Six Upper Teeth Left After Gum Disease. What Are My Options?

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I had a two-year battle with gum disease that left me with six upper teeth remaining. The teeth are unevenly spaced from tooth loss and disease. My dentist recommends dental implants, but implants are expensive, and they do not resolve the spacing issue. I am not against implants, but the thought of going into debt for them makes me anxious. Maybe I need to take more time to find affordable implants and dentures. I already wear an uncomfortable dental flipper and understand I can get a partial denture or another flipper. I have a lot of teeth to replace, but at 62 years old, with longevity in my family, I must do something about my missing teeth. My thoughts are scattered. What are your suggestions? Are dental implants my only option? – Antoinette from Austin, TX

Antoinette

Thank you for contacting Dr. Brooksher’s office. Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your teeth and gums and take a 3-D T scan to determine your treatment options. Still, we can advise you on how to find a dentist to manage your case and give you a healthy, attractive smile.

Are Dental Implants Your Only Option?

It is unlikely that dental implants are your only option. Still, your treatment options depend on several factors, including:

  • Your oral health
  • The condition of your remaining teeth
  • Your jawbone volume and quality
  • The sizes of your remaining teeth
  • The extent of spacing between your teeth

Schedule a Consultation with a Cosmetic and Implant Dentist

We recommend searching for a dentist concerned about the function and appearance of your teeth and smile. You will benefit from a highly sympathetic dentist with advanced training in these areas:

  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Dental implants
  • Occlusion and bite
Diagram of snap-on dentures. Dental implants are in the lower jawbone, and a denture with attachments in the base is hovering above the gumline.

A snap-on denture is an affordable option for dental implants

Although saving natural teeth is a dentist’s priority, affordable implant dentures can restore your smile if your remaining teeth do not support your long-term oral health. The dentist will explain options for natural-looking teeth replacement that complement your facial features and personality. An implant bridge may be an option for you.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist and Fellow of implantology, sponsors this post.

I get a migraine before dental appointments

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Before every dental appointment, I get a migraine headache. I know this is anxiety, but I can’t stop myself from getting headaches. Of course, I can’t drive myself to the dentist either when I have a migraine. This has been going on for 2 years, during which I have only seen a dentist once.  Last week, I saw a dentist for an urgent appointment because my denture broke. The dentist warned me to fix it promptly to avoid an emergency. My anxiety level is over the top, and I cannot think clearly enough to know if I can trust this dentist for a new implant denture or if I need to look elsewhere. Where do I start? Thank you. Aaron from Chicago

Aaron – We suggest that you find a dentist who caters to anxious patients. Find two or three dentists with whom you can schedule a consultation. But ensure the dentists are also skilled with dental implants.

Schedule the consultations without mentioning the kind of dental treatment you need. Explain your anxiety and listen to and watch how each dentist responds to determine which one might be best for your needs.

Diagram of a snap-on denture. The denture is hovering above the jawbone that has two dental implants in it.

Affordable dental implants will secure your dentures

Ask each dentist what they do to help patients relax. If sedation dentistry is available, find out what levels of sedation the dentists offer and what you can expect from each level. If oral conscious sedation is an option, you will be able to take a small amount of anti-anxiety medication before your appointment.

Tell the dentist about your migraines. Depending on the sedation type, you may need to arrange transportation to and from your appointments.  And when you receive implant dentures, you can expect to be sedated for the surgery.

There are ways to help you maintain good oral health and to get the dental care you need. Finding the right dentist to meet your needs will get you back on track.

 

Steven Brooksher, DDS, is a cosmetic and Fellow of implant dentistry in Baton Rouge, LA. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will help you determine what to look for in a dentist in your area.

Are All-on-4 Implants Really My Only Option?

