problems with dentures Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

Can I Have a Pretty Smile After Twenty-Seven Years in Dentures

Posted on February 28, 2025 by writeradmin.

Today marks twenty-seven years that I have had dentures. Twenty-seven years being ashamed to smile because my teeth look obviously fake. Is it too late for me to get something prettier, like dental implants?

Katie

Dear Katie,

You can absolutely get a beautiful smile with dental implants. You do have a couple of things to consider as you go forward with this. First, you have been in dentures a long time, which means that you’re likely showing symptoms of facial collapse. This is when your bone has shrunken to the point where it is getting hard to keep your dentures in. This eventually happens to everyone who is in completely removable dentures.

The dental implants needed for implant supported dentures will require that bone for them to stay in place. That means you will first need to have some bone grafting done to build back up the bone in that is needed. Another side benefit to this procedure is you will notice your repaired jaw makes you look years younger. Then, after that is healed, you can have the dental implants placed.

The second consideration is the dentist. Dental implants are an advanced procedure, so you will want a dentist who did post-graduate training in them. Additionally, you want to get an idea of how skilled they are with cosmetic dental work. I hate telling you this, but if the dentist who made your dentures had been a skilled cosmetic dentist, you would have had a pretty smile all this time. However, that would not have prevented the facial collapse which will have to be dealt with eventually whether you get implants or not.

Have the dentist show you images of cases they’ve done, so you have an idea of whether or not they can create a beautiful smile for you.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

Shouldn’t Dentures Go All The Way Back?

Posted on November 22, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have dentures and I’m having the hardest time adjusting to them. Not only do they feel weird, but the dentures don’t go all the way back. I don’t have wisdom teeth there any more and I’m essentially chewing on my gums. I was hoping there was a way to get my dentist to fix this, but he said he put them the standard distance. I just want to double check. Is that accurate? Will I ever get used to these dentures?

Michael

Dear Michael,

Thank you for writing. While dentures have a lot of problems and some people never get used to them, this is something that is within the ability of your dentist to fix. My guess is that you’ve already paid for these and he doesn’t want to re-do them, which is what he’d have to do in order to fix them. It is fixable. Plus, what he did is not the standard procedure.

Your denture should actually cover the wisdom tooth area plus go just a smidge past that onto what is known as the retromolar pad. You don’t want it to go too far onto the pad, otherwise, the lower denture will cause problems with the fit of the upper denture.

You may not have much leverage if you’ve already paid for it, but you could appeal to his ethics and quality of his work. Feel free to show him this post if it helps.

Before you move forward, I will tell you that even with the dentures being extended, you will have problems. Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%.

There is a bigger issue, though. I don’t know if your dentist mentioned about the issue of facial collapse, but it is very important you understand the risks of long term use of completely removable dentures. Once your teeth were removed, your body instantly recognized that you no longer have any teeth roots. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources, it takes the minerals from the jaw bone where you no longer have any roots and resorbs them in order to use those minerals elsewhere in your body where they will be more useful to your body. The human body is absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, this has the side effect of slowly shrinking your jawbone. After about ten or so years, you will no longer have enough jawbone left to even keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

There is a way to prevent this. It requires you to get about four to eight dental implants, then have your dentures anchored to them. This is known as implant supported dentures. Not only will it prevent facial collapse, but it is also will dramatically improve your quality of life. Your chewing capacity will increase and you’ll have no slipping and sliding around in your mouth.

If you are going to replace your denture and you can afford to get dental implants, I strongly suggest that you get them. If you can’t afford them right now, then replace the dentures, but do the best you can to save up for the implants, because eventually dentures will not be an option.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. J. E. Williams.

Can I Get Dental Implants After Ten Years In Dentures?

Posted on July 30, 2024 by writeradmin.

I’ve been in dentures for ten years. Now, I finally have some extra money and can get the dental implants that I have always wanted. However, my dentist hinted I may not have enough bone left to get the implants. Did it take me too long to save up?

Jamie

Dear Jamie,

While you have likely lost a lot of bone structure, that doesn’t mean you can’t have dental implants. However, it will require you get one additional procedure. Your body is designed to be as efficient with its resources as possible. When your teeth were first removed, your body recognized that and began to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. You may have started noticing that it is getting harder to keep your dentures in place. It starts with slipping, eventually they will start falling out. Then, you won’t be able to wear them at all. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.

The good news is that there is a solution. You will need to have bone grafting done in order to build back up the lost bone structure. Once that is done and healed you can move forward with getting the dental implants.

You’ll be pleased to know that having dental implants in your jaw will signal to your body that you still have teeth. Because of that it will leave your new bone structure intact and you will no longer have to worry about facial collapse.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Williams.

