Health Experts
Dentist
Q&As with our dentist
Dr Keith Cohen answers readers' questions about tooth loss after chemotherapy and dentures that keep losing teeth
Tooth loss
Q: I have lost most of my teeth, mainly due to chemotherapy, and my dentures are loose. Are implants a possibility? Also what would be the cost of treatment?
A: Generally, it is possible to place dental implants after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although the success rate may be reduced since the bone healing may have been affected. You should contact the specialists who treated you previously for further advice and referral. Usually, with this type of medical history, treatment can be carried out within the hospital service, often without charge.
Dentures keep breaking
Q: My husband had a partial flexible denture made at a laboratory. Teeth broke off of it, and another was made (which he had to pay again for). After two days a tooth broke away, followed by two more. We rang the laboratory who said they would ring us back on this, as my husband has a bite problem. They never did. Is there anything we can do as, after paying the cost of two dentures, we cannot afford to pay again. I have a flexible denture which is fine and no problems.
A: People’s mouths differ and what suits one person may not suit another for various reasons, such as different bite forces, different thicknesses of material, location and number of missing teeth etc. Your courses of action would be to either write to the laboratory giving details of your dissatisfaction and take further action as appropriate or otherwise to see a dentist for a second opinion.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
