Friday, December 24, 2010

Denture Teeth For Flat Gums

                      Zero Degree Teeth & Flat Plane Occlusion                                                       By: F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD
                                                           Copyrighted Material
                                                   <
Thedenturepro@AOL.Com>
 
     “Zero Degree Denture Teeth”
     When you look into your own or someone else’s mouth and observe the chewing
surface of the teeth, you will note that the chewing surface, from side to side, forms a “V”(vee).
The tooth edge next to the cheek slopes downward towards the center of the tooth, and then slopes back up to the tooth edge on the tongue side. Those edges and slopes are  what we call “Cusp’s”. Where the slopes meet in the center of the tooth we call the (central  groove) . The “central groove” divides a molar (back tooth) from side to side meaning the cheek side and tongue side.
    The angle of the slope from the top of the cusp down to the “central groove”, in
manufactured denture teeth, ranges from a 10 degree slope to as steep as a 33 degree slope.The “Zero Degree” denture tooth has no degree of slope. The chewing surface is “flat”, but the surface has cutting grooves created in much the same manner as if you viewed the old teachers paddle. The paddle had holes drilled in it and the tooth has depressed areas as though a tiny ice cream scoop removed part of the flat surface leaving circular pockets. The
edges of those tiny pockets act as a cutting blade in the same manner as the edges of the holes in the teachers paddle. Applied with enough force against skin or a food material,those edges cut like a knife.......”Zero Degree Denture Teeth” are flat surfaced yet can cut like a knife with cutting circular grooves in the chewing surface.
 
     “Flat Plane Occlusion”
 Once again lets look into a mouth of natural teeth.  If you took a soft piece of wire
about the size of say a hair pin and placed one end on top of the last back tooth and pressed it against the chewing surfaces, say down through the central groove of the other teeth, moving forward to the front tooth we usually call the stomach tooth (1st. right or left, lower cuspid).  If you then remove the wire,
you will see that it is not straight and level, but curved front to back like the floor runner on a rocking chair.
    If you take another piece of wire and place it on top of the cheek side edge or cusp of a molar tooth on the right side of the mouth, and then press it down against the tooth’s surface allowing the wire to extend across over the tongue and press it against the molar tooth on the left side of the mouth, when you take the wire out of the mouth you will note that it also is not straight and level but forms a curve.
    You now have two pieces of wire that proves that your teeth grow not on a level
plane but rather in two curves, one front to back of the jaw and the other side to side of the jaw.......Now, how is that important to the construction of dentures. First of all denture teeth are not buried in bone, they sit on top of the gums. You then have to see that natural teeth come together like a set of teeth on gears. A better example might be to place your hands together and slightly let you fingers interlock....that’s how natural teeth fit against one another.
     Now place you hands together and do not let your fingers lock, keep the fingers
tight.You can now rub your hands together in any direction you choose without
interference......That is, if you will, “Flat Plane Occlusion”.
     “Flat Plane Occlusion” as it relates to dentures means that the denture teeth are set “flat” and “level”. The two curves that we know exist in natural growing teeth are avoided.Technically those two curves are called “The Curve of Spee” and “The Curve of Wilson”. My experience over 40 plus years of creating dentures was that Zero Degree Denture Teeth set on a Flat Plane of Occlusion provided the patient with dentures that were more stable, better balanced and created less problems in chewing.
     Dentures created with denture teeth having deep degreed teeth and set in the curves of Spee and Wilson often times created interference in the chewing motions. The usual chewing action created by these types of dentures is Bite, Slide, Bump, Climb and Chew......The chewing action with Zero degree teeth on a Flat plane is Bite and Chew. My patient success over my years of practice is estimated at over 95%. I believe that using the Zero Degree Denture Teeth set on a Flat Plane of Occlusion is the major factor in that success.....Of course there are other techniques and I used them when I thought they would provide the best results. Feel free to respond on this site or contact The Denture Pro. at thedenturepro@aol.com for a personal response to any question you may have.
 

