Edentulism and the Denture Handicap
Courtesy More Smiles Dental Spa, Dr. Israel Finger, New Orleans LIVING WELL Magazine
According to the World Health Organization criteria, edentulism is considered a physical impairment since all teeth have been lost. Many patients with this condition may have impaired ability to perform two essential life tasks, namely, speaking and eating. For others, it is truly a handicap because significant changes are needed in order to communicate. This impairment has all the characteristics of a chronic disease: it is incurable, and functionally and psychologically disruptive.
Edentulous individuals have reported that they could not eat the foods that they would like to eat and that they were less able to enjoyed foods than before they lost their teeth. Food avoidance or dietary restriction usually involves the hard fibrous foods that are difficult to chew, and this is well described by edentulous individuals. In addition to the dietary limitations, edentulism causes many individuals to avoid social functions that involve eating in company.
Dr. Israel Finger is a prosthodontist who is an expert at replacing teeth, including using both dentures and implant prostheses. According to Dr. Finger, if you currently wear dentures, you might be happy to know that dental implants that carry the dentures are an alternative to a removable prosthesis. There are various types of implant dentures. Every patient needs to be evaluated to determine the type of denture best suited to that individual. While adequate bone is needed to support dental implants, bone deficiencies can often be corrected. With current technology, implant dentures can be placed on the same day that the implants are inserted and there is no need for the patients to be without teeth after surgery.
Dr. Finger has over 35 years of experience and has lectured extensively on dentures and implant prostheses. He can be reached at 504-832-2043.
