Last week my 78-year-old mom’s dentist filled three of her teeth. She has a partial denture for a tooth that she lost last September. A few days ago, my mom lost two more teeth in her lower jaw. She has a lot of anxiety over her tooth loss. I don’t think her gums are in good shape. I wonder if she should get a dental bridge or dentures if it is too late for her to get implant dentures. Thank you. Aashra from Georgia
Aashra,
Thank you for your question.
Your mother’s rapid tooth loss is a sign of advanced gum disease. The progression of her tooth loss suggests that her other teeth are not healthy, and they will not support a dental bridge. A dental bridge would weaken her remaining teeth and cause them to fall out also. Teeth do not otherwise become loose and fall out.
Treatment Options for Loose or Missing Teeth
The All-on-4 technique provides implant dentures for people with low bone volume
Treatment options for loose or missing teeth include the following:
- Dental implants – Ideally, dental implants can replace her teeth. But with advanced gum disease, she likely needs full-mouth restoration, which can easily cost $25,000 to $40,000.
- Complete removable dentures – A dentist can extract your mother’s remaining teeth, which are likely weak or loose, and replace them with full removable dentures. But with all her teeth missing, your mother’s jawbone will shrink.
- Implant dentures – An implant dentist can stabilize dentures with implants, including the All-on-4 technique, which works for patients with low bone volume. But the dentist must control your mother’s gum disease first and ensure the areas around the implants are healthy.
- Cu-Sil partial – Built like a complete denture, a Cul-Sil partial has holes in it for remaining teeth to poke through. A silicone ring in each hole fits around the tooth for a stable fit.
- Removable partial – A removable partial denture has clasps attached to natural teeth. It will increase stress on teeth and weaken them.
We recommend that you schedule a consultation with two advanced cosmetic dentists with experience in different types of dentures, as well as dental implants. They will recommend gum disease treatment and options for replacing your mother’s missing teeth. Compare your options and choose a provider to help restore your mom’s oral health.
This post is sponsored by Sugar Land, Texas dentist Dr. Siny Thomas.