How Do You Select The Right Denture Tooth

 Denture Teeth
                                          Shapes, Sizes, Colors and Appearance
                                                                         By:
                                                           F.Spiva jr. CDT MDT CD
                                                          thedenturepro@aol.com
                                                               Copyright 2010
 
 
 
     Ever wonder how denture teeth are selected? Denture teeth are purchased from a Dental Supply House and they are ordered on what is called "Cards"..like the two "cards" you see above. The top Card is Six (6) front Upper teeth and the bottom Card is the Eight (8) Upper back teeth, making a total of (14) which does not include Wisdom teeth, which are never used on dental appliances.
    The lower teeth come Carded the same way. The Six (6) lower front teeth on a Card and the back Eight (8) molar teeth on a Card. Sometimes the cost of a Dental appliance is a bit higher because some brands of teeth are only sold by the full card. That means if you are getting a Partial Denture that only needs three  (3) teeth on it, a full card of six (6) will have to be purchased. Depending on the brand and the supplier, it's possible to order only the specific individual teeth needed.
    When and if the person your buying your appliance from  tells you they only have a limited choice of tooth color or size, that is not true....Each tooth card is produced in about 20 sizes and shapes as well as about 15 different colors....and most are also made in either Plastic (composite) or Porcelain.
    The back teeth come in a variety of chewing surfaces. Some are "Flat" appearing on the chewing surface but actually have cutting grooves. There are teeth that have various angels to the chewing cusps...They are called ten (10) degree cusps, twenty (20) degree cusps and thirty (30) degree..That in reality is how the slope from the top of the cusp down to the bottom of the cusp is defined.
    There is another type of back denture tooth as well. It's called a "Cutter Bar" tooth. Cutter Bar molars are produced as a single unit, meaning that all four (4) molars, upper or lower, are created attached together...A metal bar in a straight or zig zag pattern is length wise down the central groove of the teeth from one end of the four to the other. The chewing surface will be flat overall but the bar will extend slightly above the chewing surface....We in the business sometimes like to define it as working like a knife and bread board..the cutter bar is the knife blade and the opposing plain flat tooth surface is the bread board. Look at it this way. The cutter bar is in the upper back teeth and the lower back teeth is simply flat....When the cutter bar comes against the flat tooth surface on the bottom it's like a knife blade on a bread board.
    The cutter bar teeth are usually used in dental appliances for patients who have a weak biting ability, such as someone who has had a stroke and been left weak on one or both sides of the jaws. Sometimes just a persons age and general health can be a reason to use cutter bars. 
    Now, keep in mind that denture teeth come in basic shapes designed to balance with the face and body...The basic shapes are Square, Ovoid and Tappering.Then their are combinations of those such as Square/Ovoid. Square/Tapering ect. Your denture provider has an enormous choice of size, shape, length and color to choose from and all of those choices should be dictated by your body and facial features....Example: Tooth color, if you want to look balanced color wise, the denture teeth should be a balance matched between your Hair, Eye's and Skin tone. Teeth should not draw attention because they are stark white or any other shade. They should not draw attention because they are to big or to small for you mouth. There are body features that also balance with teeth..One example is that if you draw a straight vertical line or hold a straight edge at the side of the nostril of the nose so that the line or straight edge extends down past the mouth and you smile, that line or straight edge will go directly down the middle of the Eye tooth. That is true with at least 95% percent of people.
    Another interesting measurement that proves out in the majority of people is that you can place a pencil dot on the center of the tip of the nose and another on the center of the point of the chin. If you then measure the distance between the centers of the pupils of the eye's and have the patient or person close their teeth together and compare the two measurements, the one between the pupils and the one from the dot on the nose to the dot on the chin, you will find that in the majority of people, the measurements will match....If the one between the nose and chin is closer together than the pupils measurement, that usually means the jaws are "over closing" and the bite is to close together. If on the other hand the measurement between the nose and chin is greater than that of the pupils, it usually means the teeth are coming together to quickly, the bite is to open.
    When the bite is to close, the lips fold in and have a thin appearance. A crows foot appears at the corners of the mouth and a deep crease forms from the side of the nose down to the corner of the mouth. When the bite is to far open the jaws can't rest..and that can cause aching and soreness..When you close your teeth together, swallow and relax, the teeth should open and rest apart about the thickness of one or two dines...That is called the "REST" position. If the opening between the teeth in the rest position is such that you can place your tongue between them, without opening the jaws, the teeth are not touching soon enough when you close them together, meaning they are "Over closing". Using these old methods can work miracles when a patient comes in without teeth or and old denture and they say, "These never really looked like my old natural teeth and makes my face look different." Picking the right size, shape and color of teeth and setting them in a proper jaw opening will always be the difference between patient success and patient failure....if the proper precision impressions and jaw relationship is achieved.
    I have had patients come in and ask if it's possible to restore some of their natural appearance before they lost their teeth...I've used the measurements described above as a guide and after delivering the finished dentures had patients bring in an old photo they found after I made the dentures. They wanted to show me how much the new dentures gave back a great deal of their old appearance..Of course I always asked for a good photo of them smiling before they lost their teeth to use as a guide to arrange the new teeth..and make any changes they personally wanted in the arrangement.
    These kinds of choices in denture teeth, design and arrangement can take time and I don't know of a single "One Day Denture" that can be created that uses all the available information and individual custom measurements. People and mouths are like fingerprints, no two are alike and production line dentures created with cheap materials will always fail to provide a patient with the best possible outcome.
    If you wish to comment on this information or ask a question you may Email me :
F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro
 
