Theriot Family Dental

Too Young for Dentures

Posted by writeradmin

I am only 30 years old but have really tragic teeth. They’ve always been a problem even though I take care of them. Lately, it seems like my dentist has no interest in fixing my teeth and just suggests pulling them and getting partial dentures. At this rate, I’ll be in full dentures by the time I am 35. I just felt like maybe we’d advanced enough to fix teeth. Is there anything I can do to keep from dentures?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

Illustration of facial collapse

I am glad you wrote. I agree with you that being in your 30s is way too young to be contemplating dentures. The image above shows one of the dangerous side effects of years wearing dentures. Without teeth, your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. It does this because it perceives without teeth you no longer need that bone to help support the tooth roots anymore so, in an attempt to use your body’s resources well, it will use those materials elsewhere.

One of the things you are facing is the differences in the personalities and treatment philosophies of different dentists. You will find there are some dentists who are more willing to work hard to save teeth than others. In your place, the first thing I would do is go to another dentist to get a second opinion about the saveabilty of your teeth. If it turns out your teeth can be saved, I would switch to the dentist willing to do the work needed to help you keep your teeth.

If the Teeth Cannot Be Saved

If it turns out you will lose some more teeth, that doesn’t mean you will be stuck with dentures. There are better replacement options these days, called dental implants, and it bothers me that your dentist did not give you those as an option. I suspect he isn’t qualified to place them so he doesn’t bring it up.

However, dentists have an ethical responsibility to give you all of your options, even the ones he would have to send you elsewhere to have done. If you need some implants placed, I would look for a dentist with advanced training. The best implant dentists are fellows with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI).

This blog is brought to you by Youngville Dentist Dr. John Theriot.