I've read a lot of the posts here and am learning a lot! I only have the front section of my teeth left, both upper and lower, and these are decaying rapidly at the gumline. My mouth is incredibly dry, due to meds that are unlikely to change. Could the titanium posts that are implanted into the jawbone be done in the areas where I haven't had teeth for the past 13/14 years? My main reason for being scared of dentures is that, because of the dry mouth, will I even be able to wear them? I have a lot of allergies and know I can't use products like Fixodent, etc. Would these titanium implants, placed in the 4 areas (2upper and 2 lower) where I don't have molars, be ok to "snap on" (for lack of a better word) to hold dentures in place? I hope I have found a solution to be able to KNOW that I can wear dentures(!). A few of my teeth may need to be extracted in the next couple of month's, and the rest, with how quickly the cavities are progressing, may have 1-2 years at best. Is this long enough to get the implants firmly rooted in place? And what price range are 4 of these titanium implanted posts? Oh how I hope this would work! Thanks in advance for your comments - ElizaJane

Hi ElizaJane,

When a tooth is extracted, the bone loss is about 50% which means that the level and thickness of bone becomes limited. Generally dental implants need to be placed within 1-2 years of the extractions, sometimes a bit longer, depends on the person's age, location of the missing teeth and other individual factors. In some cases, bone grafting can be done to replace some of the missing bone, but that too depends on the individual.

Sometimes a dentist can tell clinically just by looking at the bony ridge whether or not there is adequate bone, other times routine dental x-rays can help make that determination. If there is any doubt or the case is going to be extensive or complicated, the sure way to determine the level and thickness of bone is to have a dental CT scan done.

To be totally honest with you.... given your dental history and medical compromises, you would be a high risk and difficult implant case. Dry mouth syndrome makes any oral healing complicated. I want you to be very aware of that if and when you consult a dentist about doing dental implants. Ok? :/

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna - I appreciate your honesty. I'm still in denial, and that is my biggest problem. Kind of hard to come to terms with - my trademark, really the only visible asset I have right now - my smile - is quickly going away. Last night I had no sleep at all because of one of my teeth - the last of the molars (just beside my eye, or canine tooth). It is somewhat loose, and the gum has receded. So now it starts: this tooth will definitely show once pulled. What can I do? Absolutely nothing. I don't know why this is all so hard to come to terms with? My health is very poor, and has been for a long time. Oh well. Thank you for your honesty, and for all the research from which I have benefitted, and all of us that you help here. I know I appreciate especially the info on root canals! It's helping me leave a practice I should never have stayed with for more than a couple of months! I change over to my new dentist on Wed and am looking forward to being at a practice where I can trust that I am being taken care of! Much better! Thank you again -

ElizaJane,

You're welcome Sorry to always be the bearer of crappy news :/

I just wish that dentists would inform their patients of more than they do.... prior to doing the dental work.

Keep us posted on what's happening. Hopefully this new dentist will be honest and more informative.

Bryanna

I went to the new dentist. I had home there last Aug for a second opinion
And liked it very much there. Good thing I hadn't told my old dentist that I was leaving - I just picked up a copy of my X-rays, telling them I was going for another estimate on the dentures. The new dentist, after looking things over, went to talk with the other dentist in the practice, came back and said they wouldn't be able to help me - they were referring me to a specialist. Guess where: the University of Maryland Dental School. A Dental School! I have a friend that goes there ALL the time, as it is cheap to go there. I asked why I would let a student work on me if I was such a complicated case - she said they are trained by several professionals. So?


I knew I was in trouble when I saw the dentist's eyebrows raise when she asked about the glycol allergy and I said I do all my own research. That way I am sure of what I'm being exposed to. I don't know why anyone would object to that? I'm not costing them, or their practice, any time or money to check things out. But I saw her reaction. Oh well - at least I sti have the practice where the turnover is so high they've had 4 dentists there in less than 1 year.

Hi Eliza,

I am not a big proponent of having dental work done in a dental school for reasons I won't go into here. But of course to each his own. Why are you such a high medical risk?... besides the glycol allergy.

Please read my reply to your other post about searching out denture materials.

Bryanna

I'm high risk because of the allergies - glycols are in so many things. I am a diabetic, have a heart murmer and borderline high blood pressure and chronic pain and neuropathy, sleep disorder, obese, use a CPAP machine - thst's enough I guess to make dentists and doctors run like the plague when I try to come to their practices. I've had 12 major surgeries, am allergic to PCN, Sulfa, iodine, betadine, Hibiclens, steroids cause incredible problems - can't have MRIs because I have a spinal cord stimulator. So, that's why I can't find a dentist - I couldn't find a (good) dentist even before I was looking at crowns, partials and dentures.

I can't imagine finding a practice (medical or dental) that would devote the time necessary to finding out about the glycol allergy. I've seen a lot of providers over the years and the BEST I get is a list of 3or 4 possible meds for ME to research and to call back IF I can take any of them. No one out there volunteers to lift a finger to help with this allergy. I seriously think it's time to give up pursuing all these medical and dental problems, and so does my husband. Make my home as comfortable as possible, only do the miminum needed to get the meds I can't live without, and accept life living here in my home until I die. Could be a lot worse than banging my head against the wall, which I feel I do a lot of now. Oh well, it is what it is - a pain in the ***. You don't want to be the patient that takes up all the time.

Hi Eliza,

Yes, you have several health issues and definitely need to be taken care of with some caution. However, MANY patients have similar if not worse problems and dentists treat them all of the time. To be honest, it is rare to have a patient who does not have a multitude of health issues..... and on a multitude of medications.

One big issue that you happen to be aware of that some people are not aware of.... is your allergy to glycols. I do think that a dentist can work with his dental lab in finding an alternative material for you. I really encourage you to not give up hope.

Bryanna