I need to figure out what to do. I was told I have gum disease at my last checkup, which was a year ago. I don’t have dental insurance so I waited to deal with it. I noticed this morning that the gums on the two front bottom teeth are getting lower. Is this from the gum disease? If so, what do I do?
Carol
Dear Carol,
You want to take gum disease very seriously. Yes, the lowering of your gums is a direct result of that gum disease. They will continue to do that until eventually your teeth become loose and fall out. I would not wait on dental insurance for this. Instead, I would take this by the reins and start getting treatment right away.
Believe me when I tell you this will cost you less money than what it will take to replace your teeth. The cheapest option is dentures, but unless you are in your 80s, this is not a good long-term solution. Once your teeth are removed, your body will begin resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. After ten or so years, there will not be enough bone left to keep your dentures in place. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.
The way to prevent that is by getting implant overdentures instead. These use between four and eight dental implants and then anchor dentures to them. The implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots and signal to your body that you have teeth there. As a result, it leaves your jawbone intact.
However, dental implants are expensive. Your best bet is to get to the dentist and have that gum disease treated. Look for a dentist who advertises as an affordable dentist. They are often willing to allow you to make payments on your treatment instead of having to pay it all at once.
This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.
