I’ve had dentures for a little over 30 years. I’ve never had a pretty smile with dentures and wondered if it is too late for me to get dental implants? There is someone I know who has them and they seem to be prettier.
Avalon
Dear Avalon,
It is absolutely possible to get a beautiful smile, even after 30 years in Dentures. You should be aware that there are a few steps to make this happen. First, when you have been in removable dentures as long as you have, then it is long enough for you to have a significant amount of bone loss leading to facial collapse. I’m guessing you’ve found it hard to keep them in recently, even with denture adhesives.
This is because when your teeth were first removed, your body recognized that and immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body where it perceived they’d be more useful. Eventually, there is no longer enough bone to even retain your dentures.
Your first step is going to be to have some bone grafting done in order to build back up that missing bone structure. Once that is done you can then get your dental implants.
Implant Supported Dentures
Once your bone grafting is healed, you can then have the implant overdentures placed. The more you have, the more secure your bite and the more you will preserve bone structure. Generally, patients place between four to eight dental implants. Once the bone has had a chance to integrate with the implants, then you’ll be ready to have a denture anchored to them.
The key to your dentures looking both natural and beautiful is to have a skilled cosmetic dentist to create them. There are two places you can look to find skilled cosmetic dentists. The first place is mynewsmile.com. This site is run by a retired cosmetic dentist who prescreens anyone who wants to be listed for both their technical knowledge and skill as well as their artistry.
A second place to check would be on aacd.com. This is the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They also have a “find a cosmetic dentist” link. However, you need to make certain you check that you’re looking for an accredited dentist. Any dentist can pay to be a member. AACD accredited dentists have been through rigorous testing. Either they or a dentist listed on the previous site I mentioned will provide you with a stunning smile.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
