Denture vs implants plus partial denture

[WallyBird]

My father has been quoted £4000 to have all lower teeth removed, two implants in his bottom jaw, and then a partial denture.
The cheaper alternative is to have all teeth out and a full lower denture - although he has been told that this will be a "floating denture" as it will never stay in place.

Please could anyone tell me if the implants are worth the extra money (not to mention the time and pain)? He is a pensioner in his 80s, though he could afford it if it was really going to be a lot better.

Thanks, WallyBird.

[Toothsmith]

I can see the dentist's point here.

People now in their 60s-80s sort of fall between 'old' dentistry and 'new' dentistry.

In the old days, people would have had their teeth out at the drop of a hat, and got used to detures from a very young age.

Young people are much more adaptable (look at the braces some kids wear and get used to!)

Those that were young during the 50s and 60s got the first wave of the NHS, and dentists 'enthusiastically' filling teeth and saving them. This gave people more teeth for much longer, but nowadays all that restorative work is failing, and older people are loosing teeth and coming to dentures when their ability to adapt to them is much reduced.

From the late 70s onwards with fluoride toothpaste - prevention is much more the order of the day. So people have less, and smaller fillings. When these people reach old age, they should still have a mouthful of healthy teeth (A trend the current NHS dental contract is trying it's best to reverse!).

So - an 80 yr old coming to a denture for the first time may well have a better experience if implants are used to help stabilise it than if it is just a bit of plastic that relys on balance and muscle control.

[WallyBird]

Thank you, Toothsmith.
So, if I understand you correctly, you think it would be worth the extra money to have the implants?
By the way, he is used to dentures on his upper teeth.
Thanks. WallyBird.

[Toothsmith]

Lowers are a different kettle of fish!

I don't know your father, or how adaptable he is - so I'm not in a position to make a recommendation one way or the other.

Implants would result in a more stable denture than without though.

[grunnie]

My father has been quoted £4000 to have all lower teeth removed, two implants in his bottom jaw, and then a partial denture.
The cheaper alternative is to have all teeth out and a full lower denture - although he has been told that this will be a "floating denture" as it will never stay in place.

Please could anyone tell me if the implants are worth the extra money (not to mention the time and pain)? He is a pensioner in his 80s, though he could afford it if it was really going to be a lot better.

Thanks, WallyBird.
I was in the same position -was told I would never be able to wear a full lower denture. My dentist is still amazed she can hear the slurp ( or what ever the noise is) when I have to take them out. Suction I think keeps them in and I don't even remember I am wearing dentures. I even forgot one night and the toothbrush was in my mouth and brushing them before I realised they were supposed to come out first:rotfl:I had no teeth for about 8 months after getting my lower teeth removed at the maxiofacial clinic as I didn't have a dentist( he retired think he was 70?). It took me several months to find a private dentist (up here North east of Scotland) so was toothless for ages and it certainly strengthened up my gums but curtailed my social life as I didn't like to go out and be seen toothless. :o

[WallyBird]

Thanks for this. I wonder if it would be the same for him? That is the problem: there's probably no way of knowing until after it's been done.
I suppose he could have the full denture done first, then if it caused problems have the implants put it at a later stage. Not sure whether this would work out more expensive overall though.

[Toothsmith]

That would be more expensive overall if the implants WERE required afterwards.

But it will be a whole lot cheaper if he's OK with the simple lower.

The probem might come if he feels a bit silly should he find he needs the implants, and would rather suffer in silence than admit he should have had them.

Is this likely?

[WallyBird]

The probem might come if he feels a bit silly should he find he needs the implants, and would rather suffer in silence than admit he should have had them.

Is this likely?

No. He is a retired surgeon - he never suffers in silence and never admits to feeling silly!!! :rotfl:

[Toothsmith]

He'd probably enjoy the implant option then!

Be offering a few hints n' tips as they worked on him!!

[moomin_white]

you should also look up mini-implants for denture stabilisation

[WallyBird]

He would enjoy it, if they were in someone else. But he is also from "God's own county" and rather reluctant to spend that much money.

[WallyBird]

you should also look up mini-implants for denture stabilisation

Thank you - I've never heard of those.