Missing teeth are usually replaced with dentures, but the problem with this is that they cannot direct the chewing forces to the jaw bone as dentures do not have roots. As a result, our jaw bone recedes while wearing dentures just as it does when we have no teeth at all.
While dentures can restore the appearance of a person's smile, they cannot help prevent jawbone deterioration. Indeed, some research suggests that wearing dentures may actually increase the rate at which the bone in the mouth atrophies.
If dentures are worn consistently and properly, you should not experience bone loss from wearing your dentures. In fact, wearing dentures properly can make a significant difference on avoiding bone loss. Bone loss occurs when the gums and the jawbone beneath the gums is not being stimulated.
Certain changes in your facial features and bite can indicate jawbone loss. When tissue volume decrease in your jaw, you may notice that your mouth seems to collapse into your face, your chin becomes more pointed, or wrinkles begin to form around the mouth.
The rate that the bone deteriorates, as well as the amount of bone loss that occurs, varies greatly among individuals. However, most loss occurs within the first eighteen months following the extraction and will continue gradually throughout your life.
What Are the Signs/Symptoms? People with ONJ may experience pain, soft tissue swelling and drainage in the mouth, and an exposed jawbone for eight weeks or longer. Other possible signs are bad breath, loose teeth, and signs of infection on gums.
Types of Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant overdentures often require fewer implants, making them a better choice for patients with more bone loss. Also, because they are removable, they are easier to clean, especially for patients who are already used to removing their dentures to clean them.
Like anything new, dentures will need to be given some time to become accustomed to them. If you are not wearing your dentures on a daily basis, your gums will not be given enough time to experience the pressure and essentially will not become used to it.
For most patients, bone in the jaw will regenerate in 4 to 6 months, but it can take longer in some cases.
With missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures, your facial muscles will begin to sag, giving you a lopsided, sunken appearance. But with properly fitting dentures designed at the correct height, your face will be proportioned as it should.
Characterized by a shrunken or sunken look around the mouth, facial collapse results in excessive wrinkling in the lower portion of the face and a marked decrease in the facial stature.
The sunken face that comes from having dentures isn't actually related to your muscles at all, it's caused by tooth (and consequently) bone loss in the jaw.
The American Dental Association recommends you replace your dentures every 5-7 years for proper fit and appearance. Denture teeth can wear down and stain faster than natural teeth, and tissues in your mouth may change over time.
It can take a few weeks to adjust to dentures, but once your mouth is strong, you can eat just about any food. There will always be some foods that aren't denture-friendly, like chewing gum, popcorn, whole nuts, steak, and sticky candy.
Generally you should wear your dentures for at least 8 hours a day. This will give your gums and jawbone time to get used to the dentures and prevent sore spots from developing. It is best to take them out at night so that your gums can rest. You should also remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
For the first few days, it's okay to sleep in your dentures—your dental team may even recommend it. Once your mouth has adjusted to your dentures, you should remove them each night before sleeping.
Patients who might not be a candidate for dentures are those who do not have enough healthy gum tissue and jawbone structure to support the dentures. If needed, however, these patients can restore the health of the gum tissue and bone structure to secure dentures in place at a later time.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare but serious condition that causes bone cells in your jawbone to die and your jawbone to poke through an opening in your gums. Because blood can't reach the exposed area, more of the bone dies. Osteonecrosis is the medical term for bone death.
The use of both bisphosphonate and denosumab are considered primary risk factors for developing ONJ, though other medications such as antiangiogenic drugs have been reported in several studies [2,22].
ONJ looks like an area of exposed bone in your mouth. It can cause tooth or jaw pain and swelling in your jaw. Severe symptoms include infection in your jaw bone. You can get ONJ after some dental surgeries, such as getting teeth extracted (removed) or implanted.
Tooth loss causes the jaw bone to recede and can lead to an unnatural looking indentation in your gums and jaw, an appearance of general aging. In this case, it may not be possible to regain the original look of your mouth because of spaces that remain under and between replacement teeth.
Thankfully, a process known as jawbone regeneration (bone grafting) can improve bone density and your ability to receive dental implants.
Experts presently estimate that 1 out of 100,000 people with osteoporosis (who do not have cancer) will get osteonecrosis of the jaw.
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.