Lower Dentures - one of the joys of aging

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by Kobi

This is interesting and kind of what I am curious about. I have consulted 3 different dental people, including a prosthodontist. All have the same mantra about needing anchors tho some are save these teeth to be the anchor at the modest cost of thousands of dollars, another advocated an implant except I am a smoker and that drops the success rate that the implant will bond to the bone properly.

I am the type who needs to understand why one thing is recommended over another. And, I tend to ask very pointed questions to help me understand amongst all the choices, why this over another. And, silly me, expects an answer that makes sense to me.

I have yet to find anyone who is saying anything specific to the anatomy of my particular mouth and how this affects what they are recommending. I am hearing what to me is a mantra of dental theory rather than person specific treatment plan.

Have worked in health care to know there is a distinct difference between the two.

I am also bothered by having the plan process changing as we go which is just a function of finding things they are not expecting. It happens but it is tiring to hear.... for this to work now we have to do crowning lengthening and stinting and this and that. All I end up hearing is a cash register and pain and a prolonged time frame.

I also dont understand how you can make an accurate impression when the impressions are including teeth that wont be there in the end. Seriously, how can that be accurate? That isnt logical to me. Can you shed some light on this?

I worked for an oral surgeon years ago and they (anchors) didn't seem very successful then and i don't believe they've made impressive progress since. It was a very expensive procedure 10 years ago about 40k for upper & lower and almost every patient had difficulty adjusting.. if i had to choose id rather take the less invasive procedure...just sayin