The Denture Pro: January 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

"The Five Phases" of learning to wear a new or refitted Dental Appliance

THE FIVE PHASES

by: The Denture Pro.

Floyd Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

Copyrighted Material-1999

thedenturepro@aol.com

"The Five Phases" are the phases that every Denture Wearer is guaranteed to experience when they get "new" or "replacement" denture appliances.

However, when you get replacements, you should take less time to go through The Five Phases than a "new" denture wearer will.

Phase (1)

"The Inspection Phase"

When a new or replacement denture appliance is placed in the mouth, it touches the oral tissues and structures differently than those tissues or structures are accustomed to.

The inspection response will be that the Tongue, Cheeks and Lips will examine the object that has been placed into the mouth.

Phase (2)

"The Saliva Phase"

Because the new or replacement denture appliance touches the oral tissues differently than what the tissue recognizes, it reacts as though the appliance is something to eat and sends a signal to the brain to get the saliva flowing to aid in digestion.

The saliva will diminish as the oral structures accept the appliance as a permanent part of the oral make up. With a "new" appliance the acceptance may take a bit longer, two to three weeks.

Phase (3)

"The Adaptation Phase"

How many times have you or someone you know removed their eye glasses and you notice the imprint on both sides of the nose, the imprints left by the nose pads? Thats adaptation.

Gum tissues slowly adapt to the inside surfaces of the denture appliance. Any place that the tissue is thin over the gum bone, you are likely to have a tender spot. That spot will need to be relieved by adjusting the appliance.

Phase (4)

"The Rejection Phase"

This phase is most noticeable to new denture appliance wearers or denture replacements that are very different in shape and size from those worn before.

The oral structures that have read the denture appliance as something to eat and not accepted it as a permanent addition to the mouth, often sends the patient a signal that say’s, "Look, if your not going to eat this, get rid of it, were tired of having it around". However, that too will pass in time, usually within two to three weeks. "But", the appliances must be worn at least ten to eleven hours a day during that period of time.

Phase (5)

"The Learning Phase"

You didn’t learn to ride a bicycle perfectly the first time you tried, nor did you drive like a pro the first time you got behind the wheel. You had to learn how to operate those vehicles.

Just as with the bike and the car, you must learn how to operate and use a denture appliance. They just don’t automatically work just because they are placed between your nose and chin. The learning process depends on your dedication and determination to master them.

Do not make the classic mistake of comparing your denture appliance fit and function to someone else’s. Mouths and people are like fingerprints, no two are alike. To play the comparison game can make your personal experience a failure more often than a success.

Please Be Advised

"THE FIVE PHASES" is a copyright product of the "Denture Pro." Copying or distribution is prohibited unless written permission is granted by the author

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Temporary Soft Liner Series For Dentures

F.Spiva Jr,. CDT MDT CD

The Temporary Soft Liner Treatment Series is a system used to protect, cushion and stimulate the healing process of gum tissues. In some cases the Soft Liner is also intended to refit a dental appliance as it performs the other services.

There are three instances when the Soft Liner Series is the best way to proceed. One is when the gum tissues under a dental appliance has become irritated and sore do to an ill fitting dental appliance.The soft liner material is applied over the inside of the appliance in a honey like consistency. As the appliance is seated in the mouth, the liner spreads out and creates a new fit and a cushion over the gum surface, eliminating pressure points. With the liner in place the tissues can heal. Once healed the appliance can be replaced or refitted with permanent material....In most cases the liner will have to be resurfaced about every two weeks until total healing has taken place.

Another reason to use the Soft Liner Series is when a person has had all their teeth extracted and "Immediate Dentures" put in place. About two to three weeks following extractions, the gums will begin to have gone through changes in both the size and shape of the gum tissue and underlying bone. This change will be shrinkage making the denture loose. Because these changes take place on a continuing basis, the denture can cause abrasions to the gum tissue and allow the jaws to end up in a mis-aligned position unless the soft liner is used to prevent it.

When the Temporary Soft Liner is used in Immediate dentures it needs to be serviced every three to five weeks during the healing period. The liner will keep the denture cushioned , fitting and properly aligned. Once healing has been achieved (5 to 6 months)the denture can be refitted by relining with a permanent material.

