CARE RECIPIENT HEALTH

Q. My mom, who's having oral issues as a result of diabetes complications, was told she would need dentures or implants. What are the benefits of one over the other?

"Conventional dentures rest only on the soft tissue or gum and they depend on suction to hold them up. But there's only so much suction, so denture creams and adhesives are used," says Byron C. Scott, DMD, of Springhill Dental Health Center in Mobile, AL. Dr. Scott, who's board certified in general dentistry and implantology, notes, "Implants actually offer a foundation to which we can clip a denture. The implants act as an artificial root support to make dentures stay in place; you can chew whatever you want and be comfortable."

That said, implants might be cost prohibitive. "They cost in the $15,000 range, but they're not going to slip; it's almost like having natural teeth back again," says Dr. Scott. "It also improves the quality of life." While some dentures may cost a few hundred dollars, a better set will cost around $5,500. It's the difference, says Dr. Scott, of "getting something that comes out of a box versus starting from scratch."

In terms of the diabetes, the decision would be based on whether or not the condition is under control. Dr. Scott says that if the patient is in good health except for the diabetes, he's done implants. "Otherwise," he says, "one could still do dentures. It's always important to first consult with the patient's physician" to make sure the diabetes is under control.