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I Look Great… Until I Smile

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I’m 37 years old and in top shape. I workout four days a week and watch what I eat. I’m a size four and love the way I look… until I smile. My teeth are an absolute mess. I need to just replace my teeth completely. However, I don’t want dentures because of my age. I know I need to get implant supported dentures, but they are so expensive it is impossible. When I see people that have dental implants on those commercials I wonder if they got them for free by doing an advertising testimonial. Is that a possibility for me? If not, are there charity dental clinics that will do the work for me?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Implant overdentures

If your teeth cannot be saved, then implant supported dentures are your best option. I would look into what it would take to save your teeth first, before giving up on them. Getting your natural teeth in shape is very likely to be less expensive than a full set of implant overdentures. I would start by seeing a decent cosmetic dentist and have him triage your teeth and make a treatment plan. You can spread out the treatments to get your teeth back to order.

You didn’t say if there were cosmetic issues with your teeth or just condition issues. If the problems are strictly cosmetic, there are inexpensive cosmetic options such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, and Invisalign.

If however your teeth really are beyond saving, then yes, you’ll want implant supported dentures in order to avoid facial collapse. I don’t think you’ll be able to do a testimonial in order to cover treatment. The reason for that is that patients are willing to give testimonials for free. While there are dental charities, they pretty much uniformly will only provide you with removable dentures. Like Medicaid, they will generally only give you the cheapest option.

There are ways to try and afford them:

  • Look for a school that is teaching dentists how to place implants. They are inexperienced and it will take longer, but they will have an instructor overseeing them.
  • You could get snap on dentures, which can use as few as two dental implants. It won’t be the same as the full treatment but it can make a difference.
  • As a last resort, you can get removable dentures while you save up for the implants.

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

Putting Teeth In With Crazy Glue

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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,

An illustration of a dental implant in three images

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.

If I Want To Get Rid Of My Teeth Do I See an Oral Surgeon or Dentist?

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I grew up with a horrible fear of the dentist. I do not even remember how it all started. Unfortunately, this fear carried over into adulthood and I no longer had anyone pressuring me to go. Now my mouth is a mess and hurts more often than it doesn’t. I think I am to the point where I just want to have my teeth removed and get dentures. It sounds like a dream to think about not being in pain every day. In that case, do I see a dentist or an oral surgeon to remove my teeth?

Mark

Dear Mark,

Man holding his jaw in pain

I am sorry for what you’ve been dealing with your entire life. Often, these dental phobias start after a particularly traumatizing appointment with their childhood dentist.  Before we go into the procedure for getting rid of your teeth, I want to suggest that you try to save them. I know. I know. You HATE dentists, and given your life experience I completely understand that. However, I know something that can change your life.

As you’ll have to see a dentist no matter what decision you make, I am going to suggest you see a sedation dentist. First, schedule a consultation. Talk to the dentist about your anxiety and ask for an appointment using oral conscious sedation. This is sometimes called sleep dentistry because it is so strong that patients often sleep completely through their appointment. Patients who have dealt with a lifetime of anxiety suddenly find they can go to the dentist again without any fear.

Are Dentures REALLY What You Want?

before and after facial collapse

A woman’s jaw before and after facial collapse.

The thing about dentures is that they can often be just as miserable. They move around in your mouth and rub up against the ridge of your jawbone. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%.  However, the worst part of this is that the moment your teeth are removed your body recognizes that and immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. After ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to even retain your dentures. This is known in dental circles as facial collapse.

My suggestion is you see if the dentist can save as many teeth as possible and just replace those which cannot be saved. If it turns out none of your teeth can be saved and you have to get dentures, then I recommend you get implant-supported dentures. The dental implants will keep them secure and prevent facial collapse. I am hoping that will not be necessary.

See that sedation dentist and then we can go from there.

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

I Have to Have All My Teeth Extracted. How Can I Keep My Face from Collapsing?

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I am only thirty years old and have to have my teeth extracted. My dentist said my calcium deficiency has ruined my teeth. I have two children who are still toddlers and I don’t want to look like a grandmother, especially because I am a widow and do hope to remarry someday, if I meet someone. Is there a way to do this without my face collapsing? I’ve been in tears for days.

Allie

Dear Allie,

I am sorry you have so much to deal with on your own. My condolences on the loss of your husband are included in that. Is it your dentist who told you that your calcium deficiency is why your teeth need to be removed? If so, he or she is making excuses. Your teeth are fully formed before adulthood and any deficiency you have now will not have an impact on your teeth. I am going to highly suggest you get a second opinion before going forward with your dentist’s recommendation to remove your teeth.

Different dentists vary in their willingness to save teeth. Some do not want to do anything except extract. Others will work like mad to save even teeth that are far gone. You want a dentist who is willing to fight for your teeth. It is possible your teeth are in bad condition because you have had two pregnancies close together. If you had a lot of morning sickness, this can be very hard on your teeth. That does not necessarily mean they are unsavable. However, we will go over what to do if they do need to be extracted.

What is facial collapse?

before and after facial collapse For those who may be unfamiliar with this term I want to go over what happens when your teeth are removed. Our bodies are designed to be remarkably efficient. When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes there are no longer tooth roots and will begin to resorb the minerals in your jawbone that were helping to retain your teeth. It does this in order to use its resources in the best way it can. While a fantastic way of distributing resources, it has the unfortunate effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After ten years or so, you will no longer have enough of a jawbone to even retain your dentures in your mouth, effectively making you a dental cripple.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

If it turns out you do need to extract all your teeth (which I am still not convinced of), then you can get implant supported dentures. Implant overdentures use four to eight dental implants in each arch. Then, once the bone has integrated with the implants, your dentist will anchor a denture onto the implants. Because of the prosthetic roots that dental implants provide, your body interprets them as the roots of your teeth and therefore leaves your jawbone completely intact. This would be my recommendation if your are losing your teeth.

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

I Can’t Keep My Denture In

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I have been in dentures for over 30 years. I first lost my teeth when I was just 30 years old. I can’t keep them in. there is no ridge left on my lower jaw which means I cannot keep my dentures in anymore. I’m guessing I have to replace this but I’m not sure if it will do any good without the ridge on my jawbone.

Evelyn

 

Dear Evelyn,

Implant Overdentures

Implant Overdentures

I am sorry you are in this situation. I wish your dentist would have warned you about this when you were first fitted for dentures. Once your teeth were removed, your body immediately began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. It did this because your body recognizes you do not have any teeth that need support anymore. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources, it resorbs those minerals in order to use them where they will be more useful in your body. The problem with this is that your jawbone slowly shrinks until you no longer have enough support for your denture. This is known as facial collapse in dental circles and is what you are going through.

The prevention for this would have been to get implant overdentures. This places dental implants as prosthetic tooth roots in your jawbone and then anchors your dentures to them. The implants prevent the loss of any jawbone as well as giving you a denture that is completely secure. No slips and your chewing capacity would be significantly increased.  Unfortunately, you don’t seem to have been given this option.

 

snap on denture

Snap-on Denture

 

At this point, you have a couple of options. Before any of them are viable, however, you will have to build back up your jawbone. In order to do that, you will need to have some bone grafting done. Once that has healed, that is where decision time begins.

First, you could just replace your denture. However, you are still young and will face the same problem as your body, once again, resorbs all the minerals. Your second option is to get implant over dentures, as described above. They will cost a significant amount of money. If that is too much money, don’t give up. Even as many as two implants for a snap-on denture will help preserve your bone.

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

Should I Go to Clear Choice for Dental Implants?

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I want to get dental implants and there is a Clear Choice Dental Implant Center near me. I thought it would be a good idea to go someplace that focuses on the procedure I need, but someone recently told me they are unethical. Now I am torn. Should I go to Clear Choice for my dental implants or do I need to find somewhere else?

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

metal-free zirconia dental implants

I could not say with certainty that every Clear Choice Dental Implant Center is unethical. I can tell you that I have concerns about their general practices. Here are some things to consider.

