If you’re someone who has spent a lot of time missing teeth, a set of well-fitting dentures can absolutely change your life. Suddenly, eating, chewing, talking, and smiling will be much more pleasant than they may have been for a long time.
However, you may have heard that people who’ve gone without teeth for a while may have problems replacing them. If you’re wondering why that is, what you can do about it, and whether you could still get a prosthetic, here’s what you should know.
How Can Missing Teeth for a Long Time Cause Problems?
You may not be thinking about it very often, but your body is exceedingly good at allocating resources to places where they’re most needed. Part of that, however, is directing nutrients away from the areas of the body that aren’t being used.
When you’re missing teeth, the parts of the jaw that used to hold the teeth in place are now being underutilized. This can start to cause the jaw to shrink over time.
If you have your heart set on dental implants, a lack of jawbone can potentially make that problematic for you. However, there are ways that you can go about replacing your teeth that should be fine.
Dentures For People With Atrophied Jaws
While dental implants that make heavy use of the jaw can be problematic for some people with atrophied bone, there are other methods of tooth replacement that can work just as well. Dentures in particular are excellent for people who have been missing lots of teeth for a long time.
A set of dentures will be custom fit to your jaw, no matter its size. So long as you still have enough of a jaw to support your dentures, and the health of your gums is fairly good, you’ll be able to get a prosthetic that fits your teeth.
It’s also worth noting that dental implants aren’t completely out of the question. If you want implant dentures, for example, you can always get a bone graft. Your dentist will be able to take a bit of bone from elsewhere in your body and relocate it to your jaw—once it heals, you’ll be strong enough to enjoy the security of dental implants!
About Our Practice
At Galleria Dentistry, we want to show you the difference that a family-owned dental practice can make. Not only will you get to take advantage of the latest techniques in oral medicine, but you’ll also be welcomed to our office by our friendly team. You can be sure that when you visit our practice you’ll be able to tell that everyone here has your best interest at heart.
If you have any questions about dentures, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (239) 592-5112.