The Big Decision About Dentures

An Open Letter To Our Patients:

From time to time we have people approach us desiring to have their teeth removed and dentures made for them. Sometimes these requests are without merit from a dental perspective and are motivated by money concerns, fear or ignorance. There are situations when we are left with no other options other than to recommend dentures due to advanced dental disease problems. However, not always are dentures the best treatment alternative.

The following factors always play into the thinking and decision process regarding dentures: advanced disease, limited finances, overwhelming dental problems to fix, influence from family and friends, etc.. Regardless of the background or the reasons, the outcomes are similar. Let's examine these outcomes for a moment, so that you will be fully informed and aware of what potentially lies ahead. We will also discuss finances, values and priorities as we believe they pertain to this issue.

In almost all situations dentures are at best a poor substitute for the original equipment we began with. They can never truly take the place of strong natural teeth anchored soundly in healthy jaw bone. For the individual without teeth or whose teeth are not savable, we recognize that dentures are necessary and are certainly better than nothing. Compared to not having teeth, dentures allow a person to maintain more of their self-esteem, and remain a part of society, as they choose to define it. They allow for reasonable function, form and esthetics, and for reasonable involvement in society, social circles, and the job market, etc.. For this we are always thankful.

However, dentures do not represent the "end-all cure-all" of dental problems. At best, since it is a poor substitute for natural teeth, having a denture merely trades one set of problems for another.

Since dentures are not a part of you (like your own teeth) they must be balanced over your bony ridges and be supported by soft gum tissue. Dentures tend to slip, lose retention, float, and rock, depending upon the anatomy of your mouth, your muscles, and your habits and experience with dentures. This is the discouraging part. Sore spots can develop, making the wearing and use of the denture very difficult at times. Bone ridges will change shape over time, making it necessary to do relines of the inside of the denture to improve the fit of the denture. Dentures have the potential to impact your social life by affecting the way you must eat, speak, yawn, and behave in public. Removing teeth definitely affects the way your face, jaws, and mouth look. While dentures can maintain the profile of the lower part of the face, the whole process usually brings about the results of a more aged appearance, to one degree or another.

To those who still have teeth and who cite the happy outcome of friends and family with dentures, we say that we are glad they are happy with their denture, because they don't have a choice. Those with teeth or the prospects of saving their teeth still have a choice in the matter. Dentures are a poor substitute for the real thing if natural teeth can be rehabilitated.

If you still have teeth and have the potential of saving your teeth, we invite you to re-examine your thinking regarding this most sensitive issue. Many times it is a financial issue. Re-examine your values and priorities. Is your new car, vacation, or Christmas, more important than your health or the ability to eat and speak? Is the quality of your wardrobe more important than your teeth, smile, or chewing ability? Are your nails or hair care a bigger priority than your good health? Discretionary income spent on tobacco, recreation, alcohol, lottery/gambling, consumer electronics, movie tickets, pet food, hair and personal care, all compete in the spectrum of values and priorities that via for our attention. The dentist's job is not to dictate people's value systems. But considering the task we are asked to participate in at times, it at least becomes appropriate to hold up the "values mirror" and ask for due consideration as to what is deemed important. After all, we only spend money on those things in life we find important. What is your commitment to your health? Compare it to your commitment to other items in your budget. We hope this discussion doesn't offend. But who else is going to say it?

Having said all this, we recognize that there are those among us, who are indeed unfortunate enough to have both serious dental predicaments and low financial resources. To these people, we acknowledge your efforts to establish priorities and to lead a balanced life. Sometimes, "now" is not the time, but let's still explore the options openly. Most of us could do much more than we are presently doing, to lower the costs and degree of involvement of our present problems, if we only knew what to do or how to do it.

Sincerely,

G. Lee Ostler Jr. DDS and Staff

Return to Special Reports