Should I Save My Last Two Upper Teeth?

I am going to be left with nothing but my two front teeth. I do still have most of my bottom teeth. The problem I’m facing is deciding on whether or not to get rid of the two upper teeth and go with straight dentures or try to save them. Normally, I’d say keep the teeth because, heck, they’re my teeth, but I absolutely hate the partial dentures. I have them off most of the time. I can eat most things with my two upper front teeth, though I have to put them in for chewing tougher things. I’ve seen two dentists and they’ve both said that it is up to me. So… I don’t actually know what to do.

Marty

Dear Marty,

Normally, I am all for saving teeth. However, I don’t think if you’re going to use those teeth for most of your eating that they are going to last long. Because it is your upper teeth, I think you would be much more comfortable with dentures.

If it were your lower teeth, I would say that if you removed your remaining teeth that you would need to get implant supported dentures. While your upper dentures are held in by suction. Your lower dentures would rest on your jawbone. The problem with that is that once your teeth are removed, your body starts to remove the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body. After a number of years, you will no longer have enough of your jawbone left to keep your dentures in.

By having dental implants placed in order to retain the dentures, it signals to your body that you still have teeth there and because of that it leaves your jawbone in place.

Bear that in mind when it comes to your lower teeth. It is important that you save as many of them as possible.

This blog is brought to you by Nashville Dentist Dr. David Wickness.