Archive for the ‘Removable Partial Dentures’ Category

Nothing works with my partial dentures

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Where do I start? I have two partials, one upper and one lower. As much as I try to get them adjusted or re-ajusted nothing seems to make me comfotable about the way I look. I’m aware that you can only work with you have. I’m a 54-year-old woman and my gums have receded in the bottom back lower, so you cannot see the partial so it still looks like I don’t have any teeth in the back at all. And the top I have two of my own teeth on the right side and one on the left and my denture is just not in line with all. Is there anything you think can be done? As you see I’m from Bermuda and our comestic dentristry is limited. I have no problem making a trip for a consulation if that is how the first leg goes. Many thanks!
- Valerie from Bermuda

Valerie,
Yes, there is a lot that can be done, either with better removable partial dentures or dental implants, to give you a normal smile.

There is a great deal of variation in partial dentures. To keep costs down, a partial can be made of a simple piece of acrylic with plastic teeth embedded in it. This is one end of the spectrum. The dentist just has to take a simple impression of your teeth and send it to the dental lab. At the other end are sophisticated designs using carefully crafted metal frameworks. Models of your teeth would be placed on a machine called an articulator that duplicates the positions and movements of your teeth when you chew.

And then, having dental implants placed is just like having your own teeth back, like they were never missing.

I would recommend going to a dentist in the states. I think you’ll find much higher quality of work there than in Bermuda. I would suggest finding a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, if the appearance is of concern to you, as well as the function.

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Missing teeth, and not much money.

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Right now, I have 3 1/2 upper teeth missing. The roots are still there, but the exposed parts are gone. I can tell I’ve had nine MAJOR tooth aches (lasting two or three days) and at least one abscess which resulted in a small whitehead on my gum above the tooth. It pops every now and then and then goes away only to reoccur a couple of weeks later. This last bout of toothaches involved the four upper left teeth and one lower left tooth. It lasted four days and I still have some tingling and itching in my left cheek above the left eye tooth. I have dental insurance that basically covers nothing. My husband makes too much money to qualify for free dental yet we can’t afford for me to get my teeth fixed. A wonderful catch-22. I’m to the point that I hate talking to people, I haven’t been able to smile in years, and it’s really starting to bother me. I can literally see in my face that the lack of smiling is starting to make my face droop. What can I do?
- Teresa in Florida

Teresa,
There are various options for you, but they are all going to cost at least a little bit of money. Part of what I’m going to recommend to you is adjusting to the idea that you are going to need to pay for your care. While free care through some government program is nice, it can create a feeling of dependency, and then you feel lost when that free care isn’t available to you any more. There is a good feeling in being independent to the extent that you can provide for yourself.

The good news is that there are a wide range of options for getting your teeth fixed, ranging from downright cheap to expensive. A simple flipper partial isn’t very sturdy, because it’s made of plastic, but it is quite economical, and it can be made to replace missing front teeth. Or you could get a more sturdy removable partial denture with a metal framework for several times the cost. Or, you could get dental implants for first-rate care.

Click here to read more about affordable dental implants.

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A fall knocked out three teeth. What do I do?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Bad fall caused the loss of 3 upper front teeth. Both canine teeth are there, but loose. Have had partial plate on sides. Two back molar are present but maybe iffy. What can be done?
- Kathy from Prince Edward Island

Kathy,
I don’t know the condition of your whole mouth, so I can only suggest some possibilities. You’ll have to get a thorough examination by a local dentist to know what to do.

Knowing that you already have a removable partial denture makes me wonder if you have some pre-existing gum disease that has caused the loss of some teeth already. That issue will strongly affect your choices. The loose canine teeth may or may not tighten up depending on the gum disease situation.

You are going to have two basic choices. You can have the additional teeth replaced with a removable appliance – either a partial denture or a complete denture. Or, you can have dental implants.

When you are missing many teeth, you can have a serious problem as your body starts to dissolve away the bone that used to support those teeth. Your jawbone then shrinks over a period of ten or twenty years until there is practically nothing left and you can’t wear a denture any more. This is the main advantage of dental implants over removable teeth.

Also, the more teeth that are missing, the more stress is placed on the remaining teeth, which causes them to deteriorate.

Also, the more teeth that are missing, the less stable your partial denture is, which means less chewing efficiency and often means that you have to restrict your diet.

