Dental Implants Chicago» Health Hazards of Tooth Loss and Long-Term Denture Use

Health Hazards of Tooth Loss and Long-Term Denture Use

Thomas Gibbs — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:56:08 +0000

Is it really appropriate for your dentist to prescribe a denture with the knowledge we now have about the long term effects? Perhaps it isn’t. While dentures may have been the accepted standard some years ago, research now supports that the alternatives to full dentures are safer, more reliable, and generally help maintain better overall health.

The loss of teeth can be a traumatic event for many people. And over time, health and wellness issues can become much more challenging for a person who has missing teeth. These issues can be especially problematic for a person who wears dentures.

Are My Dentures to Blame?

The following factors are but just a few of the problems associated with tooth loss and long term denture use:

Psychological factors
Social and inter-personal embarrassment
Diminished ability to chew and obtain proper nutrition
Health concerns including dementia, heart disease and cancer
Bone loss and facial changes

We want to help you understand these problems and so that you can make better informed decisions as to your personal treatment choices. Technology and biological science have given us to ability to replace teeth in ways we only dreamed of just a few years ago, and the treatment plan you may have had in the past may no longer be the best plan for you today.

(Part 1 in a series)

(Part 2–Social and Psychological concerns)

Dr. Thomas Gibbs is a Glen Ellyn serving the Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Naperville, and Chicago areas.. He has 3 honorary fellowships (FAGD, FICOI, FDOCS), and has been nationally recognized for his studies in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry, and sedation dentistry. He is an author of over 50 articles in these fields.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery–Advantages for Implant Supported Bridges, Crowns, and Dentures

Thomas Gibbs — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:28:28 +0000

Benefits of Guided Dental Implant Surgery–
The field of dental implants is advancing fast! We now use guided surgery to place multiple or difficult dental implant. Guided surgery uses advanced technology such as CT scans, Simplant software, and Nobel Biocare software to produce surgical guides so the dentist can position the dental implant extremely precisely. The advantages of this approach are:
1)   More accurate placement as the bone quality and morphology (shape) can be precisely determined, and the correct size and placement of the dental implants determined prior to the placement visit.
2)   Fewer implants to complete the case is often possible if they can be more accurately
3)   Flapless approach—I like to avoid surgical details with patients (unless they specifically ask of course), but flapless means we do have to “pull back” the gums to visualize the bone for implant placement. This “flapless” method allows better healing, more comfortable recovery (usually patients say they needed “an aspirin and were OK), and the ability for a second surgery to “recover the implant” at a later date.
4)   Less stress for Dr. placing the implants—there is so information known before the appointment that they dental implant is “almost easy” at appointment time for both the patient and Dr.
5)   Prosthetic planning and fabrication pre-surgical—Believe it or not I have seen many dental implants that were placed elsewhere that could never be restored with dental crowns, dental bridges implant supported dentures, implant supported bridges, or dental partials. By knowing the exact position of the bone and where we what the teeth to be after the treatment before starting, better outcomes can be easier achieved!
6)   Shorter treatment times—Here’s one factor everyone wants! Not only is the healing faster and easier, but better planning can lead us to the final restoration and completion faster. In many cases, we can even.

Guided surgery does involve additional costs but clearly has many benefits. This type of implant placement is especially used where there is minimal bony support for the dental implants, where multiple implants need to be placed, cases where the sinus has to be raised (sinus lift), implant supported bridges, implant supported overdentures or dentures, “all-on-four”, teeth in an hour restorations, and generally any more complicated procedure.

Please contact our office for addtional questions at LiveWithoutDentures.com, or at 630-858-8800. Also look at our other dental impalnt blog, Wheaton dental implant site, or other Glen Ellyn dental implant site.

Implant Supported Bridge to Avoid Dentures–Case in Carol Stream, Warrenville

Thomas Gibbs — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:05:34 +0000

So how does it feel to have dentures. We had a lady form Carol Stream, working in Warrenville, in the position of losing all her remaining top teeth. She had many dental crowns and dental bridges some of which had failed over time.

What she hated was the prospect of having plastic on the roof of her mouth and not being able to taste food. She was equally concerned about continuing to lose bone as the teeth were lost, and wrinkles developing on her face. She said she didn’t want a “dental wig.”

Some of these problems can be particularly more common in women, who have softer bone in general than men (especially post-menopausal). All on four and Teeth in a Day were not an option due to the amount of bone and softness of the bone. She elected to have to full option of the implant supported bridge. Due to the softer bone it required 7 implants.

And what did she look forward to having when the case was completed? Bagels! We bought her a dozen at the completion of the case.

