Unfortunately, many people do not have dentures that fit properly. And ill-fitting dentures pose significant health risks. Dr. Alex Rhee responded to a recent article published on wellformative.com, asserting dentures have hidden risks, especially for people on proton pump inhibitors. For people taking these drugs, a proper fit for dentures in addition to thorough and proper cleaning is essential for safety and overall health.
The article suggests that many denture wearers are not chewing their food completely because of poor fit and mouth pain. This, combined with proton pump inhibitors, which decrease hydrochloric acid in the stomach, can lead to malabsorption of food. Dentures are also often covered with bacteria, yeast and food particles because they are not properly cleaned. Dirty dentures are not only un-hygienic, they can be dangerous. In addition to causing bad breath, bacteria are constantly absorbed through breathing, eating and drinking, which can lead to respiratory conditions and other health problems.
Aside from the hygienic and health concerns, the article also warned about wearers sleeping in their dentures. If a denture should slip out of place during the night, for instance, and slip into the back of the mouth or throat, the wearer could choke to death.
"All the negative effects associated with missing teeth are solvable with dental implants," Dr. Rhee said. "Dental implants can secure ill-fitting dentures or can replace all missing teeth."
Dental implants restore a person's mouth to as close to its natural look as possible. Replacement teeth look and feel like natural teeth and are able to be brushed too. Oral hygiene is easier to maintain with implants, reducing any bacterial or health concerns.
"Implants are giving people the teeth they had in their youth and saving them from embarrassment," Dr. Rhee said.
Implants preserve existing teeth and do not compromise the bone. This is essential for those who are only missing a few teeth and want alternatives to partial dentures. Implants fill in only the gaps where teeth are missing and do not clasp or adhere to existing teeth. This helps preserve the long-term health of undamaged teeth while restoring the mouth to its full function.
In response to the article, Dr. Rhee points out that dental implants also would increase a patient's ability to fully chew food. If these people are on medicines that reduce hydrochloric acid in the stomach, they will be able to chew their food completely, thereby making digestion easier on their stomachs, and virtually eliminating a very significant risk. Dr. Alex Rhee is happy to discuss dental implants with any denture wearer considering safe alternatives.
ABOUT:Dr. Alex Rhee is a general dentist serving the Peterborough, Ontario, area. He offers several services for adults and children including orthodontics, sedation dentistry, implant dentistry, full mouth reconstruction and laser-assisted dentistry. His focus include cosmetic, implant and reconstructive dentistry. Dr. Rhee operates Chemong Family Dental and Trenton Family Dental and enjoys providing each patient with high-quality service. In 2002, Dr. Rhee earned his degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, where he has served as a part-time clinical instructor. He is a Diplomat at International Congress of Oral Implantologiests, a Fellow at Academy of General Dentistry, a mentor at Kois Center of Advanced Dental Education.
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