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Does My 80 year old Mother NEED Dental Implants?

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My mother is 80 years old and in very poor health. She has high blood pressure, asthma, multiple allergies, and was recently diagnosed with a cancerous growth in her colon. Her dentist is telling her that she needs to have all of her bottom teeth removed and then replace them with dental implants. I just do not think she is in any condition to have this surgery. Especially since she is already having surgery on her colon. There is just too much going on in her body. He said without the implants that she will suffer facial collapse. Is there any other option for her?

Corrie

Dear Corrie,

implant supported dentures

 

I am so glad you wrote. While your dentist is technically correct that people who use completely removable dentures and do not anchor them with dental implants will suffer from facial collapse, your mother’s circumstance is completely unique.

For those who do not know what facial collapse is, I’ll give a brief explanation. When teeth are removed, our bodies recognize that and begin to resorb the minerals in the jawbone where those teeth roots were in order to use them where they will be more useful. It is a beautiful efficient system. However, it does have the side effect of shrinking the jawbone. After ten years or so, there will no longer be enough jawbone left to keep the dentures in place. This is known as facial collapse.

I feel like your dentist is putting profits before care for his patients. Even if your mother was in great health and a candidate for implants, which she is not, she is 80 years old.  There is absolutely no point in putting her through implant surgery. At her age and health, I would recommend you get her removable dentures. Focus on treating her other health issues and help her be as comfortable and joyful as possible in the years which she has left.

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

Can I Stop My Face From Collapsing with Dentures?

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I have just been diagnosed with a severe calcium deficiency. My dentist is suggesting I just go ahead and extract my teeth now and get dentures so I don’t spend a fortune trying to keep them. I have been reading about dentures and came across an article that said my face will eventually collapse?? How do I stop that? Can I stop that? I’ve been crying since seeing my dentist. I’m only 42 and my teeth aren’t perfect, but they are all my own.

Abigail

Dear Abigail,

An image of a woman before and after facial collapse.

The results of facial collapse

I’m going to start with the concept of facial collapse. This is a term given to the result of long term denture wear. When your teeth are removed, your brain notes there are no longer teeth roots in your jawbone that need support. In an effort to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible, it will begin resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. This has the effect of shrinking your jawbone as it loses more and more of those minerals. Eventually, you will no longer have enough bone left to retain your dentures.

There is a way to prevent this. You would need dental implants placed in your jaw. These are prosthetic tooth roots and it will cause your body to leave the minerals alone, preserving your jawbone as a result. Then, you can anchor your denture to that in a variety of ways from fixed implant dentures (as the best option), all the way down to snap-on dentures.

Before you do that, however, I take issue with your dentist’s assertion that a calcium deficiency means you’re going to have problems with your teeth. Your teeth have been fully formed for years. A calcium deficiency developed in adulthood will have no impact on your teeth. What you will have to deal with are nerve problems, muscle cramps, and osteoporosis. Those are serious, so don’t minimize this diagnosis.

It sounds more like you have one of those dentists who would rather pull teeth than work on them. This is not the best dentist for people who prefer to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible.

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

Losing Teeth Like Crazy

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I have pretty advanced gum disease and have already lost seven teeth. Is it possible for me to get dental implants to replace my teeth or will I be stuck with dentures?

Joe

Dear Joe,

Implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

Dental implants are a great solution when you’ve lost your teeth. Anyone in good general health can usually get them. However, your gum disease will be an issue that will have to be addressed in order for this to be a successful option for you. In order to retain your dental implants, you need to have enough bone to integrate with the implants. Gum disease eats away at your bone structure, which is why you’ve been losing your teeth.

Here is my suggestion to give you the best outcome possible. Get serious about your gum disease treatment. Once that is handled, you will need to build back up the bone structure. There is an outpatient procedure known as bone grafting which can do that. Once you’ve healed from that, it will be time for your implants.

I know you’re probably thinking that is a lot of trouble to go through to get those implants. Maybe it would be easier to just get dentures? While it may seem easier at first, you will not feel that way with your quality of life. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Then, because there are no roots of your teeth any longer, your body will begin to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. This shrinks your jawbone to the point where you will no longer be able to keep your dentures in. The implants are worth it. They are like having healthy, natural teeth once again.

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

Implants after Dentures

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I have been in complete dentures for twelve years. I have never really liked them. Is it still possible for me to get dental implants or is it too late?

Mariella

Dear Mariella,

Implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

Technically, it is never too late to get dental implants no matter how long you have been wearing dentures. The only issue may be how much bone structure you have lost in your jawbone. There is a nasty side effect with removable dentures that I hope your dentist warned you about. Once your teeth were removed, your body recognizes that you no longer have any teeth roots. In an effort to be as useful with your body’s resources as possible, it begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. After ten to twenty years, you will have lost so much jawbone that you are no longer able to retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse.

When you see a qualified implant dentist, he should do a round of diagnostics in order to determine how much bone structure you have. If you have lost too much, hope is not lost. There is a bone grafting procedure that will help to build up the bone in your jaw and allow you to get the dental implants you want.

It is important that you find a dentist who has the qualifications necessary to do this right. There are way too many dental implant horror stories. This is likely because dental implants are not really taught in dental school. It is such an advanced procedure that dentists really need to invest in significant post-doctoral training. Without that, you are at a much greater risk of serious complications.

I would look at some of Dr. Marion’s qualifications to get an idea of what type of implant dentist you need.

What your dentist will provide you with is between four and six dental implants. Then, once your bone has had time to integrate with the bone your dentist can anchor a denture to them. These are known as implant overdentures (pictured above). You will find that your quality of life goes up significantly once you have your implant overdentures. Not only will your teeth be more secure, but you will find your ability to eat skyrockets. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%, but once you add those implants, you can eat steak if you want to.

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

Should I Keep My Last Two Upper Teeth?

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I have two upper partial dentures. The only thing left on my upper teeth are the top two front ones. I can’t decide if I should keep them or extract them and get a full upper denture or keep the last two good teeth. I don’t know anyone else in this situation that I can ask. Is there a clinical opinion on this?

Marc

Dear Marc,

I am going to have to preface this by saying my advice is given based on general principles drawn from what you’ve said. I haven’t examined you or seen x-rays so there is no way for me to give you a definitive response.

In most cases, it is better to save your natural teeth whenever possible. Whenever you extract a tooth and replace it with a removable device, there is always some shifting and movement. If you replace it with a dental implant, that is closer to having a healthy natural tooth.

The Danger of Facial Collapse

There is usually an even bigger issue with having all your teeth removed, which is known as facial collapse. When your teeth are extracted, your body recognizes there are no longer teeth there. In order to use its resources well, your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere where it perceives they’ll be more useful. After ten to twenty years, depending on the individual body’s response, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures, a condition dentists call facial collapse. This doesn’t affect upper dentures nearly as much because that is held in by suction. However, if you were wearing a lower denture, it would be disastrous. These just rest on the ridge of your jawbone, which will disappear.

Your case is different. Yes, you have two teeth left, but with the eating/biting stresses put on them as your only natural teeth I don’t expect them to last long. The teeth for a complete denture will be much easier on your natural teeth on your bottom arch. In a situation such as yours, the best solution would be to remove those two upper teeth and place an implant overdenture there. This places four to six dental implants and anchors a denture to them.

Not everyone can afford that. However, even the least secure option of completely removable dentures will be better than what you have going on now. You’ll be more comfortable and it will look more natural.

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