An older ill fitting denture can cause the bone to shrink away leaving soft flabby tissue. This type of tissue will not allow a replacement denture or relined denture to achieve a suction fit....Getting a denture to suction on to soft flabby tissue would be like trying to get a plumbers plunger to suction on to a mattress or carpet. By using the temporary soft liner treatment series in the older ill fitting denture, the tissue can actually be firmed up and the denture replaced or refitted. HOWEVER...if the flabby tissue is excessively thick, the series will not work, and in such cases surgery is required to remove the excess tissue.

Now, no doubt cost will be a factor to some degree so let me tell you that the major expense is labor. The material it self will cost about $5.00 per application...Adding a new layer should not take over fifteen minutes. In some cases it's necessary to remove the existing liner and place new material in it's place, that will require more time...On average given today's fee schedules and actual material and labor cost, I would anticipate an average complete series should be an additional cost of $150.00 maximum.

If you have questions about the soft liner series or any other dental issue, feel free to contact:<thedenturepro@aol.com>

“Immediate Dentures”

The Denture Pro.

What Are Immediate Dentures?1....They are dentures that are “immediately” placed into the mouth when the last natural
tooth is extracted.

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.
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, 4 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 change in shape and size. The shrinking allows the dentures to change position .
2....The Denture 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. <thedenturepro@aol.com

Monday, January 10, 2011

What's This Bony Lump On My Gums?

By: F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

thedenturepro@aol.com

From time to time someone writes and asks why they have one or more "lumps" of what feels hard like bone at one or more places on their gums. The "lumps" they ask about are not really rare or are they necessarily common, but they do exist for a somewhat large number of people. The "lumps" can be found on the roof (Palate) of the upper gum, or they can be on the sides of the gums, upper or lower. These "lumps" can be small as a garden Pea, or as large as a the end of your thumb. I've seen the "lumps" begin just behind the front lower teeth, and extend down the side of the lower gum ridge all the way back to the last molar tooth.

So, what are the "lumps" called technically you might ask, and the answer is that they are called "TORI". Tori hardly ever begins to appear after childhood, but instead begins to slowly grow in early childhood and stop growing once full adulthood is reached. In most cases they don't create problems with eating or speech, nor do they produce pain unless bumped by a hard substance or object. In some cases, when they are on both sides of the lower gums (right and left) next to the tongue, they can restrict the tongues movements and create both eating and speech issues.

"TORI" can be such an issue that they must be removed. It could become a speech altering issue and it could be an obstacle if and when you need to wear a dental appliance such as a Denture or Partial Denture...Tori, as a rule, begin just below where natural teeth enter the gums and can extend only a few millimeters down towards the floor of the mouth, or they my extend all the way down...They seldom extend all the way to the floor however. They may protrude outward towards the cheek or tongue, depending on which side of the gums they are on, and that distance may be no more than the thickness of a match stick or it may be as thick as your finger.

Because the tissue over a Tori tends to be far thinner than other gum tissue, it doesn't tolerate pressure like a denture or partial denture would place on it..Futher more, it will limit how far down the side of the gum a denture or partial could reach to help hold the appliance in place. If the Tori happened to be on the roof of the mouth, and you needed an Upper denture, it's doubtful you could tolerate the pressure of the denture on the thin skinned Tori.

So..if you have a TORI, what do you do about it? The answer is, you have it removed. Yes, before you ask, it is a surgical procedure, but it's not in most cases a procedure that is considered risky or really serious. Because the Tori is nothing more than bone, it's either chipped off or ground off...It's a relatively quick procedure and you heal quickly. The best part is that it will not come back. Once removed it's gone from then on.

Now, if you have a TORI, but are not currently considering a dental appliance that you will have to deal with, you might consider getting it removed now while your young and heal faster. That way it isn't an issue you have to deal with while at the same time learning to wear a dental appliance. If and when you need to consider having a Tori removed, I suggest you see an "Oral Surgeon".

If you have comment or need to ask a question, you can do so on this site or you can Email me at: thedenturepro@aol.com, and I will personally respond directly to your Email address. All correspondence will be kept private

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Why Did A Tooth Fall Out Of My Denture ?

