6745 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30097

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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.

Can I Get Gold Teeth Placed in My Dentures?

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I am 45 and have very bad teeth. I’m about to get rid of them and get dentures. I am excited about the idea of getting to plan how my teeth look and was hoping to get one gold tooth put there. My dentist acted like I was crazy. Is this a possibility or am I asking for too much?

Dina

Dear Dina,

A complete set of removable dentures with a pink acrylic base and white teeth.

Yes, it is possible to get a gold tooth placed in a denture. It sounds like this was more not to your dentist’s taste. If he or she is basing your treatment on how they like the appearance, they might not be the best dentist for you. Especially when it comes to the aesthetics of a smile, it is the patient who should have the final word.

You won’t be the first person to have a gold tooth placed in their dentures and you certainly won’t be the last. Some people want the entire tooth gold; some just want it outlined in gold; some want something completely different. In order to be certain you get what you want, it would be safer to bring your dentist an image of what you want the result to look like.

Dentures and Facial Collapse

The results of facial collapse

One thing your dentist should have mentioned is what happens when your teeth are removed. You are only 45 years old and the long-term consequences of dentures can be rather severe. When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that. As a means of being as efficient with your body’s resources as possible, it takes the minerals that were in your jawbone to help keep the tooth roots in place and resorbs them to use in other places where it perceives the minerals will be more useful. This has the unfortunate effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to retain your dentures.

The good news is that there is a way to prevent this. Instead of getting completely removable dentures, you can get implant overdentures. With this procedure, you will place between four to six dental implants in the arch. Then a set of dentures is anchored to the implants. Your body interprets the implant prosthetics as tooth roots and will preserve your bone structure as a result. There are other benefits too. For instance, no matter how well fitting removable dentures are, your chewing capacity will be reduced by 50%. With implant supported dentures, they are completely secure and you can eat whatever you want without anything moving around.

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

Is a CT Scan Truly Necessary for All-on-4 Dental Implants

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I am considering getting dental implants, specifically the all-on-4 dental implants. I’ve done a ton of x-rays and such and now the dentist wants me to get a CT scan. Is this really necessary or is this more of a way for him to line his pockets? I don’t want to spend unnecessary money and I certainly don’t want more radiation than is necessary.

Billy

Dear Billy,

all-on-4 dental implants

I’m glad you wrote. It is great that you chose dental implants as your tooth replacements. They are top of the line and the closest thing to having healthy, natural teeth in your mouth. Generally, all-on-4 is used for people who are already dealing with some bone loss. If that ends up not being you, it may be in your best interest to get implant overdentures. With all-on-4, if one implant fails, the entire thing has to be redone. However, that is not the case with an implant overdenture. Now to your question.

Importance of a CT Scan

Diagnostics on Your Bone Capacity

In order for dental implants to stay in place, the surrounding bone needs to integrate with the implant in a process known as osseointegration. However, if you don’t have enough bone then, you need to look at your options.

Finding the Best Procedure

In some cases, there isn’t too much bone loss and you can still get the all-on-4 procedure. However, in some cases, there is enough bone gone that you would need to do a procedure to replace it known as bone grafting. This will enable you to get overdentures if you are interested or you could stick with the all-on-4.

Getting the Correct Landscape

Getting dental implants of any type is a 3dimensional procedure. X-rays alone will not give the dentist enough information. They need 3D images of your mouth and jaws, including close to the nasal cavity. This will give them adequate measurements for safe placement of your implants. Dentists who take short cuts will often end up misplacing the implants or puncturing the nasal cavity.

So, in your place, I would definitely get the CT scan.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

Should My Dentist Refund Me for Not Finishing My Denture On Time?

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I needed my overdenture replaced. However, I knew I would be relocating soon for a new job. I asked my dentist how long it would take to make a new one for me. He told me it would take three weeks. I didn’t actually receive it until a little after nine weeks. However, even after it did come in, the dentist had a devil of a time getting it attached. He had to force it on. After I got home, I could not even eat a bowl of pasta. I was in so much pain. Eventually, I was able to get it off. Unfortunately, when I tried to put it back in, I found that impossible. I called them and scheduled an emergency appointment. My dentist wasn’t in, but I saw one of his partners. He told me that the denture was not properly made. Not only was it at a slant, but the holes were not drilled out properly. Then, I got a call a WEEK later, saying they’d just ordered the new gaskets. I don’t have any time left. I have to move. Is it unreasonable for me to ask for a refund and have this fixed with whatever dentist I end up with in my new location?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

You should definitely get a refund from this dentist. He made a legal agreement with you by telling you that they would have your dentures ready in three weeks. He missed the agreed time by a significant amount. Then, when he finally did get them to you, they did not meet the minimum standard of care with the results. Though you should not have trouble getting a refund if this dentist has integrity, I have found that sometimes dentists who do shoddy work are the most reluctant to give a refund, no matter how well deserved. If that happens to you, there are ways for you to gain some leverage.

