Dental Implants Archives | Poplar Crossing Dental

Can You Get Soft Dentures?

Posted on April 15, 2025 by writeradmin.

I am wearing dentures and having trouble with the upper dentures. The hardness of the denture plate is making me gag quite a bit. The lower dentures seem fine and don’t bother me at all. Is there a chance there is something like a soft denture, at least for the upper arch?

Ainsley

Dear Ainsley,

There are dentures with soft linings, but not a soft denture. These are mostly useful for the bottom denture though. They help people who are having pain with the lower denture, which rests on a lower ridge bone. Sometimes a patient will have a bony ridge, which can be an irritation. The soft liner makes that a bit easier and can help prevent sores.

The upper dentures needs a hard plate because it depends on that framework in order to help you with chewing. Even though there isn’t a a soft denture, there is a solution for your problem. My suggestion is that you upgrade to implant supported dentures. Though this is normally more important for your lower dentures, which I’ll explain momentarily, it will simultaneously solve your upper denture problem as well.

Your lower dentures are held in by resting on the ridge of your jawbone. Unfortunately, once your teeth were removed, your body immediately started to resorb the minerals in that jawbone to use elsewhere in your body now that there were no teeth to support. After about ten years or so, you will no longer have enough of a jawbone left to retain your dentures in place. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.

By placing dental implants in your bone, it signals to your body that you still have teeth and you will need those minerals to help you retain your teeth. Because of that, it will leave your jawbone intact. Then, you can anchor a denture to the implants. Not only will you no longer have to worry about facial collapse, but if you do it on your upper denture as well then you will have no plate there, which means no gagging. As a bonus, you will find your quality of life, including your chewing capacity, greatly improved.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
Click here to learn about dental implants versus a dental bridge.

Stuck with Incomplete Dental Work

Posted on March 21, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had prepaid my dentist for implant supported dentures. While the dental implants are placed, I have been wearing temporary restorations for quite a few months now, and just found out that the dentist has lost his license. Now I don’t know what to do because I used up my money paying for work that is incomplete. Do you have any recommendations for me? I don’t know the reason behind him losing his license.

Elliot

Dear Elliot,

First, I’m going to say upfront that I am sorry that you were stuck in this situation. I have a couple of possibilities you can try. For those reading who may not know what implant supported dentures are, it is when you have about four to six dental implants placed in your jaw and then have the dentures anchored to them. I’ll explain why this is essential when you are dealing with dentures after I help Elliot with his situation.

The first thing I would look into is whether anyone bought your dentist’s practice. When your dentist lost his license, he also lost his source of income, so it is very likely the only option he had was to sell his business to have something to live on while he regrouped and found a new career. The sales contract should include the obligation to finish off any work that the dentist started but left before completing.

If that doesn’t work, the next thing I would try is to contact the state dental board. This won’t be the first dentist to lose his or her license, so they may have a procedure or advice already in place for patients in your situation.

Why You Want to Anchor Dentures with Dental Implants

When your teeth are removed, your body recognized that. Because you no longer have any teeth roots that need to be supported, it will resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body where they will be more useful. Our brain is incredibly efficient with our body’s resources. The only downside to this particular switch in resources is that it will slowly shrink your jawbone.

Your lower dentures rest on the ridge of that jawbone. After a while, you will no longer have enough of your jawbone left to keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse. Placing dental implants in your jaw tells your body that you do have teeth and it will leave your jawbone intact. Plus, your dentures will be completely secure, which increases your quality of life significantly.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
Click here to learn about the dental sedation Dr. Becker offers.

Dental Implant Crown Doesn’t Match My Other Teeth

Posted on February 12, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had a dental implant placed on a tooth next to my front tooth. I’ve asked my dentist to replace it twice because when I get home, it doesn’t match. I just looked at the third crown he’s done. Again it doesn’t match. I never get to see it when I’m there because he gives me sedation for the procedure and I’m loopy for a while, though I’m not sure why that is needed for a crown. When I called them for this third problem, they said the dentist would call me after hours. He did, but said I’m being too picky and that my teeth are between the two shades available. Then he said I should just be grateful I have a tooth and if I continue to try to replace this one, I could lose the implant. I just wanted to check whether or not I am being too picky. I think that the crown should be able to match my teeth. I’ve seen other people’s crowns and they match. However, I don’t want to lose my implant. Should I just try to live with the discrepancy? It’s a bit embarrassing, but less so than not have a tooth there. What I don’t understand is why the dental flipper matched better than the crown. Can you help me?