                          Why Did A Tooth Fall Out Of My Denture ?
                                         By: The Denture Pro
                                          Copyrighted 2010
                                   <thedenturepro@aol.com>

Denture Teeth “fall” out of a denture for a very specific reason and that reason is
because the denture was improperly processed. While there are a number of way's to convert the "wax" denture base over to the plastic one, all procedures must insure that the denture teeth are free of wax residue when the plastic is placed in the mold that will form the final plastic denture base. I will only discuss one of the methods here, but remember no matter the technique, the denture teeth MUST be free of all wax.

One of the processing procedures in creating a denture is the point at which the “Wax”
denture is boiled out of the plaster mold. The Wax denture is placed into a three piece
metal box in two stages. The first stage is the placement of the Wax denture into the bottom half of the metal box. It is placed in a manner that holds the wax denture with the teeth exposed. Once the plaster sets it is coated with a special thin layer of material that prevents the next layer of plaster from sticking to it.

The second stage is to put the top half of the metal box in place and fill it with plaster
covering the wax denture and the teeth and finally placing a lid on the box. The plaster is
allowed to set up for at least 30 minutes. The box is then placed in boiling water for about 3
minutes which is the calculated time required to soften the wax.The box is then removed
from the water and it is taken a part, the bottom is separated from the top. The bottom half
holds the model of the mouth and the top contains the teeth. The boiled out wax left the
mold of the denture base.

During the boil out procedure the boiling water is poured over the inside of the model
along with wax removing chemicals. Once the two halves are deemed to be free of wax the
half of the box containing the denture teeth is painted with what is called a “separator”.
This coating is designed to keep the denture base “plastic” from sticking to the plaster
mold.......NOW, if the separator chemical is allowed to coat the denture teeth and the
denture base material is placed in the mold, that is a processing error.

The separator chemical left on the teeth creates a thin layer between the teeth and the
denture base and the chemical layer will slowly dissolve when subjected to fluids like water
and saliva. When the separator is finally gone there is nothing left between the tooth and
the denture base except space. Had the separator been properly removed before processing the denture base plastic would have made a chemical bond to the tooth. Properly bonded denture teeth may brake off but will not come out of the denture base.

If a denture tooth comes out of the denture base, you are entitled to a free repair by who
ever sold you the denture. The only denture teeth that does not chemically bond to the base
is “Porcelain” teeth....the front teeth have nail head post to hold them in and the back teeth
have specially designed retention holes for the base plastic to wedge into. Plastic teeth bond and become one with the base when properly processed.

If you have comments or questions you can post them on this site or contact the The Denture Pro. at : thedenturepro@aol.com

WHat is a "REAL" Ultra-Sonic Denture Cleaner ?

What is a "REAL" Ultra Sonic Denture Cleaner

F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

The Denture Pro.

Don't get ripped off when you are tempted to buy an automatic denture cleaner advertised as an "Ultra-Sonic Denture Cleaner"... Those ads are misleading in that they don't tell you that a real "Ultra Sonic" cleaner does far more than just vibrate. The real Ultra-Sonic cleaners has what is called a "Transducer Tube" as part of the electronic system...The Transducer sends a high frequency impulse signal through the cleaner reservoir that when combined with a vibrating action creates a cleaning action that is very very strong, so strong in fact that some Transducer Tubes can send a signal that can literally fracture the bones in your fingers if you reach into the cleaning reservoir while the cleaner is running.

While you see ads for what I call, "Drug Store" quality Ultra Sonic Cleaners, unless they specifically tell you the unit is equipped with a Transducer Tube, you are in fact being sold a cleaner that is nothing more than a cleaning reservoir (cup) mounted on top of a vibrator motor. These units can do a good job if used properly on a daily basis with a good cleaning solution.

As for cost, the "real" Ultra Sonic Cleaners will in most cases begin at near $200 and up depending on size and Transducer Tube strength. Professional Ultra Sonic Cleaners will usually have multiple attached reservoirs allowing for cleaning of several items at once that may require a different kind of specialized cleaning solution in each resavor....A drug store ultra sonic (vibrator only) cleaner cost will usually range from $10.00 to $30.00........and by the way, they really do a good job cleaning jewelry.

If you have comments or questions you can post them on this site or contact the The Denture Pro. at: <thedenturepro@aol.com>

When Partial Denture Clamps Get Loose or Break

When Partial Denture Clamps Won't Stay Tight F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

The Denture Pro.

