Does anyone make soft dentures? It is more important for me on the upper denture. That hard plate is very uncomfortable and half the time I feel like I am choking.
Kelsey
Dear Kelsey,
I am sorry you are having trouble with your dentures. To be honest, there are quite a few miserable denture patients out there. To answer your question, while there is not a soft denture, there is a soft liner. However, this is mostly to help ease the pain from a bumpy lower ridge. It would not be much help to your situation.
The upper dentures generally have to have that firm plate in order to keep it secure for you to chew. As you can imagine (or maybe you do not have to imagine), those with a strong gag reflex find dentures miserable.
The best option you have is to switch from completely removable dentures to implant supported dentures. Not only will it take away the need for the upper plate altogether, but it will also protect you from the bone loss that will occur in your jawbone.
Without that, eventually, you will lose so much jawbone that you won’t be able to retain your dentures. This is known as facial collapse. Having dental implants placed in your lower jaw will preserve the jawbone.
This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Hillary Peck.
My mom is almost 87. She recently had to have a filling and then later that day when I went to check on her two teeth just fell out. Her dentist never even mentioned they were a problem. I can’t just leave her that way. She needs to replace them, but I don’t know if a bridge is a good idea at her age. Maybe her other teeth are too old? What would be an affordable solution for her?
Bridgett
Dear Bridgett,
I need to say up front it sounds like your mother needs a different dentist. If she has teeth just falling out from no obvious issue, it means she has an advanced periodontal disease. He should be checking her gums at her regular check-ups and warning her about the state of her gums. There are steps which can be taken to treat gum disease.
If I’m right and she has gum disease a dental bridge is out of the question. It will just pull out the remaining teeth it’s attached to. Ideally, you’d replace missing teeth with dental implants, but that’s also out of the question with gum disease. Plus, you asked for an affordable solution. Dental implants can cost upwards of $40,000.
Normally, I wouldn’t recommend dentures because of their complications with bone resorption. However, your mother is 87. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for her. It usually takes between 10 and 20 years for it to become a problem. Now, if your family has a history of centenarians, you may reconsider. But most don’t.
If you go to another dentist who thinks he can save quite a bit of her teeth, please do that. You don’t have to lose all your teeth to get dentures. There is something called a Cu-Sil partial (pictured directly above). It will leave holes for her healthy teeth. It uses little rubber rings to keep it secure to her teeth. It actually makes it more stable. Then, if the tooth is lost in the future, it’s simply a matter of closing up the hole and adding another false tooth.
Affordable Dentists Will Work with You
Most patients, especially elderly ones, don’t have the funds to just pay for large procedures outright. However, most dentists are willing to work with patients giving them payment plans. If you can’t find a dentist like that. Sign your mother up for Care Credit. It’s a medical credit card of sorts, which will allow her to pay off her treatments slowly. In fact, depending on the state of her credit, she can even get 0% interest as she pays it off. They also have no penalty for early repayment, so it’s a win-win situation.
This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.
I’m really unhappy with my dentures. I’ve had them about two weeks and I just can’t eat anymore. I’ve already lost weight. I was very slender to begin with so I can’t afford to lose much more. My dentist isn’t listening to me. He tells me they are fine and I just need time to get used to them. Is there anything I can do?
Elise L. – Montana
Elise,
Before you got dentures, your dentist was under an ethical obligation to share all the treatment options with you. If he didn’t, I would have serious concern about continuing your care with him. Plus, when you’re frustrated and hungry, it doesn’t help to have a dentist that isn’t listening to you.
No matter how well fitting someone’s dentures are, they will lose about 50% of your chewing capacity. Though some people seem to survive the change, others find it a misery. Eventually your dentures will start to slip as well. That is the bad news.
The good news is you have options. The best option, before you even got dentures, is to get dental implants. This does require a surgical procedure and is more expensive than dentures, but it will be like having your own teeth again.
If you can’t afford that, there is a procedure using mini implants that can anchor your dentures. This will improve your eating facility.
I’m sorry for what you are going through.
This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.
Is there a way to get a softer denture? Mine is too hard and is hurting the roof of my mouth.
Eileen S.- Babylon, NY
Eileen,
There isn’t really a soft denture. You can get a soft lining for your dentures. They are more comfortable than other types of dentures. The downside is they are more expensive and do not hold up as well.
You are not the only patient who finds dentures hard to deal with. The best solution is to switch to dental implants. They function and feel just like your natural teeth. You’ll be more comfortable, you’ll be able to eat the foods you love again.
This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.