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Last month, I had a consultation with a dentist about stabilizing my dentures. They don’t have to be perfectly stable, but I do not want them sliding around anymore. The dentist recommends all on 4 implants. When he told me the cost, I told him that is way out of my budget, and I will have to explore my options. He quickly said that there are no other options because I’ve worn dentures too long. He said that his rate is among the best I will find. Is it possible that all on 4 could be the only way a patient could qualify for implant dentures? If so, I will forget about getting implants and accept my dentures as they are. Thank you. – Brett from TN

Brett,

Thank you for contacting our office.

You mentioned that you had a consultation with this dentist. Based on your description, it seems that you did not have an exam, CT scan, or any x-ray for the dentist to decide that All-on-4 implants are your only option. And that is puzzling. Be careful with this dentist.

If you have worn dentures for many years, you have some jawbone shrinkage. But an implant dentist can build up the bone with grafting to ensure the implants have plenty of support.

What Type of Implant Dentures Can You Receive?

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry clearly explains the types of dental implants available. But a dentist can define your treatment options only after these steps:

  • Reviewing your medical and dental histories
  • Examining your teeth and gums
  • Reviewing a CT scan

Affordable Implant Dentures

Diagram of snap-on dentures. Dental implants are in the lower jawbone, and a denture with attachments in the base is hovering above the gumline.

A snap-on denture is an affordable alternative to All-on-4

A snap-on denture or a denture retained with mini-implants is more affordable than the All-on-4 technique. Those affordable options use as few as two dental implants. Although more implants will improve a denture’s stability, your treatment costs will increase.

And not every patient qualifies for All-on-4. We recommend that you look for an implant dentist with extensive post-graduate training and schedule an appointment for an exam. The dentist will explain your treatment options. A conscientious dentist will discuss the pros and cons of each option but will not insist that you receive a specific type of treatment—or any treatment at all.

 

Steven Brooksher, DDS, is a  Baton Rouge cosmetic  dentist and Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will help you determine what to look for in a dentist in your area.

My painful dental implant and bone graft failed

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My dentist has placed hundreds of dental implants in the past 15 years. I know friends and two family members who received implants from him with no problem. Before doing my implant, my dentist told me that I would need a bone graft first. After healing, he placed the bone graft. But I was in so much pain, he removed it and said the bone was not built up enough, so I could not get an implant. Now my dentist recommends a bridge. I do not want a dental bridge. Although my dentist has placed many implants, I wonder if I should switch to a specialist. Is it worth it, or am I wasting time and money? Thank you. Dylan

Dylan,

Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your implant site for an accurate diagnosis, we doubt that a dentist with advanced implant training would have the same problems as your dentist. It sounds like your dentist is trying to give you a solution that he can confidently complete.

How much pain should dental implants cause?

With dental implants, you will not feel pain during surgery. Afterward, most patients feel mild pain and discomfort that is temporary and mild.

  • During – Before implant surgery, your dentist will sedate you, and local anesthesia will numb the implant site. You will not feel pain during surgery.
  • After – Initial pain after dental implant surgery is normal, but it peaks in a few days and continues to improve. And you will take anti-inflammatory and pain medication to minimize the pain.

But bone grafting can be complex. Although your dentist placed hundreds of implants, bone grafting might be challenging for him—or maybe he doesn’t have much experience with grafting. Unfortunately for you as the patient, a dentist exploring new skills like bone grafting may have difficulty with a case.

On a positive note, your dentist could have left the implant in place and let it develop complications before removing it, so his choice to remove it was wise and considerate.

A dental bridge instead of an implant?

Diagram of the phases of a dental implant for a comparison to a partial denture.

Advanced implant dentists understand bone grafting and implant surgery

You have decided to get a dental implant—not a dental bridge as your dentist has offered. Although a dental bridge is an acceptable form of tooth replacement, if you want the implant, go for it. We recommend that you schedule a consultation with a dentist with advanced implantology training. You can ask your dentist to transfer copies of your x-rays and CT scans or take copies with you. The potential new dentist will explain your treatment options and how they will complete the bone graft and place the implant.

Best wishes on your next experience with dental implants. Take time to check the implant dentist’s credentials first.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.