My Dentures Will No Longer Stay In My Mouth

Posted on July 31, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am hoping you can help me. I’ve had dentures for about 17 years. They’ve served me well, but now I just can’t get them to stay in my mouth. I’m guessing they’ve stretched out over the years and I need a new one. Do I need to start the procedure over or can my dentist just copy the old records? I’m not even sure my old dentist is still in practice any longer.

Brent

Dear Brent,

Your denture is not falling out because it is stretched out. What you are dealing with is known in dental circles as facial collpase. When your teeth were first removed 17 years ago, your body recognized that you no longer had any teeth roots. In an effort to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible it immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body where it perceives they will be more needed.

While very useful in supplying your body with the resources it needs, it has the unfortunate side effect of shrinking your jawbone. After a number of years, as you are discovering, there is no longer enough jawbone left to retain your dentures. I wish your dentist would have warned you about this before you got dentures because there is a way to have prevented this.

The good news is that there is a solution for your situation. The first thing you will need to do is to have bone grafting done. This will build up all the bone structure that you lost over the years. Then, after a period of healing, you then have a choice. First, you could just go ahead and get new removable dentures made. Just be aware that you will find yourself back in the same spot as your minerals again begin to be resorbed. A better option, if you can do it, is to get implant supported dentures.

With this procedure, you will have four to six dental implants placed in your jaw. After the bone has had time to integrate with the implant, then a denture can be build that will be anchored to the implants. These are known as implant overdentures. They will not only completely secure them, but will also prevent facial collapse.

One thing you will immediately notice is your quality of life going up. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Now, with implant supported dentures, you can eat whatever you want and never have to worry about them slipping or sliding again.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James Williams.

Dentist Doesn’t Want to Fix Her Teeth

Posted on November 10, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have really bad teeth and have all my life. I take care of them and go to the dentist but there always seems to be issues to fix. Recently my dentist said I’d be better off just removing my teeth and getting dentures. I’m only 32, surely we can fix these teeth?

Karlyn

Dear Karlyn,

I am going to say right off the bat that you are too young for completely removable dentures. When your teeth are removed, your body deals with that by resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use in other places in your body that it feels they will be more useful. While it is great for natural conservation, it has the unfortunate effect of shrinking your jawbone. After ten or so years, you will look decades older and will not even be able to keep your dentures in place. This is known as facial collapse.

While I haven’t examined you, I am not convinced that at least some of your teeth cannot be saved. Different dentists have varying degrees of enthusiasm for hard work and it sounds like your teeth are hard work. I want you to find a dentist who is passionate about saving your teeth. They are out there.

If there are teeth that cannot be saved. The better replacement for someone as young as you are would be to get a dental implant. This uses a prosthetic tooth root that will preserve your jawbone.

One thing you can do that you may not have tried is to limit your snacking. I don’t know if you are a snacker but that can derail oral health. This is because our saliva is the greatest defense we have against decay. If you don’t have breaks between meals without snacking, your saliva doesn’t have the time it needs to do its job. I would limit yourself to no more than one snack a day. You may already be doing this, but it was worth mentioning.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Dental Implants After Years In Dentures

Posted on August 29, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for about fourteen years. Lately, they have not been fitting correctly and have begun slipping a bit. It is possible for me to switch to dental implants or did I wait too long?

Maddie

Dear Maddie,

Technically, it is never too late to get dental implants. However, the longer you have been wearing dentures, the more likely you are to need an additional procedure for it to work. There is a condition known as a facial collapse that begins the moment you remove your natural teeth. Your body recognizes that you no longer have teeth there because the roots are missing. It immediately begins resorbing the minerals normally used by your jawbone to use elsewhere throughout your body. It does this to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. The longer you are without teeth, the more your jawbone shrinks. This is why your denture is currently feeling less secure. Eventually, it will get to the point where you can’t even keep the denture in.

In order to get to where you have enough bone structure to retain dental implants, you will need to build that bone back up. This requires a procedure known as bone grafting. Once that is completed, you will be good to go for your dental implants.

Tips for Successful Dental Implant Procedure

Make certain your dentist has dental implant training. Just dental school is not enough.
If someone other than the dentist will do the surgery, make certain you see the dentist first and he or she is the one to determine the placement of the dental implants.
It would be a GREAT idea to have a CT scan done as part of your diagnostics. Dental implants are a 3-Dimensional procedure and your dentist needs 3-Dimensional images.

