14 Nov 2018

Cavities, Cosmetic Dentist, Dental Health Tips, Dental Hygienist, Dentist, Dentures, General Dentist, General Dentistry, Pasadena, Pediatric Dentist, Sedation Dentistry

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8 Signs You Might Need Dentures

Dentures? Who, me?

If you’ve always figured dentures are for other people, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly 60% of respondents in a recent Prevention.com survey said they don’t expect to need dentures because they take good care of their teeth.

But the truth is, dentures are more prevalent than you might think. Approximately 20 million women age 40 and over (that’s 19%!) wear full or partial dentures, reports a 2009 Fixodent Beauty & Aging Survey. And the number of US adults needing dentures is projected to increase from 33.6 million in 1991 to 37.9 million in 2020, according to research published in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

The good news? You can keep dentures out of your future, say dental experts.

“Tooth loss does not happen overnight,” says Frank Tuminelli, DMD, FACP, vice president of the American College of Prosthodontists and director of Graduate Prosthodontics, New York Hospital Queens. “Dentures are not inevitable for the majority of the population—if they practice good home health care and have regular dental checkups.”

So how likely are you to keep your teeth? Here are 8 warning signs that dentures may be in your future.

1. You don’t visit a dentist every six months

Whether you’re putting it off or it seems like overkill, visiting the dentist is crucial. Twice-yearly visits keep gum disease and tooth decay—the chief culprits when it comes to losing teeth—in check. But only 43% of Americans visited a dentist in the last year, according to a 2009 survey by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

“We recommend a semi-annual visit to your dentist because when the problems are small, they’re easily corrected,” says Leila Jahangiri, associate professor and chair of the department of prosthodontics at New York University College of Dentistry. “Once cavities and periodontal problems advance, teeth may need to be extracted, and once that happens, you could be into the denture scenario.”

“Dentures are a last resort,” agrees Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD, an Independence, Kansas-based dentist and a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). “Our goal is to keep as many of the patient’s own teeth as possible.” Your takeaway: Keep those biannual cleanings!

2. Your gums are red, swollen, tender, or bleeding

These are classic symptoms of gum inflammation—from the milder, early stage of gingivitis to the more advanced and severe periodontal disease. And they’re really common: Gum disease is the cause of approximately 70% of adult tooth loss, and affects three out of four people at some point in their lives, according to the AGD.

Fortunately, gum disease doesn’t automatically predict dentures. In the early stages, the cure can be as simple as a teeth cleaning at the dentist’s office and better oral care at home. But if left untreated, gum disease can progress to bone loss, which in turn can lead to tooth loss—and possibly to dentures. “These are all correctable issues,” says Dr. Tuminelli. “If you catch these signs early, your dentist or prosthodontist can help you restore tooth health so you can keep your natural teeth.”

3. Your teeth are loose, shifting, or the gaps between your teeth are wider.

When teeth shift position or when spaces open up between teeth, bone loss from gum disease may be the “hidden” problem. “Periodontal or gum disease is what we call a silent killer because you can’t see it,” says Dr. Jahangiri, “So it can progress heavily without your knowing it.”

Loose teeth can mean advanced gum disease, at least in that area, agrees Sandy Roth, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and manager of the Denture Care Center in Brooksville, Florida. “Extensive periodontal treatment might be needed, and sometimes these teeth might have to be extracted.”

4. You have a toothache

Ouch! Severe pain can be a sign that decay has progressed so much that it’s attacking the nerve in the center of the tooth. Caught early, tooth decay can be treated with a simple filling, but when it’s advanced, the options are more invasive and costly.

“With extensive decay, we determine whether any teeth are savable, which teeth have to be removed, and whether a partial denture to replace some of the missing teeth would give the patient adequate aesthetic and functional results,” explains Roth. “It’s important to remember that once teeth are gone, they’re gone for good,” she adds.

5. You’re already missing a couple of teeth

Dial your dentist, pronto. “People who have lost more than two or three teeth should seek some sort of prosthesis,” says Dr. Jahangiri. “Otherwise the pressure on the remaining teeth will be too great.”

“Sometimes when a patient has lost their back teeth, they say, ‘I still have my front teeth and they look good, so who cares,’ ” she continues. “But when fewer teeth are doing all the work, there is a greater chance of losing more teeth. It’s a domino effect.”

Unfortunately, many Americans can attest to that. A surprising 17% of adults age 65 years and older have had all of their natural teeth removed, says a 2010 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

6. You’re having trouble eating hard or chewy foods

“The difficulty eating certain foods might be caused by a cracked tooth, missing teeth, cavities or gum disease,” says Dr. Sherwood. “Removing the tooth is not inevitable though, especially if you catch the problem early. For example, a root canal and a crown might save the tooth.”

7. You have indigestion

If you’ve got a recurring stomachache or indigestion, your teeth might be to blame. “When patients can’t chew properly, they end up swallowing bigger pieces of food, and that’s hard on your stomach,” explains Dr. Sherwood. And not being able to chew properly—whether it’s from sore or cracked teeth—is a telltale sign of serious dental issues. A dentist can help determine if problem teeth are the underlying cause.

8. You’re self-conscious about smiling

Sometimes dentures are an aesthetic choice. “I have patients who elect to have a denture earlier than they might absolutely need to because of the appearance of their front teeth,” says Dr. Sherwood. Does it make a difference? According to Fixodent’s 2009 Beauty & Aging Survey, most female denture wearers (67%) say they smile more often since getting dentures. Even so, opting for dentures deserves careful thought, so consult with a dental professional to determine what’s best for you.

Bottom line: “In general, there’s no reason for people to lose teeth today, unless they neglect them by not brushing, flossing and regularly visiting their dentist,” says Dr. Tuminelli. “Fortunately, those things are in a person’s control.”

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