Because they are a corporate practice, there tends to be more emphasis on salesmanship and marketing. It is rarely a good idea to mix salesmanship with patient care. As dentists, our job is not to sell a procedure, but to treat the patient with the procedures they need, whatever that is. This leads me to a second concern. An inordinately high number of patients that go there are told that the procedures they need are to extract all their teeth and get the all-on-4 procedure.

This bothers me for a couple of reasons. First, I would want to make absolutely certain that none of those teeth can be saved. Natural teeth should always be preferred to even the best replacement option. I have heard patients say that only need six teeth replaced with dental implants and it was still recommended they extract all of them.

Second, they always seem to recommend the all-on-4 procedure, which has its downside. It is designed for patients who’ve lost a little bit of their bone structure but do not want to do bone grafting. If you NEED to remove all of your teeth, implant overdentures would be a better option. If one part of the until fails, you just replace that part. With the all-on-four, if one part fails you have to replace the whole thing.

Third, their pricing seems odd to me. In many locations, they price to compete with those who get bone grafting and implant overdentures. But, if you’re getting all-on-4, you don’t get the bone grafting. This seems like a way they pad their pockets.

Finally, their follow up care is non-existent. Once you have the procedure you are pretty much on your own.

My recommendation to you is to get your consult with Clear Choice, but DO NOT allow them to pressure you to commit to anything, which they will try to do. Then, see a private dentist with dental implant training. Whichever you think will be better at giving you the ideal treatment for your situation and will give you the follow up care you need is the one I say to stick with.

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

Clear Choice or Costa Rica for Dental Implants

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I was planning on going to Clear Choice Dental Implant Centers for my dental implants. This was mostly because they came down $15,000 when they heard I couldn’t afford what they quoted. However, recently, a friend told me that there really is not any follow-up with them so I am wondering if I will be better off going somewhere else. A friend recently returned from Costa Rica to have some dental work done and had a very good experience. Is this a common thing, going to Costa Rica for more affordable dental work? She said she got to tour the area, then have her dental work done for about the same cost of care here.

Lettie

Dear Lettie,

Implant Overdentures

Implant Overdentures

 

I would like to pose a couple of questions to you that I hope will help you consider a couple of issues with both of these options. Let’s start with Clear Choice Dental Implants. It is true that they really don’t have any follow-up and that can be dangerous. However, I am curious about a company can just drop their price $15,000 at the drop of a hat. Does this mean their price was unnecessarily high? Is that a trustworthy group?

There is something else to consider with Clear Choice. You did not mention which procedure they were recommending for you. In most cases, they encourage people to extract all their teeth and then do the all-on-4 dental implants procedure. This procedure does work, but if anything goes wrong with one dental implant then the whole appliance has to be replaced. If possible, when you have to replace all of your teeth, I would rather recommend implant overdentures (pictured above). These use between four and eight dental implants and then anchor a denture to them.

As for Costa Rica, if you are worried about the lack of follow-up with Clear Choice, how much post-procedural care do you think you will get from a dentist in another country? What will you do if something goes wrong? While dental care may be less expensive there, they will not have the same standards. In some dental tourism countries, the patient has no recourse, even when the dentist did a horrible procedure.

If you are worried about the type of care you will get, I suggest you go to a highly qualified implant dentist here in the states. It’s a much safer option, as long as they have the right training. If the cost is what is holding you back, you should know that, under normal circumstances, you will be paying it out in two stages. Usually, the first payment is at the time of the implant surgery. The second one is usually when you are having the denture placed. In some cases, you can find a sympathetic dentist who will break the payments up even further for you.

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

Is It Too Late For Me to Get Dental Implants

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I have had dentures for about ten years and I finally have dental insurance. Is it possible for me to get dental implants at this time? I do have some periodontal disease which did cost me my teeth to begin with.  What do I do?

Luke

Dear Luke,

Implant Overdentures

Dental implants are always a good idea. They are far superior to dentures. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%, but the worst side-effect is the facial collapse that will result the longer you live with dentures. Once your teeth were removed, your body recognizes that and immediately starts to resorb the minerals in your jawbone. It does this in an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources.

