Ask the Dentures Dentist

What is a reline for dentures?

David, KY

Dr. Hair: The "horse-shoe-shaped" bones that hold your teeth are made just for that function - they hold your teeth.  When teeth are lost, the bone begins to resorb (dissolve away).  After a denture is placed, this process continues until the ridge (or your gums) no longer fits all the way into the denture.  At this point, the denture becomes loose.  A loose denture moves around and causes the bone to disappear even faster.

If the denture is in good shape otherwise, a reline may be indicated.  The goal is to add denture base in to replace the support you have lost so that the denture fits again.

In other words, the ridge (your gums) no longer fit completely into the denture. A reline will fill in the gap between the denture and your gums with plastic so that the denture actually fits your gums again.

I recently had to have one of my front teeth pulled due to it being cracked and infected. My dentist put in a partial plate for the one tooth which I am very uncomfortable with. I sound funny when I talk and I am having trouble eating. Why couldn't she just have put in a permanent bridge instead?

Sue, MD

Dr. Hair: I am terribly sorry to hear of your difficulties following the removal of your front tooth.  Many times, when a front tooth has to be removed, we will place single tooth partial (or flipper) for the time while the extraction site heals.

The options for replacing a missing tooth, other than a removable partial, include a fixed bridge (as you indicated) or an implant.

Oftentimes when we replace the tooth with an implant, we are able to do that at the time of the extraction.  However, you may still have the flipper until the extraction site heals with the implant in place.  When the implant site is healed, and the tooth portion is connected to the implant, the flipper is no longer needed.  It is as though you have grown a new tooth.

If we are replacing the missing tooth with a fixed bridge as you suggested, we want to wait for the extraction site to heal completely before we place that fixed bridge.  If we place the fixed bridge before the extraction site heals completely, the tissue may shrink away from the fixed bridge and ruin the illusion provided by the fixed bridge: the illusion of having all of your front teeth .  Placing some bone grafting material in the extraction site when you remove a tooth helps the site heal faster, and helps the site retain the contours that aid in the illusion provided by the bridge.  You would need to wear the flipper during this time of healing as well.

I have a denture for my top  teeth. I need a denture for the bottom
and my dentist says "No, it's not comfortable" and I should get implants. Not
what I want. The expense and trouble is not what I want. Please advise me. Can
a lower plate be made to fit and be comfortable?

Anita

Dr Slota: Anita, you should locate a neuromuscular dentist (http://www.myotronics.com)  that does  dentures.  Have a new "set" (uppers and lowers) made.  If you are not  happy with the fit you can always have a new set made.

Is there an organization that helps finance dentures for low-income individuals in Pennsylvania?

Dr. Slota: I am not personally aware of what is available in Pennsylvania but I would suggest you start with your local dental society and ask them for a referral based on your needs.

   I have a new top full denture (porcelain I believe) and all but the front 8 teeth on the bottom are gone (11 teeth pulled by dentist and no denture because insurance won't cover it until 3/08 which dentist knew before pulling teeth). Here are my questions: How come my new teeth - gag me? (when just being in mouth); hurt to bite(can't bite meat, have to pull it apart it like dog);hurt my gums on roof of my mouth; food sticks to roof of mouth and chokes me; are so loose when I have no adhesive that I can't talk at all (adhesive doesn't help with eating too much). Please help very unhappy and hungry.

Dr. Slota: It sounds as though your denture is not fitting well.  Sometimes that can be as a result of not having your lower denture.  You need it (the lower denture) to stabilize the upper denture.  I am sorry that your insurance won't be available for another 9 months.  That being the case you may want to have a lower denture made and pay for it out of your pocket.  You will be happier and healthier.

  Is there much difference in the price of plasticdentures versus porcelain dentures?
Also, I'm scheduled to get my last 3 teeth removed and in the marketfor a dentist that can fit me for dentures, but am concerned over theirexperience and/or qualifications on dentures. Is there any way I cancheck up on their qualifications? I live in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Slota:  You need to interview the dentist.  Most dentists do not like making dentures.  So call around and ash for experience and to see some before and after photos.

I am curious to know as to how much would thedental implantation costs for 6 front teeth?

Dr. Slota:  Implants can be a good choice to replace missing teeth as they look and feel more natural than dentures.  Prices could vary based on several factors:  the health of the individual patient, whether bone grafts are needed, the quality of crowns chosen, etc.  A dental evaluation is needed to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants and your dentist can give you an idea of cost at that time.  A price range may be $3000 to $5000 per tooth.

If a denture breaks in two, can it be repaired or must it be replaced?

Dr. Slota: Most dentures that break can be repaired.

I have to have a full set of false teeth put in. Is there any false teeth that doesn't need the full plate to hold it up. Some one needs to invent a magnetic set of teeth, so you don't need all that gook in your mouth.

Dr. Slota: Yes, you can have dentures with implants holding them in. If you need a lot of "gook" to hold your denture in you may need to have them relined or rebased. That is where the dentist adds in more denture plastic to fill in voids left by changes in your jaw or weight loss.

I'm almost 57 years old. I'm missing one uppermolar (second from the end) which has been unreplaced, and anotherwhich has been replaced by a bridge. One of my upper front teeth has acrown due to an accident as a child. All of my molars are extensivelyfilled; my teeth are discolored and refuse to whiten, and they breakeasily. For many years I've wanted to just get rid of the whole mess andreplace them with dentures, but every dentist I talk to says it's avery bad idea; in fact my current dentist has said that if I want toget dentures I'll have to go to someone else because he can'tconscientiously do it. One comment he's made is that my narrow lower jay would quickly maketrouble without teeth to hold its mass. Can you comment on this?

Dr. Slota: Keeping your own teeth is always the best solution.  Your dentist is correct.  However if you really want dentures you probably could find someone to make a set for you. The problems are that when you have them made there is no going back to your own teeth. Implants are expensive and were mostly brought about because people were unhappy with their dentures fit and function. You may be best off investing in your current teeth.