Hopefully these are some helpful points for you to consider as you have your own dentist examine you and discuss your options. The removable partial denture will be considerably less expensive than the dental implants, but the implants will be much more comfortable and will restore your full chewing efficiency.

Also, it will be smart to check with any medical coverage you have. While most medical insurance excludes dental care, there is often an exception when it is an injury. I don’t know how your Canadian National Health Plan will treat this. In the States, my experience is that most medical insurance will cover dental expenses arising out of an injury like a fall.

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Most of my front teeth are missing

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

I have most of my front teeth missing. I was wondering if implants would be an option. I’m wearing a partial, but I don’t like the part that fits over my palate. Are there implants that fit like a bridge without affecting the surrounding teeth?
- Roy from Texas

Roy,
When you’re missing most of your front teeth, it makes it difficult to replace the teeth with a dental bridge. A dental bridge has to attach to your existing teeth, and when the front teeth are missing, this puts an awful lot of stress on the back teeth, to have that leverage of your front teeth on them.

The two solutions are to do a removable partial denture or dental implants. The removable partial does attach to your existing teeth, but it also gets support from your palate, so there isn’t as much stress on the teeth.

Dental implants, however, could be the ideal solution. They don’t have to attach to any other teeth. They are anchored in the bone and feel and act just like your own teeth.

Other related topics:
Read about the pros and cons of a dental implant vs. a bridge.

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Dental insurance for implants

Monday, August 17th, 2009

I am 22 and I need 13 dental implants. The dentist says each implant will cost me $4000, and I just dont have that type of money. Do you know of any dental insurance companies that cover this type of cosmetic dentist work?
- Becky from Milwaukee

Becky,
I don’t know that I can answer your question the way you want, but I’d like to make a couple of points.

First, I’m  not sure I understand the idea that you “need” 13 dental implants. Are you missing all your teeth at age 22? I’m puzzled. And with any dental treatment plan involving replacing missing teeth there are always a variety of options. There are various degrees of stability that you would want in replacing your teeth, and so there would be choices as far as how many implants you would get. There are also options for removable partial dentures, and combinations of implants and partially fixed restorations. So there has to be more than one way for you to get your teeth fixed.

On the idea of your getting dental insurance to pay for your implants, if you think it through, that is pretty impossible. You’d be asking a company that exists for the purpose of making a profit to take your premium of $1000 or whatever it is and pay for your dental implants that cost $52,000. Ain’t gonna happen.

Related links:
Affordable Chicago dental implants

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Advantages of dental implants over partials

Monday, June 15th, 2009

What are the advantages of implants vs partials?
- Sherry from California

Sherry,
When you are missing multiple teeth, the main advantage of a removable partial denture is the low cost. Otherwise, there is no real comparison. Dental implants are healthier, more comfortable, more esthetic, and more functional.

A removable partial denture has to attach to existing teeth, which puts extra stress on those teeth. When you are already missing multiple teeth, we like to minimize the stress on the remaining teeth. Also, the extra hardware in your mouth with a partial is uncomfortable–in fact, there are some people who simply can’t get used to that and thus don’t wear their partials. Partials catch food around the clasps and should be removed after every time you eat to clean off that food debris.

But, if your budget is limited, a removable partial may be the way you want to go. If so, we can certainly help provide that for you.

See also: dental implants vs. bridge compared.

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Can’t wear a partial denture

Friday, May 1st, 2009

I’ve had periodontal disease and am missing several back teeth. I had a partial plate made, but I couldn’t wear it because it made me gag. Is there anything else I can do?
- Beverly in Utah

Beverly,
One of the advantages of dental implants that we don’t talk about a lot is that they don’t provoke a gag reflex at all. Partial dentures need to have a framework that connects the pieces together, and when it involves upper teeth this has to cross the palate. The more teeth that are replaced, the more of the palate has to be covered. If the very back teeth in your mouth are involved, this needs to be a plate that goes all the way back to the soft palate, which can be very uncomfortable and will provoke gagging in some people.

Since dental implants are fastened directly into the jawbone, there is no other hardware in your mouth. It’s just like having your own teeth back.

Related links:
Read about options for replacing missing teeth
Read about complete dentures on our Chicago dentures page

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