Ainsley

Dear Ainsley,

First, let me say that this is not the best dentist for you. There are so many things about your procedure that he is handling poorly that I feel you will be better off getting treatment from someone else. Ask for a refund on the crown and go back to the dental flipper until you can find a skilled cosmetic dentist to handle the crown for your dental implant. To ease your mind, this should not put your dental implant at risk as long as your dentist placed it properly.

Problems I Have With Your Dentist’s Procedure

Unnecessary Dental Sedation: You didn’t request sedation, nor do you seem like someone with dental anxiety, so I’m am flummoxed as to why he is saying that sedation is necessary. It sounds like he’s giving you a heavier type of sedation, such as oral conscious sedation because you said it results in you not seeing your crown until later at home when you’re lucid. There is not a need for sedation unless you have high dental anxiety.
Not Using a Try-in Paste: Most dentists would place the crown with a temporary try-in paste so that the patient can get a good look at the dental crown in a variety of different lightings to make sure it matches. This way, if it needs to go back to the lab for adjustments, it’s a breeze to get the crown off.
Inability to Use a Color Map: While a back tooth can just use the standard color guide, teeth that are more visible when you smile require a color map. Most people’s teeth do not match when pitted against the standard shade guides. That is when experienced cosmetic dentists use a color map, like the one pictured above. They tell the lab exactly where to put various tints to help the dental crown have a more natural look.

Your dentist is ethically obligated to share all of their notes and diagnostics with whatever dentist you choose. I would look for someone else.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Putting Teeth In With Crazy Glue

Posted on October 19, 2024 by writeradmin.

My teeth are in bad shape. They’ve started just falling out. The whole thing. Even the part I think is called the root. I’ve been putting them back in with crazy glue but it hurts. I can’t go out with my friends and I’m super lonely. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Sunny

Dear Sunny,

For your teeth to fall out like this, you would have to have an extremely severe case of periodontal (gum) disease. I can tell you are feeling desperate based on the fact that you are Supergluing your teeth back in. These glues have cyanoacrylate. While it does work as a soft tissue adhesive, it would only hold for a day or two at the most. Even then, I would think that your teeth would still be flopping around a bit. This is a difficult situation to be in.

My advice isn’t going to be easy, but if you follow it, you can get a beautiful smile and feel like you can face the public again. Once your gum disease is this advanced, there is no saving your teeth. They’re going to come out. However, there are false teeth you can get. While you can just get dentures, the best replacements are implant supported dentures. These place four to eight dental implants in your jaw and then anchor dentures to them. It’s the closest thing to having healthy, natural teeth and they are so completely secure that you can eat anything you want without fear of the dentures slipping.

No matter what you get, you need to address your gum disease. That will take some work. I recommend you see a dentist who offers dental sedation. Usually when someone gets to the place you are in with their oral health it is because they have a fear of the dentist. Seeing a dentist who offers sedation will allow you to get the help you need in an anxiety-free way.

Then, once the gum disease is dealt with, you will need to have some bone grafting done. Gum disease eats away at the bone, which is why your teeth were falling out. That bone is necessary both to support a denture and to retain any implants you choose to get.

I know this is hard and a lot of work, but if you do it, you can have a stunning smile. False teeth can be made to look as beautiful as natural teeth. Though, it does require you go to a skilled cosmetic dentist who knows how to create beautiful smiles.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Problems with Incisors

Posted on September 20, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have one missing incisor, which has been missing my entire life, and another one that has been deformed. It’s smaller than my other teeth and further back than the adjacent teeth. I had orthodontics done a couple of years ago in order to get my teeth in the right position. I currently have a dental flipper temporarily holding the space open. Now I am looking for a more permanent solution for both teeth. How would you advise me?

