Dental implants weren’t an option 20 years ago. So, I ended up with a full set up dentures to replace my missing teeth. At first, they were okay. But, as the years have passed, I am unhappy with my smile. My face seems like it’s wrinkling up around the dentures and they look fake. Also, they are becoming very uncomfortable, even though they were recently replaced.

Unfortunately, it seems like dental implants are targeting people younger than me. Also, it seems like it’s best to get them for one or two missing teeth. Am I understanding correctly? Is there any chance I could ever be a candidate for dental implants?

– Pamela in Indiana

Pamela,

The things you are explaining about your denture problems are actually quite common. The good news is that dentures can be made beautiful. However, you will need to find an excellent implant dentist that uses a quality laboratory. Also, many expert cosmetic dentists also create dentures, which means an emphasis will be made on the aesthetics.

Unfortunately, this only addresses the appearance related concerns. When you have dentures for many years, you may experience what is called facial collapse. This means that the body resorbs the minerals that used to support your natural teeth, to be used elsewhere. The result is bone loss. Once the bone has diminished, the dentures don’t fit as well as they once did. Some denture patients complain about discomfort while chewing, sores occur and if it gets bad enough, the denture will become loose and fall out at embarrassing times. If this indeed the condition you are in, you are not a good candidate for dental implants. Dental implants require healthy bone structure so that the implant post can be surgically implanted and anchor the restorative portion of the implant in place.

All hope is not lost. Bone grafting can be done to build your bone back up again. Once the grafting is completed and the site has healed, you may indeed be a dental implants candidate.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Getting a dental implant placed for every tooth is not only very expensive, but it may not work best in your situation. You should be able to get four to six dental implants, which can be used to anchor your denture in place. An implant-supported denture can look lifelike, natural and best of all, it will ensure an excellent fit that you can be happy about for years to come. In fact, if you find an excellent dentist that emphasizes on aesthetics, it’s possible no one will even know you are wearing one. Lastly, the scrunched face look will be a thing of the past. You will also appear much younger.

The best thing to do is to consult with an expert implant dentist in your area and explore your options.

Thank you for your question. Hopefully, this information was helpful as you continue researching dental implants.

This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.