Now Here This....what ever you do "never" attempt to Bend, Adjust or Tighten the clamps on your (PD) Partial Denture. PD clamps are specifically designed to only contact or grip the tooth they hold on to at their very tip end. Only the last 10%, of the tip of the clamp (clasps) is designed to actually hold on to the tooth...The rest of the clamp may touch to tooth but should not be expected to provide retention.

PD clamps encircle a tooth but the only part that is designed to touch the tooth is the end portion of the clamp. An average natural tooth has somewhat of a "bell"shape to it. If you take a straight edge in a vertical position and place it against the side of a natural tooth, you will find that about half way down the face of the tooth the tooth's surface begins to move inward away from the straight edge.

From the point at which the tooth's surface moves inward and on down to the gum line, that is called the "undercut" area. The PD clamp is designed in a way that only permits about 10% of the tip of the PD clamp to extend beyond the "Undercut" line. That final 10% is what provides the holding power of the clamp. The rest of the clamp only serves to form an attachment between the origin of the clamp and the tip.

The only part of the PD clamp to be adjusted is the final 10% that goes beyond the "undercut." When you see a dental appliance professional adjust a PD clamp, it will appear that he/she is using a simple pair of "needle nose" pliers....NOT SO, what in fact is being used is a very specially designed "triple nosed" pliers.....standard needle nose pliers is unable to adjust the limited tip of a PD clamp, regular needle nose pliers will apply pressure over the entire PD clamp and most likely break it as the thick portion of a PD clamp has little to no give.

Also, if you have a PD clamp break in the middle, don't bother to pay someone to weld the broken piece back on. Welding will leave the clamp brittle, especially at the weld joint. Chances are it will break again very soon.

If the PD clamp broke while wearing, the chances are the partial did not fit well under the plastic portion that fits over the gums. If the gums had shrank, the partial was flexing up and down and eventually the clamps break into as the metal becomes fatigued. Had the partial been relined (refitted) the clamps should not break.

NOW. you must "always" completely seat a partial denture into it's proper position with your fingers. NEVER place the partial in your mouth and then attempt to bite it in place...Partial clamps are designed to slide around a tooth in a very specific path...Biting them into place forces them to travel a path they were not designed to go and that will eventually cause them to get loose and break.

If you have questions about the above information please Email The Denture Pro.

thedenturepro@aol.com

Does Your Face Shape and Denture Match ?

DOES YOUR DENTURE & TEETH FIT YOUR FACE ?

By: F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

The Denture Pro

I can't tell you the number of times patients that came to my office with either "no" teeth, or a denture that was just simply wrong for them, wanted a dental appliance that balanced with their natural physical appearance and facial structure.

After creating a dental appliance, or set of appliances, many patients would be astounded at how natural they looked. That astonishment had nothing to do with how white the teeth, how even they lined up, or if you will, pretty the teeth looked by themselves...The reason they looked so good was because the tooth shape, size, color and placement in the appliance was matched to their natural facial features and other influences, such as hair, skin, eyes and personality.

Truly successful dental appliances must meet three criteria, Fit, Function and Appearance, in that order. For purposes of this discussion I will only deal with appearance. As you sit in front of the person who is going to create your dental appliance, especially those that are removable and replace all of your extracted natural teeth, or just the front ones., that person should be mentally taking notes and writing down specific observations. Those observations should include the shape of your face, the color of your skin, hair, eyes, and an evaluation of your personality. Are you very reserved, even mannered, or do you exhibit a very outgoing personality. All those observations should be used to select the proper denture tooth, it's shape and it's color. The personality observation is used to influence how the teeth are arranged. The size of the denture teeth are determined by specific physical measurements and oral structure landmarks.

Let's talk about what shape your denture teeth need to be to balance with your facial features. Say you look straight at the face of a friend, take a pencil, and on a piece of paper, draw a line that represents the curve of the hairline across the forehead from temple to temple. Now extend that line down the left cheek, around the chin, and back up to the right side end of the hairline.......You should now have a line that depicts an outline of the persons face. Now, turn that outline drawing upside down, hold it next to the persons face, have them smile and you see that the outline of their face is the same outline of either of the two center upper front teeth.....So, if you came to my office with "no" teeth, I would use this facial criteria to decide what shape denture tooth would best balance with your facial features. This formula will prove correct with over 95 % of the population.