 

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

What Makes Your Teeth The Color They Are.

WHY ISN'T MY TEETH NATURALLY WHITE
By: F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro.
Copyright 2002
 
    How do I make my teeth bright WHITE ?, is a question that comes up routinely. People either want to know why their teeth aren't naturally White, or how they can make them that way. I'll first talk about natural teeth and then denture teeth.
    To begin with you need to understand why your teeth are the color they are naturally, and that means how they are constructed naturally, as well as why they can be an off color due to other issues.
    First, lets talk about how a tooth is structured. Natural teeth are made up of three primary layers of material. The first outside layer, which everyone knows, is called the Enamel, it sits on top of the second layer called the Dentin, and it sits on top of the third layer called the Pulp.
    The Enamel material by itself tends to be anywhere from "clear" to "blue gray". The Dentin tends to be anywhere from a lite to dark yellow to any number of shades of brown, and the Pulp is always a shade of pink.
    As light penetrates the teeth when you laugh, smile or talk, it goes all the way through the teeth until it hits the Pulp. Then it reflects back through each layer until it emerges back out of the teeth. As the light bounces back off the Pulp and goes through the Dentin and the Enamel it picks up what ever color or shade of color those layers present, blends them together, and what ever those combinations of blended colors produce is the color the tooth presents on the outside....Example: If the pulp is a lite Pink and the Dentin is lite yellow and the Enamel is a lite blue/gray, the tooth will have a very white appearance.
    NOW, if the Enamel surface gets damaged, it has a greater chance of collecting stains from foods you eat, liquid you drink and other substances you use such as tobacco and drugs. If you place a tooth's Enamel surface under a microscope you will find it's like looking at the open end of a fully packed box of soda straws. Those straw looking objects are called "Enamel Rods" and if they get the top knocked off it provides an opening for various organic matter and stains to fill in. That of course will change the tooth's natural color.
    While there are any number of OTC (over the counter) tooth whitening products with which to "do it your self" tooth whitening, they can be slow to work and in some cases cause a great deal of sensitivity. For the quickest tooth whitening, you need to see a Dentist. he or she can use a Dental Laser to achieve a far faster result. Also, colors that are deep in a tooth's layers will require the services of a dentists, do it your self will not reach those levels.
    While we are on the subject of tooth colors let me expose an issue that gets under my skin. I have had patients come to me with dentures that had been made with very unattractive teeth of unattractive colors. These people have told me they were told that the teeth in their dentures were all that was available to choose from....that my friend is a pure, as they say in some parts of the country, "HOG WASH"..meaning, it's a lie. The truth is, there are some 100 different tooth shapes and sizes made in some 25 to 50 tooth color shades.  Unfortunately some so called dental appliance professionals, will not offer the custom created denture teeth because the cost cuts into their profit margin.
    Truly natural life like created denture teeth are not cheap. A full set of  Upper & Lower "cheap" denture teeth (28) can be bought from the dental materials supplier for less than the (6) Upper or Lower front teeth that are high quality custom denture teeth.
    Anyway, the better your dental hygiene practice, the whiter your teeth will stay. The better your diet, the healthier your teeth will stay. Having a regular yearly check up will keep both natural and false teeth in good condition.See your Dentist or Denturist on a regular basis. If you have comments or wish to ask a question about this material, respond on this site or Email : thedenturepro@aol.com for a personal response.

Denture Stains

"What Is That Black Stain At The
Neck of My Denture Teeth"
 
By:F.Spiva jr. CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro.
Copyrighted 2010
 
All stains you see on dentures or denture teeth originate as some form of organic matter. They may be from food or they my be from a liquid you drank. In some cases they may be a combination of both. And of course they may simply be from poor hygiene practice. Not properly cleaning a denture on a daily basis.
 
