Dentures are a popular and cost-effective way to address lost teeth, but they aren’t the perfect solution. While they are incredibly comfortable and lifelike, they do not keep the jawbone stimulated to prevent bone loss. This means that the jaw will atrophy as the patient wears their dentures until the appliance no longer fits properly and needs to be replaced. Here’s how dental implants can address this issue of bone erosion in the jaw so that the patient can enjoy a beautifully restored smile for decades or even a lifetime.
Why Do Dentures Not Keep the Jawbone Strong?
While dentures are customized to fit the patient’s mouth while beautifully and seamlessly recreating their smile, they do not provide sufficient exercise to the jawbone during the chewing process. Each tooth stimulates the jawbone during chewing, and this exercise disappears after the tooth is lost, causing the bone structure that supported it to atrophy and recede. As this structure shrinks away, it can pull the neighboring teeth out of alignment, making them harder to clean, easier to injure, and more vulnerable to infection.
Over time, the receding jawbones can leave the face with a withered and sunken appearance, and the changing shape of the mouth will cause the dentures to lose their fit. Eventually, the dentures will need to be relined to continue fitting properly and prevent them from sliding about in the mouth during speech and chewing. However, the dentures will need to be replaced at some point, and they can usually last for ten years with excellent care.
How Do Dental Implants Stimulate the Jaw?
Unlike dentures, dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone, allowing them to provide the same stimulation as the real teeth. This exercise can prevent or even reverse bone loss in the jaw, helping the patient maintain a youthful and vigorous appearance for years to come. This will also help preserve the alignment of the other teeth, and dental implants cannot slide around in the mouth since they are anchored firmly in the jawbone, which can prevent many embarrassing social situations.
For all of these reasons and more, dental implants are considered the ideal form of tooth replacement. While having conditions like thin jawbones, gum disease, or diabetes can make it harder to receive implants, you may still be able to be a good candidate for them after periodontal treatment, bone grafts, or other prerequisite measures. A consultation with your dentist can determine if dental implants are right for you.
About the Author
Dr. Vidya Kini Kukkundur earned her dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry and continues to further her education through postgraduate coursework. She is also a member of the American Dental Association, the NJ Dental Association, and the Southern New Jersey Dental Society. Her office in Marlton, NJ offers preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To schedule a dental implant consultation, contact her office online or dial (856) 596-4333.