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Question:
Too small of a mouth? I got 4 front teeth extracted and went to get a partial and they told me my mouth is too small for dentures! Is this possible?
What can I do? I don't want to go without teeth for the rest of my life! ...Visitor from DE
Answer:
I can sympathize with your situation.
It sounds as if there was very little thought that went into your treatment planning.
As a Prosthodontist who specializes in replacing missing teeth, I'm guessing that it's not your mouth that' s too small, it's that when the teeth were removed and you close down, there is no space to fit a partial denture framework.
This is not an insurmountable problem. In our practice, during the treatment planning phase, we typically evaluate the overall status of a patient's dentition, occlusal characteristics and physical attributes of the jaw structures to be treated.
Combinations of prosthodontic procedures and custom prosthetic products are used to create the tooth replacement options most patients want to choose from. This critical planning phase is completed and discussed before treatment is started, to eliminate unwanted surprises (such as yours).
In your case, it may be that additional space can be created by either increasing the height of your bite or removing additional gum tissue.
Get some consults with Prosthodontists or other dentists who are experienced in creating custom prosthetics for patients who have had treatment needs similar to yours.
Christopher McFarland, DMD
Atlanta Prosthodontist - Periodontist
2530 Lawrenceville Highway
Decatur - Duluth - Atlanta, GA
(770) 492-0256
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