When you see that dark black looking stain around the neck of a denture tooth where the tooth and the denture base material meet, it's not just a stain, most likely it's food matter that is rotting.
 
When a denture is produced, part of the procedure requires that any wax that was used to hole the teeth in place during the creative procedures must be totally and completely removed when the plastic denture material is placed in the mold to create the denture base and hold the denture teeth in place in the finished denture.
 
If the wax is not completely removed the denture base material cannot bond with the denture teeth. If that happens the wax will eventually wash away due to eating and drinking hot foods and liquids. Once the wax is gone there remains a very small space between the denture teeth and the denture base. This space can then be filled with food debris and trapped between the tooth and the plastic. Brushing will not be bale to remove it and few if any denture soaking cleaners can or will reach it.
 
After a period of time the trapped food will will begin to rot and turn black. Plaque will also get into the space and create a hard surface over the rotting food. In some cases the only product I know of that will dissolve the plaque and rotted food is "Liquid Dawn Dish Cleaner"...That product has a very strong ability to dissolve organic matter and that's why it not only cleans your dishes but can clean the stains from around the denture teeth...It may take several soakings over a period of time, but if used regularly, my experience with a number of patients is that it works great...Many kept using it as their regular denture cleaning system.
 
The only other way to remove the stain is to allow a Dental Technician to use a very small grinding drill and cut the plastic away that created the space around the teeth. As a rule that plastic will need to be replaced through a repair procedure that allows the repair plastic to bond to the denture teeth eliminating any space between the teeth and the plastic.....
 
Now, the space that trapped the food debris was created by a faulty denture processing procedure and the person you purchased the denture from should bare all the expenses for having the stains removed and the denture repaired to prevent further staining around the teeth...A final note: Stains can be anywhere on a denture and the plaque can get very thick "if" the denture wearer fails to provide a daily cleaning of their denture morning and evening.
 
If you have comments or questions regarding this material respond on this site or Email: thedenturepro@aol.com ...for a personal response to your questions on any issue regarding dentures.
"Stress Breaker Hinge" for A Partial Denture"Copyright Material By:
F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro.
<thedenturepro@aol.com>
       When a "Lower" partial denture replaces the last two to four
natural teeth on one side or both, most partial denture designs are created by casting a ridged metal framework with which to place the denture teeth and plastic gum sections on.

       Part of the design will include metal clamps that fit around the last natural tooth next to the area where the missing natural teeth begins.....My experience is that those ridged designs tend to place to much stress leverage on the natural teeth they clamp on to. The tissue ( Gums ) under the plastic saddles that hold the denture teeth, at some point will shrink from under the saddles. When this happens the back of the partial is pushed downward during chewing, not only because of shrunken tissue but also due to the fact that the existing tissue is soft and compressible.

       Such a ridged design, when flexing, applies undue stress pressure on the teeth they clamp on to.......However, there is a way to eliminate that stress and pressure, it's called a "Stress Breaker Hinge". The Stress Breaker Hinge is exactly what the name implies. It's a small hinge that is designed to give the free end saddle of a partial the ability to slightly move up and down with chewing pressures while at the same time put no pressure on the partial denture clamps, they remain solidly in place and do not move when the saddle moves.

       In the long run the partial with Stress Breakers in them protects the natural teeth they clamp on to and the tissue as well. Many many natural teeth are lost because of rigid designed partial dentures. I have many patients come to my office asking to have a tooth added to their partial because the natural tooth that the clamp held on to had gotten loose and been extracted. Sometimes it was obvious that  the partial had been added on to before for the same reason. Chances are 90% that stress breakers would have saved those teeth.

