Dentures Archives - Boston Dental Care

Insurance and Dental Implants

Posted on June 18, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m trying to figure out how to get some teeth. I was in an accident that caused severe trauma to my upper teeth. In addition to that, I was in the middle of chemo treatments which did its own number on my teeth. I am going to lose all of my teeth as a result of this combination of events. I want to get dental implants but my medical insurance seems to not think this is their job. Is there any way to get this covered?

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

dentures which are going to be secured with dental implants

Dentures are much more secure when used in tandem with dental implants

I’m sorry for what you are going through. You are a strong woman to endure all of this. It seems like you are doing it with grace as well. Unfortunately, medical insurance will not cover this at all. They tend to leave dental care to the dentists.

That’s one of the reasons we try to discourage people from going to an emergency room for a dental emergency. They won’t do anything for you and you’ll end up with a huge bill for not much more than some ibuprofen. Instead, we suggest you see a dentist who will treat non-established patients in dental emergencies.

Options in Tooth Replacement Options with Insurance

Each dental insurance plan is different. Unfortunately, they usually only will cover the least acceptable option. Fortunately, dental implants are generally paid for in two stages. Once for the surgical procedure and once for the implant crowns. This may help with your ability to cover your dental implants.

I wouldn’t try to do a one-to-one ratio replacing your teeth with dental implants. That would end up costing you way too much money. Instead, my recommendation is for you to get fit for dentures which you can have anchored to dental implants. Doing it that way will only require about four to six dental implants per arch. This is known as implant overdentures.

This blog is brought to you by Glendale Dentist Dr. Robert Thein.

Help! My Husband Refuses to Wear His Dentures

Posted on February 11, 2019 by writeradmin.

My husband absolutely refuses to wear his dentures. Every time I bring it up he says they’re uncomfortable and he can’t stand eating with them. We’ve gone back to the dentist several times to have them adjusted, but it never seems to help. When we last went out to eat, he actually put his dentures on the stinking table! I couldn’t believe it. Help me get him to wear them. He’s only had them a few months. How long does it normally take to adapt to them?

Melissa

Dear Melissa,

side by side comparison of dentures and dental implants

Truthfully, while some people adjust to dentures, others never do. Your husband may be in that category. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%, so your husband’s frustration is valid.

Dentures have many limitations and don’t always feel comfortable. They also have a devastating side effect which I hope your dentist warned him about known as facial collapse.

With dentures, your jawbone slowly begins to shrink because your body knows there are no longer any teeth roots there and will redistribute the minerals in his jawbone elsewhere in his body. Eventually, he won’t have enough jawbone left to retain his dentures.

The Solution to Denture Disasters

I do understand your frustration as well. It sounds like your husband will be a good candidate for implant overdentures. With this procedure, an implant will place four to six dental implants into his jawbone and then anchor a denture to them.

This has several benefits:

He’ll be able to eat normally again: Dental implants are like having healthy natural teeth. He can even eat steak if he wants to.
They’re completely stable: Because his dentures are anchored to implants they will not move. Not even he can take them out (a benefit to you!).
They prevent facial collapse: With the implants in his jawbone serving as the roots of his teeth, his body will leave the minerals in his jaw intact, thereby preserving his bone.

Talk to a good implant dentist in your area and get him started. It will change both your lives.

This blog is brought to you by La Crescenta Implant Dentist Dr. Robert Thein.

Can Dentures Look Natural?

Posted on November 7, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’ve just been told I’m going to lose my teeth. Here’s the thing, I’m young. It’s embarrassing enough knowing my gum disease is costing me my teeth and I’m going to need dentures, but the idea of looking like my grandmother is disastrous. I’m hoping there have been advancements enough where dentures can look natural and even attractive these days. Please tell me it’s so. Pretty please?

Karyn

Dear Karyn,

There are a few things going on here which can help you. The first and foremost is don’t give up on your teeth yet. Even if you have advanced gum disease, with aggressive treatments it’s possible to repair your gums and save your teeth. You may have to see a periodontist to do it, but it’s well worth the effort.

The Beauty Depends on the Dentist, Not the Procedure

You asked if your dentures could be made to look natural and beautiful. The answer is yes…IF you use the right dentist. The beauty of a procedure depends on the skill of the dentist. You could have a total smile makeover done, but if it’s not done by a skilled cosmetic dentist it won’t look natural or attractive.

On the other hand, you could have a pair of dentures made, but if they’re done by an excellent cosmetic dentist they will look stunning.

Finding that skilled dentist isn’t always easy. There isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry so patients have to research a dentist’s post-doctoral training as well as their artistry to ensure they’ll get a beautiful result.

Fortunately, there’s a site that’s done the work for you. I recommend looking on the mynewsmile.com website. They’ve completely vetted cosmetic dentists who want to be listed on their site. You will get a gorgeous smile by any dentist on their “Find a cosmetic dentist” link.

However, before you make a decision on your procedure, it’s important you know about the danger of dentures.

The Danger of Dentures

Facial collapse ages you.

You mentioned you’re young. You should be aware dentures at your age put you at a high risk for facial collapse. Once your teeth are removed (or lost), your body notices and thinks you no longer need your jawbone to support your teeth and their roots. As a result, it slowly resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere causing it to shrink.

This is known as facial collapse. As you can see from the image directly above it ages your appearance significantly. However, there’s a much bigger problem that develops than just appearances. You’ll no longer have enough bone left to support your dentures, leaving you no way to eat solid food.

Alternative to Dentures

There is a solution. When you asked if there were enough advancements in dentistry to make dentures look natural, there are. Even better, though, are the advancements which allow us to replace them altogether. Dental implants are an amazing solution and the closest thing to having your own healthy, natural teeth back.

An implant dentist will surgically place the prosthetic roots, called dental implants. After a period of healing, he will then fix your dentures to the implants securing them in place, all while your body recognizes the implants as teeth roots, therefore, preserving your jawbone.

It’s a beautiful solution. Obviously, the more implants, the more secure the dentures, but you can get implant supported dentures with as few as four or six implants.

Best of luck to you and please try to save your teeth first.

This blog is brought to you by La Crescenta Dentist Dr. Robert Thein.