Realizing you don’t need the bone to support teeth, it wants to use those minerals somewhere they will be more useful to you.  It is a wonderful way of using your body’s resources. The downside, though, is after a number of years you have lost so much bone that you are not even able to keep your dentures in any more. Having dental implants placed signals to your body that there are still teeth there and because of that it will leave the minerals of your jawbone in place. This protects you from facial collapse.

Generally, if you are in good general health you are a candidate for dental implants. In your case, there are two things you will need to deal with before moving forward. The first is your gum disease. If it was severe enough that you were losing teeth. You don’t want to lose your new dental implants. So, step one to getting dental implants is to have your gum disease treated.

Second, the gum disease combined with the length of time you were in dentures means you probably have a significant amount of bone loss. Once your gums are healed, the second fix will be to get bone grafting done. This will build back up the bone you need in order to secure the dental implants.

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

Dental Implants after Ten Years in Dentures

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I have had dentures for the last ten years and have hated them the whole time. I have money for dental implants but my dentist thinks the length of time I’ve been in the dentures may keep me from getting the implants. Is it too late for me?

Bonnie

Dear Bonnie,

Implant Overdentures

 

You are not alone in hating your dentures. While some patients adjust to them, many find them a pain to deal with. Technically, if you are otherwise healthy, it is never too late to get dental implants. However, depending on the bone density in your jawbone, you may need an additional procedure.

before and after facial collapseWhen your teeth were first removed, your body began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body where they will be more useful. Unfortunately, this has the unfortunate side-effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After ten years, it starts to get harder to properly fix your dentures. In twenty to thirty years you won’t have enough jawbone left to keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

In order for dental implants to stay securely, you need enough bone to integrate with them. It’s possible if you’ve lost enough bone that you will need to have some bone grafting done to ensure there is enough for the bone there for osseointegration.  Once that is done and healed, it will be time to get your dental implants.

Your dentist can place four to six dental implants in your jaw and then anchor your dentures to them. These are known as implant overdentures. You will find this life-changing compared to your dentures. The first thing you’ll notice is your chewing capacity goes up dramatically. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. In addition to that, there will be no more slipping and sliding. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about them falling out.  The biggest benefit, however, is that having prosthetic tooth roots in your jaw prevents facial collapse.

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

Should I Save the Two Last Upper Teeth?

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I have a removable partial denture on my upper arch. The only teeth left there are the two front teeth and (knock on wood) they are healthy so far. The partial isn’t the least bit comfortable. I don’t know if that is because of my overbite or because it is a partial. Right now I can eat with the two front teeth and my bottoms. I only put the partials in when I have to chew beef or am going to socialize.  My dentist thinks I might be more comfortable if I get rid of those two top teeth.  I thought it was better to keep natural teeth. What do you think?

Paul

Dear Paul,

implant overdentures

I need to qualify this with the fact that I have not examined your bite or even seen x-rays. The best I can do for you is to give you some general guidelines. You are correct that under normal circumstances it is best to keep any natural teeth possible. There are some unique circumstances in your case.

First, there are high stresses on those two teeth, even though they are healthy now, I wouldn’t have full confidence that they would remain that way. A second factor is your underbite. This will put stress on your bottom arch. A well-made denture will be much easier on those teeth than your natural teeth will.

In your case, I think removing the remaining two upper teeth will not be as disastrous as most often would be the case. A full denture is much more comfortable than a partial.

You didn’t tell me your age, but bone absorption is a big problem when you have missing teeth. If possible, the best treatment option would be for you to get some dental implants placed in order to secure your denture to them. It’s not as urgent to have implants on the top arch where your denture is held in by suction. Even then, however, there is always movement. Securing them with implants will make them even more comfortable as well as prevent any further bone resorption.

On your bottom arch, if you were to lose those teeth, then dental implants would be even more urgent. On your bottom arch, your denture just rests on the ridge of your jaw. The longer you wear dentures the more of your jawbone shrinks away until you are dealing with facial collapse. Placing the implants, prevents that from happening.

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