Carla

Dear Carla,

The best tooth replacement is a dental implant. This places a prosthetic tooth root in your bone and then anchors a dental crown to the implant. This will be the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth in your mouth. It will be completely secure. If that is out of your budget, there are other options, such as a dental bridge. However, that requires the two adjacent teeth to be ground down for dental crowns. If they’re healthy, you want to avoid that.

As for the recessed tooth, depending on how far back this tooth is you may be able to improve the appearance of the tooth with a porcelain veneer or a dental crown.

You did not mention whether or not the teeth are upper or lower incisors. If you are talking about upper incisors you want to make sure you have an expert cosmetic dentist do the work. Those teeth are very visible and exposed to the light, which makes it more challenging.

I think this is beyond the scope of your average family dentist. The big challenge you are going to face is that you will need someone with expertise in both cosmetic dentistry and implant dentistry. You want to make sure that they have post-doctoral training in both areas. Dental school is not enough.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

What If I can’t Get a Dental Implant?

Posted on August 7, 2024 by writeradmin.

I lost a tooth years ago and have been wearing a dental flipper. I’ve replaced the flipper a few times and now want something permanent. I wanted to get a dental implant but my dentist said that because I’ve lost so much bone in that area, I am not a candidate for dental implants. He wants me to get a dental bridge instead. Is that my best option? My other two teeth that would be used in the bridge are healthy and I don’t really want to grind them. Can you advise me?

Meredith

Dear Meredith,

While it is true that dental implants do require sufficient bone to retain them, not having that bone does not automatically disqualify you from getting a dental implant. It does mean that you will need an additional procedure before the implant will be possible. There is a bone grafting procedure that will build up the missing bone structure for you. After a time of healing, you should be able to move forward with the implant.

Both of these procedures require advanced post-doctoral training. It is possible that your dentist does not know how to place implants and, as a result, he is steering you toward something that he knows how to do— a dental bridge.

If you decide not to go through the extra bone grafting procedure, then a bridge is the next best permanently secure option. The other options currently available are all removable, which it sounds like you’re trying to avoid. There is a chance of getting a Maryland Bridge, but that would require cutting a notch into the adjacent teeth as well.

In your place, I would find a dentist who is skilled in placing dental implants and get the procedure you wanted to begin with.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
Click here to learn about the when a dental bridge would make more sense.

Will My Gum Drop Down On My Dental Implant?

Posted on May 9, 2024 by writeradmin.

I had a dental implant on a front tooth. The gumline is now higher above the dental implant than the remainder of my teeth. My dentist put a temporary crown on it and said he thinks the the gumline will drop. It hasn’t and the uneven gumline makes this tooth look obviously fake. I’m worried this is not going to drop down. My dental flipper looked more natural than this. What should I do?

Kate

Dear Kate,

It was a good idea on the part of your dental implant dentist to use a temporary crown to make sure that your gum does drop down. I don’t think that it will, but it was worth trying. If the tooth is looking fake, it is probably because of more than just the gumline. I would make sure that your temporary crown looks exactly the way you want it to before you let him bond on anything permanent. The permanent crown is made based on the design of the temporary crown. You are paying for a crown to match the remainder of your smile, there is nothing wrong with making sure you get that.

As for the gumline, there are a couple of options. I would look at whether or not the gum is visible when you smile. If it is not, you might not want to bother with it at all. If it does, then I would insist your dentist ensure the gumline across your front teeth is symmetrical when you smile.

After dental implants are placed, if the gumline isn’t even with where it is supposed to be, then it will require some surgery to get it there. I would insist your dentist arranges that if it is necessary.

If he can’t get the porcelain crown to look normal in a way that matches the remainder of your teeth, then tell him you will be paying for the implant but want to go somewhere else to get the dental crown done. Matching a front tooth is not an easy thing, so you will want an expert cosmetic dentist. Look at their smile gallery to get an idea of the type of work they do.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Cosmetic Dentist Dr. William Becker.

How Can I Tell If I Need Bone Grafting?

Posted on March 29, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have had the same dental bridge since I was a teenager. Now I am in my 40s. One of the supporting teeth for the bridge needs to come out and I would like to replace both teeth with dental implants. However, I was wondering if I would need bone grafting first because I have had the dental bridge for so long. It looks to me like there is less bone in that area. Is there a way for a dentist to know ahead of time or will they have to go in there first? I’m hoping to do this in the most orderly way possible.

