Did you know that nearly 25% of adults over the age of 65 have no teeth?  In the USA, there are over 60 million people that are “edentulous” (have no teeth).  This has led to many people turning to dentures as a solution to their need to eat and smile.

Here in our Greeneville, TN area, our doctors at Rogers Family Dental see a lot of patients who have been told that getting dentures will “fix” their problems and that they won’t have to “deal” with the dentist anymore.  Nothing could be further from the truth!

The problem is that dentures let many people down.  The reality of dentures is much worse in some cases then what people are told (especially at offices that ONLY make dentures because they only present one treatment option).  When a person gets complete upper and lower dentures, even in the best circumstances, research shows they are only able to create 18% of their original biting force.  That means that many people are not eating well with dentures, because many of the foods that are most nutritious (fresh fruit and vegetables, foods high in fiber) are harder to eat with dentures.  So, many denture-wearers turn to softer foods which are easier to eat but sometimes are not as healthy.

Dentures also can be loose and move around in the mouth, causing sore places in the mouth and creating the need for constant adjustments and revisions to the denture.  This is especially the case with lower dentures, which do not have the suction of the palate to help them stay in.  Many patients with lower dentures are not satisfied with their ability to eat, speak, and smile comfortably.

So, what is the solution?  For many years, dentures were the end of the road, but not with today’s technology!  Here at Rogers Family Dental, we use dental implants to stabilize dentures, creating a strong, secure fix that is also beautiful.  Depending on patients’ desires, we can go from the most common upgrade, which is two lower implants to help secure a loose lower denture all the way up to 4-5 implants which allows us to fix the denture in place permanently on the implants so it works like teeth and does not have to be removed from day to day!

Imagine never having to worry about a denture falling out, moving, creating sore spots or gagging your palate.  These are truly life-changing treatments.  A study over 10 years ago showed that lower dentures should not be considered anymore as a viable treatment option without at least two implants, and we certainly agree.  We are such big believers in this treatment because it is highly successful, easy on patients, and our patients give us hugs after they get this done because of how much it changes their daily life!

With today’s dentistry, people do not have to simply “put up” with the struggles of dentures.  If you are considering dentures or have dentures that are currently giving you problems, come in and let Rogers Family Dental’s  Dr. Jon Rogers and Dr. Michael Rogers see how we can restore your mouth back to health, function, and beauty!