       If you have questions about the above information, respond on this site or please Email The Denture Pro. at
thedenturepro@aol.com for a personal response.
"Immediate Dentures"
By:F.spiva Jr.CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro.
Copyrighted: 2009
What Are Immediate Dentures?
1....They are dentures that are "immediately" placed into the mouth when the last natural tooth is extracted at the same appointment.
Are "Immediate Dentures" A Good Idea?
1....They are a very good idea. They provide stability in jaw relationships during the healing process.
2....They cover the extraction sites and provide,if you will, a plastic bandage affect.
3....The likelihood of getting a dry socket is all but removed.
4....The healing period is usually quicker and with less trauma.
What Is The Average Healing Period?
1....The average healing period following extraction’s is between 5 and 6 months. The fastest chnages take place during the first 60 to 90 day's..After that the chnages continue, but are far slower until complete healing has been accomplished.
2....Health problems such as Diabetes can slow the process however.
Is There A follow Up Procedure"?
1....At approximately 2 to 3 weeks following the extraction’s I always recommend that the "Temporary Soft Liner Procedure" be instigated.
What Is The Temporary Soft Liner Procedure?
1....A layer of temporary soft liner is placed inside of the immediate denture. The soft liner material flows over the inside surface of the denture filling in any place that the gums have shrunk away do the the healing process.
2....The liner performs three basic functions. It refits the denture. It provides a degree of comfort. It helps maintain the jaw relationship that was established when the dentures were created.
How Often Should The Liner Be Placed?
1...The first layer of liner should be placed by the second or third week.
2....Follow up liners should be placed every three to four weeks following the first placement.
3....Once the basic healing has taken place, 5 to 6 months, the immediate dentures should be Dental Laboratory Relined.
What Happens If "NO" Follow Up Procedure Is Taken?
1....As the gums heal they shrink. They also change size and shape. The shrinking allows the dentures to change position .
2....The edges are usually the first areas that begin to dig in and cause sore spots.
3....If the edges are continually cut off to rid sore spots, by the time the gums heal the jaws will have over closed. The chin and nose will be closer together. The corners of the mouth will turn down. Facial tissues will no longer be properly supported....."IF" the dentures are relined in this position, the loss of features will get worse.
This information is provided by the Denture Pro.  Respond on this site or write: thedenturepro@aol.com

Dentures and Facial Features

Dentures and Facial Features
By: The Denture Pro.
Copyrighted Material
<thedenturepro@aol.com>
 
With regard to the way a dental appliance affects the patients facial features depends on a number of things. If the dental appliance is created in a manner that makes the appliance much thicker than necessary, the results cannot only create appearance distortions, but can also have a great affect on the patients ability to speak clearly.
Two areas that seem to be more routinely complained about by patients is the feeling and seeming appearance that the lips are overly full or puffy. The other area is the feeling that there is not enough room for the tongue, it feels crowded.
Overly full or puffy lips in association with what is called an "Immediate" denture is not unusual. When the natural teeth are extracted and the denture "Immediately" placed in the mouth, the denture base material fits over gum tissues that will change in size and shape as healing takes place. Since the tissues have not changed the denture base must fit over the tissue to provide as much fit as possible. Following the healing period gum tissues will have shrunk and changed shape. These changes will it necessary for the denture to be refitted by "Relining", (rebuilding the inside of the denture). When the reline has been accomplished the walls of the denture will be thicker and provide the ability to thin the walls by grinding off some of the outer layer of the base material....This is especially beneficial for the base material that fits over the front of the gums and behind the lips. As for the tongue, it is quiet possible that the lower dentures tongue side walls could be made to thick as well as to long. Either of those two things can create speech problems as well as sore spots at the base of the tongue.....The denture base material can be ground very thin in most areas without making it weak and subject to breakage. The one place that could be a problem however is under the nose...Almost every Upper denture has a "slot" in the denture base that corresponds with the muscle or ligament (Frenium) that attaches the center of the Upper lip to the gums, between the two front Central teeth. If this area is to thin it provides a possible area for breakage, especially, during the healing period following extraction's.
There are two major requirements that must be met for a denture to provide the patient with proper fit, function and appearance. Those two requirements are (1) the thickness of the denture base material and (2) the proper opening alignment of the jaws. There are of course other creative issues that affect the overall success of the denture and you could say that of the some 20 different steps required to create a denture, any one of those is the most important. While that's true, the two listed above most affects the appearance.
In so far as the lips are concerned, the thickness of the denture base does, as stated, have a major impact on the appearance, however another issue is called "Over-extension". This term relates to how far the sides or borders of a denture extends into the oral tissues.
Over extension can be the result of an error by designing technician or it can be the result of the Impression not taken in a manner that correctly defines the landmarks and borders of the oral tissues. An over extended impression results in the model of the mouth, that is created from it, being distorted and falsely creating a shape and size that does not correctly duplicate the oral tissues.
Now.....let me state here that experience over the years has taught me that while a great deal can be accomplished with a dental appliance to enhance the patients appearance, no dental appliance can perform the miracle of accomplishing the equivalent of a face lift. Note I said "dental appliance" not "dental implant"....because patients tend to relate to jaws as dental appendages, implant augmentations such as those associated with the chin or cheeks are not "dental appliances". I have had a number of patients that so desperately wanted to change their facial appearance with a dental appliance that they opted to sacrifice fit and function quality for the appearance that could be achieved by either making a denture extremely thick or on rare occasion very thin.
Finally, lets talk about the relationship of the jaws. Dental appliances should never cause the jaws to be overly open or overly closed. Either of those positions seriously subjects the jaw joint to possible damage. A competent dental professional can properly establish the proper jaw relationship.
As dentures age the tooth surfaces wear down, especially those with plastic denture teeth (which is best for your jaw bones) and the jaw bone itself tends to shrink. As a rule neither of these create pain for most patients. The jaws slowly close down, corners of the mouth fold in, the lips get thin and a deep wrinkle line forms on either side of the nose. This change is so slow and painless patients fail to readily recognize that their appearance is changing. In the end the patient can smile or laugh and little to no teeth can be seen and this is not normal appearance for properly supported facial features....Many patients get so accustomed to the collapsed face tissues that they think it’s their proper appearance and when new dental appliances are created that restores them to a more natural appearance they have difficulty accepting it...The problem as already stated is the collapse of the facial tissues is slow and painless where as the resupporting of the facial tissues is almost instantaneous when the new dental appliance is placed in the mouth. Not all of the facial tissues reacts immediately, some reconstruction shaping takes time as the tissues are subjected to better support that creates, if you will, stimulation to the tissues similar to an exercise program. The tissue reacts to the stimulation and to some degree tends to firm up and become more healthy in both function and appearance.
To protect your appearance and extend the life of the facial features a dental appliance wearer should have their appliances examined and evaluated a minimum of once a year.....If you have a question regarding any of the above information contact The Denture Pro at <thedenturepro@aol.com>  or respond on this site. Reproduction of this copyrighted material is prohibited without the written consent of The Denture Pro.
There are three major issues that concern every denture wearer, (1) Appearance,(2) Fit , (3) Function. The order in which I listed them in no way indicates their importance, one over the other. The most important issue to the patient is decided by which of the three issues seems not to be working at any given time.