Now, how about the size of the teeth best suited for you. First, the gums themselves will provide the best and most precise landmarks by which to select tooth size. However, those landmarks may not be totally correct if age shrinkage has occurred, or oral disease has changed them....Gum size and shape still must be a consideration in those instances, but other criteria can be taken into account. The other criteria can be combined with the physical characteristics and between the two, the best choice can be achieved.

If you will hold a straight edge, such as a small ruler, vertically next to the outer edge of the nose nostril flange so that it extends down past the mouth and have the person smile, 90% of the time the edge of the ruler will pass down though the center of what we call the eye tooth...or Cuspid. What that tells you is that the distance between the outer edges of the nostrils, side to side...is the distance that should match the distance between the center of the Cuspid's...There are (6) six front teeth and the Cuspid's are the ones at each end of the six. You now know how wide the combination of the front six teeth should be to properly fill and balance the mouth from side to side.

How about the length of the front teeth. To begin with, the distance between the jaws, when they are in a balanced centric position, must be determined. In other words, when the back denture teeth close together so they touch in proper occlusion...the jaws should be in a balanced position. While a denture professional will know a number of ways to determine that proper position, there is a very old, often called , unprofessional way to get an idea if the jaws are in a balanced position when the teeth come together. Jaws that are either "Over-closed" or "Open to far", can create slight to serious pain and jaw joint damage.

To check your jaw balance yourself and get a reasonable idea if it's close to correct, do the following: Begin by taking a pencil an placing a small "dot" in the center of the end of your nose. Now place a small "dot" in the center of the most forward end of your chin....Now, using the ruler, measure the distance from the center of one eye pupil to the other eye pupil. Now, close you teeth together so that they touch in a normal bite.....Measure the distance from the dot of the nose down to the dot on the chin.....If that distance is less than the distance between the eye pupil measurement, it's likely the jaws are "over-closed", if on the other hand the distance is greater, it indicates the jaws are being held to far "open" when the teeth come together. In either of those cases, the jaws can be damaged and the facial features distorted from a natural attractive appearance.

How about tooth color? Dental appliance tooth color must do one of two things, match existing teeth it sits between, or match the persons features that best compliment the tooth color. Your skin and eyes dictate the best tooth color to balance your appearance. Dental appliance teeth that are to white scream out "FALSE TEETH". Dental appliance teeth that are to dark scream out...."UGLY". Dental appliance teeth that are balanced with your skin and eye color don't scream out anything, they just make you look balanced, natural and great. Dark skinned people don't have natural exceptionally "white" teeth....90% of the time their teeth are two to three shades darker than a light skinned person, it's the contrast that makes their teeth look so white. Hair color can cause the same contrast issues with skin shade. What someone else has is no rule to use when creating an appliance for you.

OK, how about the tooth arrangement? If you really, and I mean "REALLY", want to look both good and natural, you don't want the dental appliance teeth set up like a picket fence. While dental appliance teeth, crowns and veneers are created to mimic the iridescence and reflective properties of natural teeth, they look good in a group, but on an individual bases they are still lacking. If you set dental appliance teeth in a totally straight line, snugged up next to one another, and you laugh, and smile, the light rays hit the tooth surface and bounce straight back making the teeth almost seem to be just one big expanse of teeth. If however, the teeth are arranged with just enough angle to cause the light rays to bounce from one tooth to the next, the refection is like the reflections from the facets of a diamond. That type of reflection allows each tooth to express it's own beauty and independence.

If an expression of your personality is added to the arrangement you will look natural in the most positive way. That is accomplished by taking the teeth and maybe making one slightly overlap another at the chewing edge, or it may require making one or more of the front teeth a bit shorter or longer compared to the rest of the teeth....A competent creator of dental appliances will know what angles or twist to put on a tooth to achieve a personality effect. When all of the above factors are brought into play and skillfully assembled, a dental appliance should not draw undue attention, but instead blend with all your features....and if the fit and function has also been achieved, the result is very close to your feeling as though you still have healthy functioning natural teeth that add to your confidence and great appearance.

