Are you missing all of your teeth? You’re not alone; an estimated 40 million Americans have also experienced complete tooth loss, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. It’s probably safe to say that you want to replace your teeth for aesthetic reasons, but you also have to consider that the jaw loses bone density after teeth go missing. You might be wondering whether dentures prevent jawbone loss. Keep reading to learn the answer!
Why Does the Jawbone Shrink After Tooth Loss?
Whenever you bite or chew food, that force travels through the roots of your teeth to stimulate the jawbone. However, when a tooth is gone, that area of the bone loses this stimulation, so the body begins to resorb the bone. Over time, the jawbone may weaken to the point where it can no longer support the remaining teeth. So, your risk of further tooth loss increases.
Additionally, a deteriorated jawbone can’t give your facial structures the support they need. As a result, you might develop sunken-in cheekbones as well as wrinkles around your mouth that make you look much older than you really are.
Do Dentures Preserve Your Jawbone?
Dentures are a simple, effective way to replace a full row of teeth at once. These prosthetics sit atop the gums, held in position with natural suction and maybe some adhesive. Modern dentures can be truly life-changing, but they unfortunately leave much to be desired.
Instead of replacing the roots of the teeth, dentures merely replace the parts above the gumline. Because they don’t interact with the jawbone, dentures cannot prevent jawbone loss. In fact, they may even have the opposite effect. Some research suggests that dentures accelerate the speed at which the jawbone shrinks after tooth loss. Not to mention, changes in the underlying bone can cause dentures to loosen and need refitting periodically.
Why Dental Implants Are the Superior Tooth Replacement
To date, the only tooth replacement that prevents jawbone loss is dental implants. These are small titanium posts that serve as new roots for any number of prosthetic teeth. During oral surgery, the implants are placed into the jawbone, and a natural integration process occurs over the next few months. Then, a dental crown, bridge, or denture is secured on top for a solution that looks, feels, and functions identically to natural teeth.
If you need to replace an entire row of teeth, consider attaching a denture onto dental implants. Compared to traditional prosthetics, implant dentures are much more reliable. They should never lose their fit or slip out of place, they allow you to chew whichever foods you’d like with ease, and they have the potential to last a lifetime. Plus, they’ll keep your jawbone strong and your face youthful!
Regular dentures can be a great option for many people, but if you want to look and feel as if your teeth had never been lost in the first place, reach out to your local periodontist about dental implants!
About the Practice
At Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we have an incredible team of four highly skilled, board-certified periodontists offering a number of gum-related services in Lincoln, NE. This includes the surgical placement of dental implants, and we would love to partner with your general dentist to help you enjoy a complete smile again as well as a healthy jawbone. If you would like to learn more about replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, you can contact us on our website or by phone at 402-483-7631.