structure will have to be filled back in. Now you’re talking about needing bone grafting surgery even before you can have the surgery to replace the mini implants. All for a procedure that will likely fail again.

Your second dentist’s recommendation has solid engineering principles behind it. I want you to peek at this picture below.
cantilever bridge diagram

The way your previous bridge was designed, it put the abutment teeth (the anchors for the bridge) on your canines. There are a lot of twisting forces in this position involved when we bite or chew. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to learn that it didn’t take long for the abutment teeth to come loose, which is why you are now losing them.

Full-sized dental implants can support a single tooth, so replacing those canines with them is a fantastic solution. But, wouldn’t attaching another bridge to them have the same problem as your previous bridge? Yes, except, the second dentist is suggesting a third implant directly between them to help stabilize things. This will prevent that twisting motion, enabling the implants for your bridge to remain secure, possibly for the remainder of your lifetime.

Go with the second dentist. He has a much better understanding of dental implants, tooth structure, and biting forces.

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