If you’re looking to replace some missing teeth, you may be stuck deciding between two options: dentures and dental implants.
While both of these have their merits, dentures have a problem that dental implants do not. This problem has to do with bone loss, which can be a common consequence of missing teeth. If you’re interested, here’s more information about bone loss and missing teeth.
Why Does Tooth Loss Cause Bone Atrophy?
You aren’t even aware of it, but your body is constantly making decisions about the best places to send valuable resources, and which parts of your body are most in need of support. When you lose a tooth, your body usually decides that the jaw is a little less important, and therefore that it’s not necessary to send nutrients to that part of the mouth.
When the flow of nutrients stops, the jawbone will naturally begin to shrink over time.
Can Dentures Prevent Bone Loss?
Dental implants are secured directly to the jaw, which stimulates it. This can mitigate some of the bone loss you may otherwise deal with.
Dentures, however, don’t have any actual connection to the jawbone at all. Instead, they rely on suction with your gums for support, and they consequently don’t do anything to stop bone atrophy.
How Will Bone Loss Affect Your Dentures?
Unfortunately, bone loss can eventually become a fairly irritating issue for people with dentures. Your prosthetic is designed to adhere to your gums primarily via suction, and they therefore need to fit over them fairly tightly to stay secure.
When you lose bone tissue, your dentures don’t fit quite as well. This means that they’re more likely to slip around, fall out, and leave behind sores on your gums. Either you deal with these problems, or you go to your dentist often for relining that can make your dentures fit better than they did before.
About Our Practice
At Plush Dentistry, we’re proud to be able to turn the field of dentistry on its head! Often, seeing your dentist involves long wait times and substandard care. Here, our incredible dental team will make time for you, and they will work hard to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality of oral healthcare tailored specifically to you.
If you have any questions about bone loss, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (469) 256-7098.