Healing Gums with a "SOFT LINER SERIES"

"Soft Liner Treatment Series"
By: F.Spiva jr, CDT MDT CD
The Denture Pro.
Copyright 2008
 
This treatment plan is designed to comfort damaged tissue as well as provide a functional fit while the health of the gums are being restored. Especially following insertion of "Immediate Dentures".
 
Following extraction's the extraction sites begin a healing process. This process will take between five and six months depending on the initial condition of the the gums and teeth prior to extraction's. The more sever the infection at the time of extraction's the longer it can be expected for the tissue to heal following extraction's.
 
If "Immediate Dentures" were placed following the extraction's you can depend on the fact that they will cease to fit and function within ten days post extraction's. This of course provides the patient with a great deal of discomfort and frustration. The dentures seem to be hard and rough and do not stay in place. As the gums heal they also change shape and that change means that they get smaller. As they get smaller the dentures inside surfaces no longer fit the gums. The dentures become loose and have a great tendency to slip and slid.
 
At this point the Temporary Soft Liner Treatment Series can provide both comfort and a good margin of fit and function. The Dentist or Denture professional will mix a powder and a liquid together in precise amounts. The mixture will take on the consistency of honey. The mixture is then spread over the inner surface of the denture and placed back in the mouth, the patient being instructed to close their jaws until the teeth fully touch.
 
After a few minutes the mixture gels into a rubbery like liner. It bonds to the denture surface and molds itself to the contours of the gums. In it's rubbery state it provides a comfort layer between the gums and the hard surface of the denture. Because it was placed in the denture while in a honey like state it flows and molds. After gelling into the rubbery state the patient will find the denture far more comfortable and stable.
 
As the gums continue to heal and change it will be necessary to resurface the existing Soft Liner with additional layers of the Soft Liner Material to refit the inner surface of the denture. In most cases the patient will need the Liner resurfaced about every three weeks. Once total healing has taken place a reline impression can be taken over the existing liner and the denture sent to a dental laboratory for reline processing. This process will remove the liners and restore the inner surface of the denture back to regular denture plastic. Minor adjustments may be required following the relining, but that is to be expected.
 
