Denture Sufferers Guide Provided By The Dental Spa at Garden City Cary Ganz DDS 300 Garden City Plaza Garden City NY 11530 Tel. 516 741-1230 Fax 516 741-2257 http://www.cosmeticdentistrylongisland.net 1
This guide is intended to provide basic information regarding some of the issues involved in denture wearing. Obviously each individual denture wearer may have their own set of issues and certainly this guide can t address individual problems. Since we are not able to talk with everyone reading this guideline, it is necessary for readers to understand that the facts and opinions in this guide are just that, opinions. If after reading this guide you are still a bit confused, we suggest that you contact your dentist for further explanation. A thorough examination and consultation can go a long way to solving even the most perplexing problems. DENTURE SUFFERERS GUIDE 1 DENTURE TYPES 3 DENTURE PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS 3 DENTURE FACTS 6 DENTURE CARE 8 DENTURE ALTERNATIVES 9 DENTAL IMPLANTS 9 Dental Implants and Removable Prostheses 9 Dental Implants and Permanent Restorations 10 GIVE US A CALL FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION 11 2
Denture Types There are different types of dentures. 1. Full Dentures Full dentures are just that, a denture that replaces all teeth in one or more jaws. There are different issues relating to whether a denture is replacing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Dentures in the upper jaw are typically able to obtain retention by creating suction much like a suction cup. This is not available in the lower jaw due to the nature of the lower jaw bone. This can lead to retention problems in the lower jaw due to the movement of the tongue, cheeks and lips. 2. Partial Dentures Partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth with a removable appliance. There are a variety of partial dentures designs all depending upon the number of missing teeth as well as the location of the missing teeth. 3. Immediate Dentures Dentures that are placed at the same time as the extraction of the remaining teeth. These can be full or partial dentures. Denture Problems and Potential Solutions 1. Denture slipping and moving - Due to shrinkage of jaw bone and surrounding gum tissue, the gums and bone do not support the denture in speaking or chewing -- Reline, rebase or replacement per a dental professional s recommendation. 3
2. Speaking difficulties and unwanted sounds, such as clicking, whistling, smacking sounds - Denture is not in proper position or does not stay in proper position -- denture moves causing cheek and tongue to struggle to form words and control the denture. Additionally there should never be any clicking sound (teeth touching) when speaking whether the denture is old or new. This clicking sound indicates a problem with the placement of the teeth during construction and need to be corrected by your dentist. 3. Difficulty chewing certain foods - Some foods may never be easy to chew with dentures, but lack of adequate chewing could be related to the alignment of your upper and lower denture(s), or your denture with natural teeth, this effects the balance of the denture on the tissues and muscles of the mouth. In combination with shrinkage of tissue, poor alignment creates improper denture function. Such foods as lettuce and other vegetable, meats etc can present a challenge with even the best fitting dentures. It is estimated that patients lose approximately 30% of their chewing function when wearing even just one denture. 4. Lack of suction / adhesion - Bone and mouth tissue changes with time original fit/contact of denture can be lost with time. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia); caused most often by certain medications or advanced age; without proper saliva, denture fit is not ideal due to the seal that moisture provides between denture base and tissue. Additionally with time the fit of the denture to the gum and bone can change suggesting it 4
is time for either a reline or a new denture. 5. Wrinkles above / around lips or at corners of mouth - Denture has moved back in the mouth and no longer supports the lips. This may be due to bone loss and / or loss of skin elasticity (stretchiness) and moisture loss. As one ages the bony support for the denture can be decreased. This can result in a loss of distance between the nose and the chin (only used as an example to demonstrate the loss). 6. Sore spots in the mouth - Pressure and / or rubbing caused by ill fitting dentures can lead to small uncomfortable and annoying sore spots. Very often these sore spots are extremely small but feel much larger in the mouth. If sore spots occur infrequently very often just a small adjustment of the denture is required. If, however, they occur on a more recurrent basis this many indicate the need for either a total replacement or a reline. 7. Soreness at corners of mouth - Loss of vertical support for the denture (bone loss) can cause the mouth to over-close. This can change the way the lips seal together and cause saliva to pool at the corners of the mouth. The excess moisture in this area may 5
cause the skin to become irritated and may increase the risk of a candida (fungus) infection. The soreness may also be the result of a vitamin deficiency. This is only a partial list of potential problems faced by people wearing dentures. Denture Facts 1. Dentures don t last forever. Even the most well fitting dentures have a life span which depends upon a variety of factors such as the age at which the dentures were made, the amount of bone and tissue support, habits and home care. 2. Even if your dentures fit perfectly, you should still see a dental professional regularly. Dentures do require routine care and observation. Small changes in the fit of the denture can be adjusted and in doing so can increase the length of service of that appliance. Avoiding required care will normally lead to reduced success and longevity of the denture. 3. No one has to know you re wearing dentures. Dentures can be made to look just like natural teeth. One of the benefits of dentures is that during the try-in phase you can see what your final denture will look like and make a decision if you are not totally satisfied. During the try-in phase, while the teeth are still set in wax, it is very simple to make adjustments. Once the dentures are finalized adjustments can no longer be made. So, make sure that you are totally satisfied both cosmetically and phonetically before you approve the denture for processing. 4. Denture wearers can eat more normally. Well, normally is a relative term. Denture wearers typically find a 30% reduction in chewing function. That being said, with a bit of training, you can learn to eat a normal diet with very few restriction. 6
