I have been losing teeth left and right. I’m about to be down to just my two front upper teeth. My lower teeth are fairly healthy for now. I have two partial dentures on the top and I hate them. Really hate them. They move around too much. My question is, should I keep these last two upper teeth and stick with the two partials or just give up and have them extracted and get myself complete upper dentures. Would they be more comfortable? I know it is better to keep as much natural tooth structure as possible, but I’m just miserable with these partial dentures. I can’t really eat with them in and usually take them out and eat with just the two front teeth, which has caused me to retrain myself on how to eat and it is mostly a soft diet.
Andy
Dear Andy,
Bear in mind that I have not examined you or seen any x-rays. I’m basing this on just how this was described, but I think I’m grasping your situation. While in most cases it is better to keep your natural teeth, I think in your specific case is a bit different. First, I do not think that your last two upper teeth will last much longer if all the stress of eating is placed on them. Removing those last two upper teeth and getting dentures would be fine.
If you are looking for the best possible situation in your case, I would get implant supported dentures. The dental implants will help you eat again. They are the closest thing to having healthy, natural teeth in your mouth again. You’d even be able to eat steak if that was something you enjoy eating. They are expensive, though.
If you were talking about your lower arch, I would say it was essential that you get the implant overdentures. This is because when you don’t have any teeth, your body resorbs the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. While your upper dentures are held in by suction, your lower dentures just rest on the ridge of your jawbone. With the minerals being resorbed, it will mean that you eventually will not have enough jawbone left to even keep in your dentures. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.
Having the dental implants in your jaw signals to your body that you still have teeth and need the material in your jawbone to retain them.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.