The Soft Liner System is also used to restore damaged gum tissue when a patient has attempted to wear a denture far longer than the dentures or the gums can tolerate. When old dentures need to be refitted, the "Soft Liner Series" can restore health and stabilize the gum tissue prior to taking impressions for the refit "Reline".
 
If you have any questions regarding this information please write me. thedenturepro@aol.com or post them on this site.
 
The Denture Pro.

Monday, December 20, 2010

"E.D.S." Emotional Denture Stress

                           (EDS) EMOTIONAL DENTURE STRESS
                         
                        By: The Denture Pro.
                                                   F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD    

                                                      Revised Copyright
                                                                 2006                                                                                 
 
 The number of denture wearers who suffer from (EDS), Emotional Denture Stress
is far greater than those in the dental profession realize. Even today many dental
professionals do not recognize (EDS) or know what to do about it when they do figure out
that something emotional is affecting the patient. The following information applies to those
who have all their natural teeth as well.
 
 (EDS) is usually exhibited by one or more of several different symptoms.  The most
common symptoms are red rash gum tissue, sore spots, loss of gum bone, fatty gum tissue, loose dentures. Not every symptom is the results of a patient suffering (EDS), but almost every patient who is suffering from (EDS) will have most all of the symptoms.
 
 (EDS), Emotional Denture Stress is created by problems related to one of the
following areas. Health, Marriage, Employment, Money, Sex and Self Esteem. Let me give
you some examples of (EDS) in some of those areas.

 It may be that the patient has a very close loved one who has a terminal illness and
because of that they stay very emotionally affected...A health problem doesn’t have to be
one that affects the patient personally.
 
 It could be that the patient really dislikes where they work or someone they work
with and when it’s time to go to work they begin to get up tight emotionally. It could be
that a patient is dealing with the fact that they or someone close to them is in sever financial striates and any number of situations could exist that is sexual in nature. Then of coarse you have the patient who has great concern as to their own feelings of being a worthwhile person....that could be due to abuse from a spouse, family member or friends. In any event dealing with one or more of the above mentioned situations can cause a great deal of problems for a denture wearer.
 
 This is how it works.....lets look at it as though it were a large clock on the wall.
Let’s say that you get up in the morning and what ever it is that causes your stress to start
up begins. We call that 12:00 on the stress clock. Between 12:00 and 3:00 on the stress clock (which could be hours or even days) the stress you feel causes you to clinch your teeth together, over and over and over. Between 3:00 and 6:00 on the stress clock the pressure from clinching or grinding presses the denture into the gum tissue and that pressure forces the fluid in the gum tissues to be squeezed out and into the floor of the mouth. Between 6:00 and 9:00 the pressing of the denture into the gums had forced the tissue fluids out and the gums shrink making the denture loose. The lack of tissue fluids allows the tissue to be forced against the hard denture on one side and the hard bone on the other. This constant pressure causes sore spots and eventually bone shrinkage..
 
 NOW....when the shrinkage, sore spots and looseness gets to be to much the patient
shows up for treatment of those conditions at the dental professionals office. Between 9:00
and 12:00  on the Stress Clock the dental professional trys a number of treatment plans to
restore the patients dentures to painless well functioning dental appliances......HOWEVER,
if the true cause of the (EDS) is not discovered and dealt with, the Stress Clock will begin
ticking again and all the same old problems will return or stay as is.....What’s more, there
is “no” dental treatment plan or service that can over come the affects of “Emotional
Denture Stress”.
 
 It’s very sad to have a patient that can’t be helped due to the fact hat they suffer
from (EDS) and either doesn’t know it or doesn’t have the courage to deal with it. I’ve seen
a number of patients who found out about their (EDS) through getting their first dentures
and through realizing it existed took steps to correct the issues, in some cases it took
professional counseling. Then there were those who through conversations on a private
basis realized they needed professional help but didn’t have the courage to seek it out,
usually those were abuse or drug related situations.
 
 The bottom line is that any dental professional worth his or her salt should be able
to recognize they are dealing with a person suffering from (EDS) and after realizing what is
going on should be very straight forward with the patient and explain what their options
are.....and the bottom most line is that unresolved “EDS” Emotional Denture Stress creates
denture problems that “NO” dental professional can overcome by adjusting, grinding,
relining or even replacing the denture.......you can’t cure a disease by covering up the
symptom.
 
