Cosmetic Dentures Technology

Cosmetic Dentures And Adhesives

Hinsdale Dentist

Cosmetic dentures have been used as replacements for missing teeth for thousands of years—the Etruscans developed rudimentary dentures out of discarded human and animal teeth as early as 700 BCE. Thankfully, dentistry has come a long way and modern developments more efficient, durable, and use more comfortable materials and methods for denture use—we no longer use animal teeth! Dentures are created in a dental laboratory from the combination of different types of acrylic—one to create the gum tissue and another that can then produce teeth in a variety of shapes and colors. If you have any more question about any other dental procedure please visit your local Hinsdale dentist.

The strides made in denture technology have greatly improved the oral health of millions around the world, but with modern technology has come modern problems—like zinc toxicity from denture adhesive creams. Properly fitted dentures should not require much, if any adhesive, but over time, without the natural teeth in the mouth, gum shrinkage may occur, and once well-fitting dentures can become loose and require additional support. Procter & Gamble’s Fixodent and GlaxoSmithKline’s Poligrip are two of the most popular adhesives, both originally made with zinc in order to enhance adhesion—17 milligrams per gram and 34 milligrams per gram, respectively. Denture adhesive creams have been used for decades, but it was not until the 2000’s that health care providers and researchers began to connect mysterious disorders with the adhesives.

Risks associated with denture adhesive creams, like Fixodent and Poligrip, include gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; metal poisoning; low copper levels; and more seriously but rarely, neurological complications such as paralysis. Metal poisoning may manifest itself via sleepiness, a metallic taste in the mouth, low blood pressure, trouble breathing and, sometimes, shock. Possibly the most common, and most readily identifiable, symptom is low copper levels in the body. The body works to naturally keep zinc and copper levels in balance, but if zinc levels are too high, this will inhibit the body’s ability to absorb the amounts of copper necessary for bone and nerve cell development. Due to copper’s relationship to iron throughout the body, copper deficiency can also contribute to anemia. If you feel your dental health is compromised please visit your Hinsdale dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment.

Health risks are not inherent to the denture adhesive creams themselves, but to the zinc within the creams and the amount used. It is very important to follow your dentist recoomendations, for more information please visit your Hinsdale dentist. If used as directed, a typical 2.4 oz tube of Fixodent or Poligrip should last six-eight weeks, and one will be exposed to less zinc than ingested in an average multi-vitamin. However, when a patient has ill-fitting dentures, studies have found that they will use more adhesive in order to keep the dentures in and food out of the gaps and crevices. Instead of lasting 6-8 weeks, some patients are using 2-3 tubes per week—it is then that the risks increase. Properly fitted dentures are proven to be imperative, not an option. Patients worried about the cost of new dentures ought to also examine the amount of money they are spending on 2-3 tubes of adhesive per week; outwearing dentures for years will certainly cause the cost of adhesive to rise. More importantly, increased levels of zinc pose immense health risks. Patients should look to replace their dentures every 5-7 years. As of now, GlaxoSmithKline has pulled all denture adhesives with zinc off the market, and has recently released Poligrip, zinc free. Procter & Gamble has not released a zinc-free Fixodent product, but they are instead urging pharmacies and consumers to read the labels and to be aware of the directed usage.

To make an appointment please visit your Hinsdale dentist

Blog maintained by Identity Dental Marketing