There are many benefits to upgrading from dentures to implant overdentures: security, increased chewing capacity, comfort; however, the biggest benefit is the preservation of your jawbone. Once those dental implants are in place, your body interprets that as you having teeth and it leaves the minerals from your jawbone in one place.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Can’t Keep My Dentures In

Posted on July 14, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am sixty-two years old and have been in dentures for close to thirty years. In recent months, I cannot keep them in for anything. Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Jane

Dear Jane,

Your upper dentures are held in by suction, so those generally have less trouble staying in. The bottom dentures, however, simply rest on the ridge of your lower jawbone. The big problem with that is a condition known as facial collapse. When your teeth were first removed, your body recognized you no longer had teeth roots. To maintain efficiency in your body, it immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use in other places in your body that it perceives will be more useful. After twenty years or so, you will no longer have enough bone left in your jawbone to retain your denture. This is what you are currently facing.

The solution to this is to have a bone grafting procedure done. This can be done outpatient and will build up the missing bone. This will give you back the jawbone you need. From there, you will have two choices. The first option is to simply get a new denture to wear. It will stay in. The problem with that is you will find that you will again start losing bone structure. The cycle will start over again.

A better option would be to get implant overdentures. This uses four to six dental implants and then anchors a denture to them. The benefits of dental implants are significant. In relation to the facial collapse issue, the implants signal to your body that you still have teeth. Because of that, it will leave your jawbone intact and you will not have to worry about your jaw shrinking. You will also love the security that comes with them. They don’t slip and slide. You never have to worry about them falling out. Additionally, you will find that your chewing capacity increases substantially, allowing you to eat whatever you want.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

My Dentures Won’t Stay In

Posted on February 7, 2020 by writeradmin.

I need some help. I’ve had dentures for over 30 years but I’m having trouble keeping them in. One of the things that my dentist said is the bone ridge is almost completely gone. He said I eventually won’t be able to wear them anymore. Is there anything I can do? How will I eat?

Danni

Dear Danni,

I know what is happening as well as the solution. Hopefully, your dentist warned you before you had your dentures placed about the dangers of facial collapse. When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that. In an effort to be as efficient as possible, it resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in a manner it perceives more useful. After ten or so years, you begin to lose enough jawbone to notice a problem. By the time you get to thirty years, as you have, you’re in full-blown facial collapse.

The solution is bone grafting. This is a surgical procedure which builds back up the bone in your jawbone. Not all dentists know how to do it, so you may need to do some investigating. Once that is done you have two choices.

Choice Number One: Get New Dentures

Once the bone is better, you can have your dentist make you a new set of dentures. The only issue with that is you will start the same cycle again. Your body will begin the whole cycle of bone resorption again.

Choice Number Two: Get Implant-Supported Dentures

One real solution is to have dental implants placed in order to mimic your tooth roots. This signals to your body that you still have teeth. As a result, it will preserve the jaw bone there as still being necessary.

Generally, you will use four to six implants per arch. After a period of healing, which also allows time for the bone to integrate to the implants, then your dentures can be anchored to them.

Other Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

Aside from protecting you from facial collapse, which is a HUGE plus, you will notice right some other great benefits from implant overdentures:

Your dentures will no longer move around.

Your chewing capacity will increase.

You will no longer have to worry about sores from your dentures sliding

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Alternatives to Dentures

Posted on December 26, 2018 by writeradmin.

I have had dentures for a few years and I’m absolutely sick of them. I’ve given it the old college try but I can’t go any further. There have to be other options. Tell me what you’ve got.

Victor

Dear Victor

You are definitely not alone in your dislike of dentures. They have a lot of disadvantages. Even the best fitting dentures reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. They slip and slide around. However, their biggest disadvantage is the way your body responds to them.

When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes the roots of your teeth are no longer there. Recognizing that and given how efficiently our bodies were designed, it begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use somewhere it perceives those minerals will be of more use.

The result of that is known as facial collapse because as more and more of the minerals are used elsewhere, your jawbone shrinks until there’s not enough left to even support your dentures.

The Best Alternative to Dentures

There’s one procedure which rises above the rest in the tooth replacement pool— dental implants. I’m honestly shocked your dentist didn’t suggest them to begin with. A good dentist lets you know what all your options in treatment are.

With dental implants, as you can see at the picture above, a prosthetic root is implanted into your jawbone. In the second phase, which is done after healing has taken place, either dental crowns will be placed or (depending on how many teeth you’re replacing) a full set of dentures can be anchored to the implants.

In an almost complete 180 to dentures, these have many advantages. First, it’s like having healthy natural teeth again. They’re permanent. They’re secure. Your chewing capacity will return to 100%. You can eat whatever you want and brush and floss as you would with your natural teeth.

However, their most important advantage is they will completely prevent facial collapse.

Talk to a dentist who has a lot of experience in dental implants. They should have a 98% success rate.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.