A Solution for Loose Denture, Despite Bone Loss
At 72, William Reichley is enjoying retirement. In his working life, he operated an orchid nursery in Key West for 30 years and later was employed as a pharmacy technician.
William Reichley treated with subperiosteal dental implant for slipping denture by Clark F. Brown, Jr., DDS, at Implant Dentistry of Florida.
He has worn dentures for decades because of tooth loss that began during his early adulthood. Lately, his lower denture was interfering with his quality of life. It frequently slipped out of place.
This was a problem at restaurants, where he enjoys dining with friends. In the middle of a meal, he often had to excuse himself from the table to reapply denture adhesive.
“As I was eating, the adhesive would disappear. My denture would actually come up off my jawbone and float,” he shares.
The ill-fitting denture affected his ability to chew. “One of my favorite foods is steak. To eat it, I had to cut the meat into very small pieces. I just had no chewing power left in my bottom jaw,” he continues.
“There were times when I wanted a salad but wouldn’t order one because I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat it. I would order the soup instead. I steered away from anything that required a lot of chewing.”
Reapplying denture adhesive was part of William’s routine outside of restaurants, too. Not only was the process inconvenient and messy, but it also worried him.
“I had to apply adhesive to my lower plate several times a day, and I knew that this couldn’t go on. I was concerned about what all that adhesive might be doing to my body,” relates William. “And I was miserable because I couldn’t keep my dentures where they belonged.”
William began to consider traditional dental implants, which can be surgically placed in the jaw to hold a denture firmly in place or replace missing teeth. Dental implants are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement and denture enhancement, and can last a lifetime.
First, William wanted to find a dentist he could trust, one with advanced knowledge of dental implants and years of experience. His search led him to Clark F. Brown, Jr., DDS, of Implant Dentistry of Florida.
Dr. Brown is a comprehensively trained and experienced dentist who has practiced cosmetic, general and implant dentistry in Melbourne for more than 30 years.
“I was quite impressed by Dr. Brown’s many successes,” notes William. “And I liked that not only does he perform dental implant procedures, he also teaches the procedures. I figured anyone who teaches other dentists must be really good.” [….]
