6745 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30097

(770) 279-8800

Implants after Dentures

Posted on by .

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?

Posted on by .

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?

Posted on by .

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.