The short answer is yes, dentures can definitely change the shape of your face. But if you've been missing teeth or dealing with bad, ill-fitting dentures, the change may be for the better.
Dentures that are too short will cause the lips and cheeks to fold in creating a sunken look and improperly fitted ones can cause bone deterioration which will also change the shape of your face.
After tooth loss, the muscles may begin to sag, causing the skin to wrinkle. Tooth loss can also cause your lips to sink in and your chin to protrude. Replacing your teeth with dentures can help you avoid dramatic changes to your face although you may still notice some degree of facial sagging or wrinkling.
A sunken face indicates your current dentures are not fitted properly. The most likely cause of this is the teeth in the denture being too short. It is important to spot a sunken face immediately as improperly fitted dentures can cause other dental problems like jaw deterioration over time.
The best way to reverse facial collapse for most patients is to get the Face Lift Dentistry® Method. The source of facial collapse is directly related to the location of their jaw position and the Face Lift Dentistry® method idealizes the jaw position and reverses facial failure with support from inside the mouth.
Ever seen someone without their dentures? Facial collapse causes this on a smaller scale, evidenced by wrinkles in the corners of the mouth, loss of lip support, and overall shortening of the face to give an “aged” appearance.
For most patients, bone in the jaw will regenerate in 4 to 6 months, but it can take longer in some cases.
Dentures typically cause up to 70% bone loss within the first several years of use. Partials can have similar effects. Denture prosthetics are designed to rest or ride on gum tissue and do not provide direct stimulation to the jawbone as normal teeth or implants do.
For those who don't grow enough bone, the implant and bone graft are placed together. At Premier Periodontics, we use minimally invasive Piezoelectric techniques to perform a bone grafting procedure to replace lost bone.
In most cases, you won't be able to tell that someone is wearing dentures if you have well-fitting dentures that are professionally made, are regularly cleaned, and fit well.
Some people worry that dentures will make them look older. Thankfully, this is far from the truth. Not only are today's dentures incredibly realistic looking, but if you pair them with dental implants, you'll end up with a smile that will look and feel completely natural.
By listening closely to the person, you may detect a lisp. This happens because the tongue and the mouth are not used to having dental plates. However, as time passes, the lisp will eventually disappear, and it will be impossible to know if the person is wearing a denture by observing the person's speech.
With high quality dentures, your teeth can be designed individually so that they look like natural teeth. If you want, you can choose to model your dentures after your natural teeth and turn back the clock to what your smile looked like when you were much younger.
Because dentures rest on that gum ridge and are customized to fit its shape and size, dentures loosen as this happens, and for many patients, end up feeling too big for their mouths. What are your options if this has happened to you?
When receiving dentures, you may be missing or we will have to extract most remaining teeth to accommodate the new dentures. While this step can be a bit intimidating, removing the teeth is crucial for the dentures to fit properly.
If you wear dentures, the movement of dentures actually tends to accelerate jaw bone shrinkage. You may notice facial shrinkage and an aging effect, as well as loosening dentures. Other than missing teeth causing atrophy, jaw bone loss can also be caused by gum disease, oral cancer or other pathology.
Bone loss creates a problem by limiting the dental restorations that a dentist can use. For example, you cannot have a dental bridge if you do not have sufficient bone structure in your jaw. Fortunately, a dentist can use dentures in Bronx, NY, even after significant jaw bone loss.
Traditional dentures are secured by the natural suction of the mouth and restore the appearance and function of the smile. However, this type of denture doesn't prevent bone loss because they don't replace the roots of the missing teeth. Instead, they sit on top of the gums and don't stimulate the jawbone.
Eating difficult to chew foods at an early age strengthens the jaw muscles and promotes bone growth by helping to lay down the bone matrix, allowing the jaw to develop to its full potential.
Yes, there is hope for correcting facial collapse. Grafting procedures can build up the jawbone, and after a healing period, a prosthodontist can place dental implants to keep the jawbone intact. The bone grafts and a new custom denture will lift your facial muscles and help reshape your face.
Deteriorated jawbone will not regrow on its own. In some cases, you can make lifestyle changes that may encourage regeneration of jawbone that has been lost after tooth loss. These may include sticking to a healthy and nutritious diet and avoiding alcohol and tobacco products.
Missing teeth often contribute to the appearance of sunken cheeks or jowls. When one or more teeth are missing it can lead to bone loss at the site of the gap. Normally, teeth are anchored to the jaw bone by sockets. However, if those sockets remain empty, that means there are large, empty spaces in the jaw.
Dental implants can prevent the jaw from shrinking and collapsing. They cannot restore lost mass. However, bone grafting procedures, which are often necessary to improve dental implant candidacy, can restore the jaw to its proper shape and size, thereby giving a lift to the areas impacted by tooth loss.
Treating Facial Collapse
Fortunately, oral surgery can restore jawbone stability and eliminate issues with eating. Dental implants are an effective solution. However, when little bone is left, precision placement — using advanced imaging technology and virtual software to guide the procedure — is essential.