5. Denture wearers can speak more clearly. During the try-in phase you need to make sure that you speech is exactly what it should be. Now is the time to make small adjustments to make sure that there is no lisp or contact during speech. Clicking or clacking sounds are indicative of poor placement of the teeth. A noticeably lisp is also an indicator of improper tooth placement. 6. Adhesives can play a role in your denture's fit and comfort. Very often even with the most well fitting dentures patients feel a need to use adhesives. Sometimes this is just a security issue. If you find that you are using excessive amounts of adhesive it is time to see your dentist and request an evaluation. 7. Over- the- counter and prescription medications can affect dentures. Certain medications can lead to a dry mouth. Lower levels of saliva can reduce suction. This condition should also be mentioned during your recall. 8. Don t assume regular denture care is too costly As always it is less expensive to make small corrections than to wait until a major repair or replacement is required. Routine recall visits should be maintained so your dentist can evaluate any need for adjustment. 9. Never try to make your own denture repairs. Repairing your denture by yourself can only lead to problems and costly repairs. If something should happen call your dentist and ask for assistance. NEVER repair your denture on your own. 10. With planning, denture corrections can often be made in one day. Some minor corrections can be made at the office in a matter of minutes. Correctly for sore spots, small adjustments causing discomfort can also be fixed in just minutes. Some adjustments 7
may require additional time or possibly the need for a dental lab. This is one reason for patients to always have a duplicate denture available for just such circumstances. 11. Don t avoid replacing your denture just because you don t want to go through another long adjustment period. New dentures normally require a short adjustment period. That being said this is normal and typically does not involve long periods of time or any significant period of time as long as the most professional techniques are used during the denture fabrication. 12. All dentures are not created equal. If you look for the lowest price, you ll get what you pay for. Nothing more needs to be sad! Denture Care Like your teeth, your dentures should be brushed daily to remove food particles and plaque. Brushing also can help keep the teeth from staining. Rinse your dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive cleanser to gently brush all the surfaces of the dentures so they don't get scratched. When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly including your gums, cheeks, roof of your mouth and tongue to remove any plaque. This can help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath. When you re not wearing your dentures, put them in a safe place covered in water to keep them from warping. 8
Occasionally, denture wearers may use adhesives. Adhesives come in many forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one of these products, read the instructions, and use them exactly as directed. Your dentist can recommend appropriate cleansers and adhesives; look for products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Products with the ADA Seal have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness. When cleaning your denture be sure to do it either over a sink of water or towel. If the denture drops it is possible for the denture to break. This can be avoided in most circumstances by just cleaning the denture using a bit of care. Denture Alternatives In the past once your teeth were lost, whether due to neglect, Periodontal Disease or accident, the only alternative was a denture. Today that is no longer true. Dental Implants In 1980 dental implants were introduced into the United States. Since that time millions of dental implants have been successfully placed in patients throughout the United States and the world. Success rates have sky rocketed as we learn more and more about the placement of implants as well as the restorations being used. Dental Implants and Removable Prostheses Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or even replace a entire jaw removing the need for a denture. Originally dental implants 9
were devised to be used to replace all missing teeth in the lower jaw. Depending upon the patient s wants and needs there are a wide variety of ways to accomplish this goal. With as few as three or four implants patients can have a removable denture that is anchored securely by the implants. This is especially important in the lower jaw where suction is very difficult to create and tongues can cause a great deal of movement. Have a denture snap onto dental implants can increase function and comfort dramatically. Dental Implants and Permanent Restorations Dental implants can also be used to permanently replace missing teeth. Since nothing in life is truly permanent, even the use of dental implants and the resulting success, depends upon a wide range of factors such as the skill of the surgeon and the Prosthodontist, the health of the patient, the bone structure and amount of bone etc. Whether it is the loss of a single tooth or an entire upper and lower jaw, we are now able to replace all of your teeth with dental implants. Once restored, dental implant restorations can replace not only the function of your natural teeth but the cosmetics as well. Unlike dentures, the placement of dental implants tend to keep the bone stable for the life of the implant. Dentures, to the contrary, due to pressure on the bone can result in bone loss as mentioned above. The actual process of placing and restoring dental implants is a bit complex for this guideline. Typically implants are placed by an Oral Surgeon or a Periodontist and restored by a 10
Prosthodontist or general dentist. Like everything else not all dentists provide the same service. Dental implant diagnosis, surgery and restoration require a great deal of experience and training. With that training success rates for dental implants are extremely high sometimes quoted as above 95% depending upon the patient, health of the patient, implant location as well as other factors. The following is a live example of a successfully treated patient replacing most of the upper teeth using dental implants. Esthetically and cosmetically dental implants have restored total functionality for this patient and removed the need for a full denture. Give Us A Call For A Complimentary Consultation If you live near the Garden City Long Island Area and would like to visit our office for a Complimentary Consultation please give us a call at 516 741-1230 and mention that you saw this in our Denture Sufferers Guide. We d love to sit with you and find a solution that fits your goals and budget. We hope that you have found this guide helpful in answering some of your questions regarding dentures and the possible treatment options and solutions. The best way to find 11
solutions is to visit your dentist and ask questions. Dentists are trained to help solve these problems and to provide you with restorations that allow you to start living your life again. Cary Ganz DDS The Dental Spa At Garden City http://www.cosmeticdentistrylongisland.net Tel. 516 741-1230 Fax. 516 741-2257 Email: drg@ganzdental.com 12