First, tell him you will leave a review telling him about the horrendous service you received. Believe it or not, these reviews have a large impact on their business. You could also tell him that you would be willing to write a positive review about his integrity and his willingness to make things right.

If that does not work, your second piece of leverage is to threaten to go to the dental board. Dentists do not like dealing with the dental board, so this carries more weight than you might think.

Finally, you could do a malpractice lawsuit, but the truth is I don’t think this would do you much good. You wouldn’t get enough to justify the cost, not to mention the hassle and time, of the suit.

Hopefully, he’ll step up and do the right thing.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Marion, who tries to be one of the best dentists in Duluth, GA.

Can I Get Dental Implants After 30 Years in Dentures?

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I have been wearing dentures for close to thirty years. Because of that, I have not had a pretty smile in many years. Plus, my dentures don’t even stay in anymore. I think they have stretched out over the years. A friend of mine has dental implants and her smile is beautiful. Is it too late for me to get a beautiful smile with dental implants?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

Implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

Technically, you can get dental implants at any time. However, the length of time that you have been in dentures means you are dealing with facial collapse. I don’t know if your dentist warned you when you first received your dentures, but this is one of the downsides to dentures. When your teeth were removed, your body recognized that and began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. While this is a remarkably efficient way of preserving your body’s resources, it does have the unfortunate side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. At this point, you probably have very little jawbone left. This is actually the reason why your dentures are not staying in.

Before you get the implants, you will need to build back up that bone structure again. This can be done with a bone grafting procedure. Once that is completed, you will need some healing time. From there, it will be time to get your dental implant procedure going. Because you were in full dentures, you will get implant overdentures, which is much more affordable than trying to replace each and every tooth with a dental implant.

Getting a Pretty Smile

Getting a beautiful smile has very little to do with whether you have dentures or dental implants. Instead, it is based on the skill of your dentist in cosmetic procedures. Dentures can be made to look stunning and dental implants can look fake. It all depends on the skill of the dentist. I would ask whatever dentist you choose to work with to see his smile gallery. This is a brag book of sorts that shows before and after pictures of cases he’s worked on. You’ll want a dentist who gets beautiful results. If they do not have a smile gallery, that means they do not do enough cosmetic work and likely cannot give you the beautiful smile you have been hoping for.

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.

Clear Choice or Costa Rica for Dental Implants?

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I was planning on going to Clear Choice Dental Implant Center to get my dental implants, but I have some concerns. First, they want to do the all on four procedure and I was hoping for implant overdentures. Then, I read some reviews that said they don’t really have any follow up with their patients. This worries me as well. I was thinking it might be better for me to go to Costa Rica to get these implants done. I hear they do a lot of dental work for people from other countries and there is a whole dental tourism industry there. Do you think I’d be better off with Clear Choice or Costa Rica?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Implant overdentures

Implant Overdentures

Do you have an option C by any chance? Here is the thing. Dental tourism is very popular in some circles. When it goes okay, it goes okay. When it doesn’t, it goes very badly. If you think there is no follow-up with Clear Choice Implant Centers, what type of follow-up do you think there will be from a dentist in another country?

Dental implants are an advanced procedure. It takes significant post-doctoral training. In the United States, we have high standards and strict laws with regard to the materials dentists are allowed to use along with the standard of care dentists have to provide. In some of these popular dental tourism destinations there are not even laws about sanitation. It is up to the dentist what type of standards he adheres to. I’m not sure that is work the risk. If you get an infection in your jaw it can be very serious.

As for Clear Choice, while the all-on-four procedure is useful for those who do not have enough jawbone left or who are not a candidate for bone grafting, if you can have implant overdentures, it is better. If one dental implant of the all-on-4 procedure fails then the whole unit has to be replaced.

My suggestion to you is invest in a good dentist instead of a chain clinic or going out of the country. Your best bet is to find someone who is a fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. These are the most qualified implant dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. David Marion, who tries to be the best dentist he can be.

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.