I’ve worn dentures for 25 years and recently, they just won’t stay in. I’ve tried every kind of adhesive known to man. If I saw a dentist, would just re-lining them work or will they need to be replaced? I haven’t needed a dentist in years.

Brent

Dear Brent,

What you are battling at the moment is known as facial collapse. When your teeth were removed for your dentures twenty-five years prior, your body immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. This is because it wants to use your body’s resources as efficiently as possible. Without teeth, you don’t need that bone to retain the teeth roots. The unfortunate side effect of that is your jawbone slowly begins shrinking. With the amount of time that has past, you no longer have enough bone in your lower jaw to support your dentures. This is why they keep falling out.

The solution to this is two-fold. First, you will need to have a procedure known as bone grafting done. This will build back up the bone structure necessary to keep your dentures in place.

Once that is completed, your second step is to have new tooth replacements made. You have a couple of choices with this. You can simply have a new pair of dentures made. That is the cheapest option. The obvious downside to that is the cycle of facial collapse will start again. Your other option is to have implant overdentures placed.

With implant overdentures, you will have between four to eight dental implants placed and then, after a period allowed for healing and for the bone to integrate with the implants, your dentist can anchor your dentures to them. These are more expensive, but it will prevent any future facial collapse and your quality of life will go up in regard to your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Carl Embury.