If you would like more information on dental implant alternatives to dentures, give our office a call at 630-858-8800. You may also go to our dental implant website and request additional Free Reports and LiveWithoutDentures.com

Wheaton Man who Did Not Want a Partial Denture of Denture–Dental Implants

Thomas Gibbs — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:54:18 +0000

Here’s a case that shows how dental implants can eliminate the need for a partial denture, and even replace a failed dental bridge. One of the big problems with a conventional dental bridge is if any of the teeth fail either with new decay of gum disease, the entire bridge needs to be replaced.

With a partial denture, there are not only the unsightly metal clasps and the bulk of the metal structure in the mouth, but there is the prospect that the teeth being clasped will be further compromised and lost over time.

Take a look!

Doesn’t he look happy!

Will Your Cheeks Sink In?–Tooth Loss and Facial Aging

Thomas Gibbs — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:33:56 +0000

Remember a seeing person with sunken in check and deep wrinkles. The ability to chew decreases dramatically as the number of missing teeth increases. If the average person chews with between 50 to 90 pounds of force, people with dentures are down to 2 to 5 pounds of force. Simply said—people with no teeth can chew down hard. If fact one study found that some people chew better without dentures than when they had them in!

Even more disturbing is the sunken cheeks that result from tooth loss and dentures. THIS SINKING IN OF THE CHEEKS IS NOT FROM THE LOSS OF THE PHYSICAL MASS OF THE TEETH, BUT FROM THE ATROPHY OF THE FACIALMUSCLES, THE LOSS OF BONE, AND SUBSEQUENT FACIAL HEIGHT. It is not normally reversible with the simple addition of “bulkier” dentures.

Replacing lost teeth with dental implants can restore a person’s biting force almost back to that of normal teeth and help restore facial beauty, and well as chewing ability!

Video Showing Alternatives to Dentures using Dental Implants

Thomas Gibbs — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:16:52 +0000

We had a lot of comments and thanks from people looking at our last video on “Dental Implant Alternative for Missing Teeth.“ We have another video–this one is more targeted to those individuals who have lost all their teeth and want to “throw their dentures away.” This video shows the alternatives, using dental implants that people have for conventional bridges, flippers, and conventional partial dentures.
There is another video on the “Ten Hidden Dangers of Missing Teeth,” which I’ll post tomorrow. Many of these people are miserable every day with embarrassing loose, uncomfortable dentures. The list of their social, psychological problems, and even long term health problems is long. Fortunately alterative now exit to eliminate these concerns. Each person will want something different!

This is part of a series of PowerPoint presentation Dr. Gibbs used in a lecture series on dental implants. There are several other video available that will also discuss the Implant Alternatives to Dentures, The Hidden Dangers of Dentures and Mising Teeth, Comfortable Relaxed Dental Visits, and Sedation Dentistry for High Fear People.

Click here for the video!

Lady from Wheaton Could not Taste Food with Dentures, Dental Implants

Thomas Gibbs — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:08:20 +0000

Here’s a problem! I had a lady from Wheaton in recently whose biggest compliant with her denture is that she can no longer taste her food. “Try eating a old piece of plastic all **** day long” was her response.

If you eliminate the dentures , you will be able to taste foods more fully. Wearing an upper denture can prevent someone from really tasting food, as the roof of the mouth is covered with accessory tast buds. She was also looking forward to feeling the texture of food, feeling it’s consistency, and even the warmth and coolness.

. With implant supported replacement teeth, it is not necessary to cover the roof of the mouth, so it is possible to enjoy the taste of foods.
Did you ever try tasting food with your sense of smell altered? Tasting food without being not being able to feel the texture or temperature with half the mouth “covered with plastic” is just as futile. Worse—just imagine what goopy denture adhesive or day-old food caught under the plastic tastes like!

Dentures & Tooth Loss–Important in Preventing Heart Disease and Cancer?

Thomas Gibbs — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:01:11 +0000

Danger of Dentures #2

Caution—do not be deluded —tooth loss is not a small problem! It is often the first sign of future and more significant health problems and can put them at higher risk for heart disease and oral cancer. When dentures don’t properly fit, bacteria can lie in areas under them and lead to bone disease and oral cancer. Oral Cancer is probably one of the least known forms, but the American Cancer Society reports that there will be approximately 30,000 new cases diagnosed this year alone.
Then there is Heart Disease, which has been linked to gum disease. When dentures do not fit correctly, you have a higher chance of gum disease. The reason you must be aware of these concerns is because dentures are causing more problems than just being uncomfortable and unattractive.
A better solution is to use dental implants to stabilize the denture the dentures and bone. If you want the most natural looking teeth and want to restore you ability to chew again, dental implants can even completely replace the denture with “almost new” teeth that never come out, feel natural, smell better, and will allow you to chew “like a teenager” again!