Quality Dentures Can Actually Save You Money
For many patients the number one consideration for dentures is cost. Patients often seek the least expensive denture not realizing what they are sacrificing as far as comfort and longevity. These dentures are often made with low quality materials that can break easily and can be more uncomfortable. High quality dentures should last 5-7 years, as compared to 2 or less for the inexpensive alternatives. One of the reasons even high quality dentures need replacement is due to the changes in the structure of your mouth and bone deterioration. As the bone changes the denture will either need relined or replaced to ensure maximum comfort and fit.
Dental Cream: How Much should I use? Possible Dental Cream Health Hazards
Dentists are warning of denture cream following a recent study. Those who use an excessive amount of denture cream could be exposing themselves to high levels of zinc, which can lead to pain, weakness and poor coordination. Prolonged exposure to zinc can result in nerve damage, low blood levels and bone marrow failure. GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Poligrip, have stopped the manufacturing and distribution of dental adhesive creams that contain zinc. Some local dentists are suggesting patients stop using cream all together.
Patients with ill-fitting dentures should seek a professional consultation with a Prosthodontist. Dentures that fit will normally not require the use of an adhesive. Bone and gum tissue may shrink with time causing poor retention and stability of the denture. The fit of a denture cannot be corrected with denture adhesive. At the most, 3 or 4 spots of denture cream, the size of a pencil eraser, is the maximum amount that should be used. You have used too much denture cream if it oozes out of the denture after you bite on it.
If there is excess space between the denture and tissues resulting in a lack of adhesion, then the denture should be relined, remade, or implants should be placed to stabilize the dentures.
Implant Secured Dentures
If you are not familiar with the growing field of implant dentistry, you may not have heard of this new technology. Put simply, the dentist places metal implants into the bone structure of the mouth. Then dentures are either created or retrofitted so that they have holes or indentations corresponding to where these implants protrude from the jawbone or upper palate. The implants then fit, hand-in-glove, into the indentations in the dentures, and voila! Sneeze-proof denture fit! Implants can also greatly improve the security of ill-fitting partial dentures as well.
This sounds painful…
While virtually all surgery does have some pain associated with it, this is a relatively minor surgery, and can be done under local anesthetic in your dentist’s office. Moreover, be honest with yourself; do your ill-fitting dentures not cause you pain? The resounding response from folks who have chosen implant supported dentures is that they would gladly accept the short-term pain of recovering from the implant surgery over the constant, on-going pain of dentures which slip, slide, and abrade the interior of their mouths day in and day out. Add in the pain you are likely to suffer from the long-term effects of ingesting denture adhesive, and the choice quickly becomes clear.
Am I a candidate for implant-supported dentures?
Only a dentist trained in implants can tell you for certain. As you may expect, you will need to be beyond adolescence, so that your bone growth is complete (otherwise you would risk having your implants shift). Older adults must have a sufficient amount of bone structure in which to anchor the implants. However, even if you lack the needed bone structure, there are several options for replacing it so that implants can be used. Among these techniques are bone-graft surgery, synthetic bone implants, or even bovine (cow) bone implants. This is why it is so important to consult a dentist who is trained in implants; as only he or she is qualified to guide you in selecting among these further options to support implants. The upside of this is, if you do have implants, they can help anchor your bone and gum tissue, and prevent any further loss.
Are there any other considerations?
Recovery time is the other major consideration in choosing implant supported dentures, and will be another area where your implant-trained dentist can help you make decisions. Some patients are able to have the implant surgery and begin wearing their new dentures just a few days later, once the swelling has gone down. Other patients will need between two and four months of recovery time between their implant surgery and the time they begin to wear their dentures. This will depend on many factors, including how much bone and gum tissue you have, how long ago your natural teeth were removed, and whether or not your immune system is compromised, which can slow healing.
What does it cost?
As you might expect of any surgery, the cost can be considerable. If you have good dental insurance, they may cover at least part of the cost for you; this is another item to be discussed with your dentist. Many dentists who offer implant supported dentures also offer financing options, in order to help their patients have the best possible quality of life.
Sources: Prosthodontics.org,