A denture or partial denture that is properly created will provide facial tissue support. On the other hand, if you fail to get your first dental appliance correctly constructed, or you fail to have existing dental appliances and the oral structures checked on at least a yearly bases, facial tissue distortion can take place that even a newly created dental appliance can not correct. You can't achieve a face lift though dental appliances when facial tissues have been allowed to sag and become distorted due to poor health practices or ignoring preventative dental appliance exams.

If you have comments or questions about any of the information offered, feel free to write The Denture Pro. at thedenturepro@aol.com

Why Did The Denture Break Down The Middle ?

Denture Center Line Breakage

F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

< thedenturepro@aol.com >

There is of course no question about why a denture breaks when it's dropped on the floor or in an empty sink, even though 99% of the time a new denture wearer is instructed to always slightly fill a sink with water to cushion a dropped denture while holding it over the sink to brush and clean.

When a denture breaks right through the middle, or if you will, the center, from front to back if it's an Upper and between the center two front teeth if it's a Lower, nine times out of ten the denture is no longer properly fitting the gum tissue.

When the gums change in size and shape due to healing from extraction's or just aging, or in some cases an ill fitting dental appliance to begin with, those changes create an imbalance and that creates stress pressures along the lines in which the denture tends to fit close to the gums....Example: The upper teeth have been extracted and a period of healing has taken place. We know that while healing after an extraction the gums, both tissue and bone, undergo changes in both size and shape..shrinking if you will. When that occurs on the Upper gums it's the gum ridge that changes, not the roof.

When the outside ridge heals and shrinks away from the inside of the denture the only area left that the Upper denture still fits is the palate or roof if you will. When you chew your sending unbalanced stress pressure right down the center of the roof of the denture, front to back....You might say that it's like a playground teeter totter..it's only supported in the middle and if you put enough weight (stress pressure) at each end over and over, eventually it will break in half at the center point where the pressure is strongest....While a denture may seem to be made of a rigid hard material, it will bend ever so slightly when excessive pressures are applied and if those pressures are unbalanced something has to give.

If the lower gums have changed, for what ever reason, the lower denture will usually always begin to split between the two front center teeth and over time the denture will beak in half....You can have the broken dentures repaired, but unless you deal with why they broke, they will break again and there is no time table for that to happen, It could happen in a few day's or a few weeks, but it will happen again.

So what steps do you take to attempt to keep the dentures from breaking again?....You have two options. If the dentures are over six years old, it's probably time to have them replaced. If you have the dentures refitted by a process called "Relining", the dentures will once again fit all the gum tissues in a balanced fit and that will take away the undue stress pressure points.

Now, let me give you this piece of information. If you have made a practice of soaking your dental appliance (dentures) in a strong solution of bleach over a long period of months or years, you need to know that many types of denture materials used to create dentures can be weakened buy the bleach. When some denture materials are subjected to strong bleach, the material eventually gets soft like slow rotted wood. Denture material in this state may appear to have accepted the repair material and made a bond, but the fact is, the connecting point between the old material and the new will be a weak point subject to breaking more easily than the good repair material.

If you wish to ask a question or comment on this information, please feel free to contact, The Denture Pro., at the Email address shown above.

Is It Time To Replace Your Dentures?

HOW LONG DO DENTURES LAST ?
By: The Denture Pro.
Copyrighted Material
<thedenturepro@aol.com>
Given the cost of dental appliances in general they are a bargain when compared to other artificial body part replacements. Eye glasses are expected to be out dated with in two to three years. Pace makers are in general expected to be replaced between eight and ten years. Hearing aids three to five years. Dental appliances on the other hand are expected to have a life expectancy of at least twenty years (by the public). Dental operative procedures such as filings, root canals and crowns are expected last for a lifetime. (by the public).....those of us in the dental health field know that those expectations are unreasonable and for the most part will never be realized.

