We are looking for a dental school that would be willing to help with making a new dental plate for my husband

Question

After paying several $ at two other dentist and two plates later, they have still made this plate incorrectly. He can not even go out for dinner and have satisfaction, as his plate continues to fall out! He is embarrased and sadden! We are going on vacation for the first time in 14 years of marriage and I would like to see him enjoy himself, however we can not afford another $700-$800 to have another plate made and am looking for some help! Thank you in advance, it is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Let me start by explaining that dentures are difficult for patients to get used to. If this is his first time wearing one, he needs to give it time, relax, and understand that "many adjustments" must be made to get the fit just right for comfort and function.

Now if his upper denture is "falling out" or loosing "its suction" then it's not adjusted correctly to the ridge with "allowance for the muscles to contract" that's probably causing the problem. If he looses suction every time he smiles or opens his mouth, then it's the muscle along the sides of the mouth at the roots of the bi's and molar teeth that are contracting during opening or stretching of this muscle causing them to break the suction. This is an easy adjustment and can be taken care of quickly. The upper denture is mainly held in place by the suction of the upper arch palate. Most patients can wear an upper denture very well with the appropriate adjustments.

Now if the lower denture is coming loose and sliding around, that could be the same problem with muscles of the "jaw and tongue" pulling on it and "can be adjusted" in those areas to allow for muscular contraction, but it also has a different problematic issue all together. The lower denture relies on the ridge that is left after the teeth are extracted. Over time the removal of teeth causes this ridge to dissipate until eventually it's just no longer there. Lower dentures wearers have the problem of the denture "floating around" this is because the ridge that it normally sets on, is gone. The lowers don't have the "suction" that the uppers do and they have to rely on the thin ridge to "rest on." So there is really nothing "holding" them in place. We always recommend patients use an adhesive like Fixodent or Polygrip to help in this situation. Or in some cases we advise a dental implant at the canine area and use an over denture that slips over the implants giving it something to attach to. This method works well and you may consider talking to your dentist about it.

Both of these problems all revolve around the question of "is your husband a new denture wearer?" Either way, if this dentist made your husband a new denture then he (make sure the dentist does this) should do as many adjustments as necessary to get a fit that the wearer can use for function and esthetic purposes. Don't get disheartened just yet, it takes many visits for adjustments and being able to realize where it's coming loose at. You've already paid money for this one; it can be adjusted to fit. This is normal and required in all denture patients. Some are just easier to accommodate or have worn one for years and know where it's off at. Just keep going back for the adjustments. If the dentist can't make it fit correctly, then he needs to make another one from a "new impression" that does. Don't make a new one from this impression since you'll wind up with the exact denture you have right now. And this is done without charge so don't even consider paying someone else to do another one! Get it adjusted right and learn to eat with food on both sides at the same time to even it out, all the little tricks that denture wearers have to use. You'll get it adjusted right and it will feel like a completely different denture. Good luck!

Answer 2

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