Trenton

Dear Trenton,

First, you will need to be in good general health. This is because the procedure requires surgery and you don’t want any unnecessary complications. Other than that, what you will need is for your dentist to do good diagnostics. This will include x-rays and a CT scan. Make certain that whichever dentist you go to for this, has post-doctoral training in dental implants. This is an advanced procedure that is not adequately taught in dental school.

Like cosmetic dentistry, dental implants are not a recognized specialty so that means the patient has to ask the right questions. Some great post-doctoral institutions for this type of restorative dentistry are:

The Dawson Academy
The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
The Pankey Institute

There are a few others, but these are some great ones to look for. If a dentist has pursued training with those institutions they will almost always list them in their bio on their website. If you don’t see anything like that, don’t hesitate to ask the dentist where they did their dental implant training.

Often, the dentist will have to send you to an oral surgeon to place the implant. However, it is extremely important that you make certain the dentist determines the placement of your implants, not the surgeon.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
Click here to learn about whether to get a Dental Implant or a Dental Bridge.

She Needs to Switch Dentists

Posted on February 29, 2024 by writeradmin.

Several years ago I had an injury to my tooth. As the years passed, the tooth has turned an ugly brown. My dentist said that it needs to be replaced by a dental implant because there is no root left in the tooth. This is quite expensive and I have several other teeth that need fillings. I’m not sure I can afford to spend all of my money on one tooth. That being said, I am tired of being the girl with the ugly brown tooth.

Emily

Dear Emily,

There are a couple of things going on here that make me think that this is not the best dentist for you. First, if your dentist had treated the tooth with a root canal treatment after your traumatic injury there is a possibility that the tooth could have been saved. Without treatment, you risk something called root resorption. It could have happened anyway, but a root canal treatment would have lessened the risk.

A second issue is that it appears your dentist is not giving you all of your options. Dentists are ethically obligated to give you all of your treatment options. When you are missing a tooth, you have several replacement options.

The best option is the dental implant that your dentist suggested. However, as you noted, it is the most expensive option as well. If you told your dentist that it was too expensive for you and he still did not give you other options that tells me a lot about his lack of character.

The next best option is a dental bridge. This is when a dentist suspends a false tooth between two dental crowns. This is less appealing if the adjacent teeth are perfectly healthy, because you don’t necessarily want to grind down healthy tooth structure.

You mentioned you had other teeth that needed work. If one or more of them is an adjacent tooth than this option might actually make more sense for you.

A third option is a removable partial denture. This has a false tooth that uses clips to attach it to your teeth in order to keep it in place. Finally, there is a dental flipper. This is the least expensive option. However, it is meant to be temporary. It’s most useful when you are planning on saving up for a better option.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Ordering Dental Implant Parts Online

Posted on December 30, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have full upper snap on dental implants. These have four posts to keep the dentures on. I often have to replace the male retention caps. My dentist charges me $100 just for the caps. This has become quite a financial burden for me, especially the way inflation has gone. I can barely afford food at the moment.

I noticed that online you can order four of these for just $20! I tried to order them myself, but they require you to be a dentist. Is there any possible way to order these if you are not a dentist?

Ron

Dear Ron,

Snap on dentures with two implants.

I’m glad you wrote. There is no need for you to have to choose between food and your oral health. I am saddened that so many people are in this situation these days. While it is true that dentists have a lot of overhead and need to mark things up a bit to cover their building expenses, equipment, and staff salaries, this particular material would be such an inconsequential contributor to the big picture that there is some leeway. I would start by just explaining your particular circumstances to your dentist and see if he will sell it to you at cost or much closer to cost. If he or she says no, you still have options.

First, I would call around to other dental offices in your area and explain your situation. It is possible one of them would be willing to order them for you near cost. You would not necessarily have to talk to the dentist. Supplies are often actually ordered by the staff rather than the dentist and they just use the dentist’s information.

If you cannot find someone willing to work with you, I still believe you can get this on your own. I noticed the Ebay sells these. Many are overseas sellers and do not require you to be a dentist to purchase them. The only downside to this is that you really need to know what you are needing. For example, the amount of resistance and strength you want from them. Different types give different values on this.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.