The average lifetime of a fully and properly functioning denture is between "five" and "seven" years. This time frame can be altered by health problems, mental stress and or the loss of body weight......We know that a sudden illness such as the "flu" can cause a person to loose weight quickly. If as little as 2% of the bodies weight is lost, in say three to five days, it can cause a denture to fit differently than prior to the weight loss. If the person looses a great deal more than the 2%, say 6% to 10% in a short period, most dentures will fit vastly different. Large amounts of weight loss, such as on an extended diet will also cause the gums to change a great deal. When the gums shrink, regardless of the cause, they never return to their previous size and shape.
SO...what’s the answer to the above? If the dentures are relatively new and the changes in the gums have ceased the dentures can be refitted by a process called "Relining". If on the other hand the dentures are five years old or older the smart thing to do is to replace them. Older dentures have worn denture teeth and more than likely the jaws have become over closed. These are problems that "Relining" will not correct.

If jaws are allowed to become to over closed there is a risk that damage will occur to the jaw joint. The area for this is often called "temporomandibular joint ", (TMJ) this joint is created where the lower jaw connects to the skull. At the top of the lower jaw bone on either side, the top forms a rounded almost ball like shape called the "Condyle" this top end of the lower jaw fits into a depression in the skull bone called the "fosse". The Fosse is shaped somewhat like the palm of your hand when it’s cupped. When the lower jaw opens and closes the Condyles move in the fosse like a ball joint.

When the jaw is allowed to over close some people begin to experience sever pain in the jaw joint. One of the worst reasons for the pain is when the lower jaw bone and the skull bone come into direct contact. The "fosse" in the skull bone is covered with a thin layer of skin. This layer of skin is very very slippery and it’s slippery surface provides the lubricated like surface for the "condyle" to slide back and forth on. If the lower jaw gets out of alignment due to an over closed jaw joint, it’s possible for that thin layer of fosse skin to get a hole worn through it allowing bone to bone contact.....and that is very painful. In some patients the pain is so great that they can not open their jaws enough to even get food into the mouth....The remedy for this situation is a surgical procedure in which an artificial lining is inserted into the fosse.

If on the other hand the fosse skin layer only detached at the edge of the fosse and gathered up in the fosse like a sock in a shoe, the surgical procedure will be to attempt to reattach the skin to the fosse rim. In either case the situation could have been avoided by having a yearly examination to determine the alignment of the jaws and the condition of the dental appliance or appliances.
Below are observations you can make to determine if you are in need of a "TMJ" exam and possible replacement of existing dental appliances.
1....When the jaws are closed shut and the lower front teeth are in front of the upper front teeth.
2....The lips are no longer full and are now thin with out much surface exposed.
3....The corners of the mouth form an upside down smile line.
4....Deep creases have formed from the sides of the nose down to the outside corners of the upper lip.
5....When you smile, little to no teeth are visible. (Check this against an old photograph when you had your natural teeth) and don’t let anyone tell you that because your a senior citizen you can’t show teeth and have a good smile line. Telling you that is almost always a cop out and an attempt to avoid responsibility for an error in establishing the proper jaw relationship when the dental appliance was constructed.

If you have any questions regarding this material or information please contact The Denture Pro. at <thedenturepro@aol.com>
The Denture Pro.
F.Spiva Jr. CDT MDT CD

Dental Infection can cause Death

Triangle of Death

Did you know that you have the Triangle of Death? Few people have ever heard the term or know that it is a real description of a real area......and YOU have it.

Draw an imaginary line from the outside of one eye across your forehead to the outside of the other eye....Now draw an imaginary line from the outside of the eyes down to the corners of the mouth until they meet in the center of your chin.....You have just drawn the Triangle of Death.

That area is so named because within that area lies structures that are prone to infection. The areas are the mouth (teeth), the nose (sinuses) and the eyes. All of which are known to become extremely infected for various reason...All of those structures lie very close to the brain and an infection from those areas can get dumped directly into the blood stream or work it's way up to the brain. Infection in the blood stream can also be fatal if you happen to be someone with a cardiac (heart) problem....Because of that issue alone blood producing procedures should never be performed in the mouth, such as extractions or root canals, without the patient first having been on a schedule of antibiotics prior to the procedures.

Infection from bad teeth have been documented to have been released into the blood stream and went directly to the heart causing death....That same scenario could take place byway of a serious infection within the boundaries of the Triangle of Death. Infection within the Triangle of Death can be fatal if untreated thus preventing it from reaching the brain, heart or other vital organs.

This information provided by:

The Denture Pro.

thedenturepro@aol.com

Floyd Spiva jr. CDT MDT CD