Dr. Hall,
This is the first time in nearly 30 years that I have had dental insurance. I have advanced peridontal disease, in which I have had teeth fall out. (eight in total) My gum line is very low. Would it be possible for me to get implants not dentures?
– Deena from Illinois
Dear Deena,
Dental implants are an excellent choice anytime you have to replace missing teeth. Especially if all your teeth are missing. Removable dentures will reduce your chewing efficiency by at least 50%, because they tend to slip and slide around. Not only do dental implants enable you to eat normally, but they will also help preserve your jawbone. When all your teeth are missing, if you don’t have implants, your body senses that the jawbone is no longer necessary and begins to dissolve it away in order to use those minerals elsewhere. This results in facial collapse. After about ten years, it becomes difficult to wear a denture because there is little bone left to rest it on. Your lower face also shrivels up and you begin to look much older.
Whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants, however, depends on a number of factors, including general health. Your history of advanced periodontal disease could make it more difficult for dental implants to work for you. And if you have had a lot of bone loss, you may need some bone grafts in order to provide enough bone to hold the implants. But I would go for it. Get a reputable dentist who has done a lot of dental implants and has been to a lot of dental implant continuing education.
– Dr. Hall
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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