If you have questions regarding this information you may respond on this site or Email me at: <thedenturepro@aol.com>

Something "OLD" Something "NEW"

  Regardless if you go to a Denturist or a Dentist the information below will apply to any and all dental appliances.                        

                            Something "OLD" Something "NEW"
                                                                        F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD
                                                         Revised Copyright:2009
                                                                 < thedenturepro@aol.com >
 
    When it comes to dental appliances some things never change and what your about to read is one of those issues that never changes. The risk you run in attempting to create a NEW dental appliance that will work 100% with and against an "OLD" dental appliance is a high risk.
    Without a doubt the first two things that cross your mind when going to the Dentist or Denturist office is "Will it hurt?" and "How much will it cost?"....One thing I can assure you is that there will be no pain in the Denturists office...I have been asked by unknowing people, "What is a Denturists?" and my usual response is, "unlike a Dentist, we don't drill and fill or squirt and jerk"...and in at least 90% of the time the fees for our services will be 50% less than the Dentist for the same services, meaning the cost of a dental appliance. All other issues will be basically the same, meaning how well the dental appliance you purchase will work. The only difference there will be that the Denturist is an especially qualified and trained specialist in the various techniques in creating dental appliances with his or her own hands. Dentists are not provided that in-depth training in dental school and must rely on the services of a commercial dental technician to hands on create the dental appliances he or she sells to you and their other patients.
    Now, having gotten that out of the way let's move on. When you find yourself in the position of having to replace an old dental appliance, or in some cases get a new appliance, and it will have to work with an existing older one, you may face a decision as to whether to keep or replace the older appliance. The issue becomes two fold, how old is the existing appliance and how worn are the chewing surfaces. When the chewing surfaces are considerably worn down, that creates the issue of has the reduction in height, due to the wearing down, over closed the jaw relationship, and two, are the surfaces so worn that the new teeth on a new opposing appliance will have to be drastically ground down in an attempt to make them work properly against the worn surfaces of the older appliance.
     When new denture teeth are ground and reshaped in an attempt to match up against existing older worn denture teeth, the outcome is usually marginal at best. Denture teeth are specifically created to match surfaces one with the other, meaning Upper against Lower, while working together to provide the maximum ability to chew and support facial tissues. It is all but impossible to create a perfect match between old and new. While the financial issues may dictate that only a new appliance is possible and the older one must be left in place, the workable success between the two can usually be achieved to at least a level that provides acceptable if not a perfect solution.
    When and if you should be faced with the New vs Old decision, you need to first and foremost ascertain to what extent, if any, would keeping an older appliance affect the jaw alignment and facial tissue support, such as the cheeks and lips. It's not usually possible to make a new appliance restore vertical jaw support by extending the length of the new teeth. Nine times out of ten the results will be an overly toothy appearance, if it works at all. Protecting the jaw joint is of paramount concern when creating dental appliances....regardless of appearance desires, protecting the jaw joint and oral tissues while creating a proper ability to chew must be your first priority.
    Finally let me say that when money is the deciding factor, everyone knows and understands that what may seem the very very best, we may have to settle for what appears to be second best. You however, may not have to settle for second best because of money issues. There are way's to finance the dental services you need. One such current place is a company called "Care Credit"..with a minimum down payment they will finance the balance for a year interest free. Then of course, there is the "Out Patient Clinic" of your nearest Dental School. The clinic can provide the services you need and the fee will be between Free and very low, depending on your financial status....If you go to a Denturist for your dental appliance needs, as I said, the total fee will be about 50% less than your Dentist...After all the Denturist doesn't have to add in overhead for all the equipment and supplies required to perform services that have nothing to do with dental appliances.   Regardless of who you decide to go to, please go to one or the other at the first sign that you are having dental problems. The quicker you deal with them the less cost and discomfort you will experience. On average a denture or partial denture will provide the full function intended for a period of five to seven years. After that period denture can become seriously worn down and the fit not as perfect as it should be. Ignoring a dental appliance that should be replaced can result in both loss of proper facial appearance and most important jaw joint damage. Seldom ever does an old dental appliance give you a noticeable warning such as pain. You should get a dental appliance check up every year just as you would with natural teeth. We find that many very serious health issues, such as Oral Cancer is seldom discovered because someone complained of pain in the mouth, they are usually discovered through a visual examination by a health professional.
    If you have questions or comments please feel free to respond on this site, or Email me at: thedenturepro@aol.com