Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 8/12/2007

Question
Hello Mark. My wife had a full set of dentures 2 years ago, she is 57 years old. right from the start she looked like an old grandma, lower chin seemed sunken in. The dentist got my 1800 dollars and said it would take care of itself, he did the 4 free adjustments, sent us on our way, and said this is normal . I'll do what I need to do, but I don't want to get taken again. Is this normal? how much should I spend? What should I look for? questions to ask? Please help. Thank you for any help. Manny

Answer
Dear Manny,

There are several different parameters of denture construction that can promote or avoid a "denture look"-- mostly these deal with the height and positioning of the teeth. It is sometimes a deceptively difficult matter to balance the separate goals of denture functionality and appearance, and not all dentists arrive at a balance between these goals that is acceptable to the patient.

I would recommend that your wife seek a consultation with a prosthodontist (a specialist in dental prosthetics). He will be able to assess your wife's current dentures and determine whether some modification of the teeth can be made to improve on their appearance. Specialists are more conversant with the types of trade-offs that can be made so that the appearance can be improved without negatively impacting on how the dentures work.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY