Is It Ever Too Late to Restore My Missing Teeth with Dentures?

Dentures are a tried-and-true solution for replacing missing teeth, having assisted countless generations of patients with varying degrees of tooth loss. That said, if you’ve been without your teeth for a while, you might finally be ready to seek out dentures – however, you might also be worried that your opportunity has passed, and it’s now too late to restore your smile. This isn’t necessarily the case! Here’s what you need to know.

What Happens Following Tooth Loss?

Tooth loss is problematic for many reasons – having gaps in your smile doesn’t just impact your ability to eat and speak, but it also might make it so you feel too self-conscious to show off your smile. This can all greatly detract from your overall quality of life.

However, what’s truly impactful regarding tooth loss is that it also causes bone resorption in your jaw. This means that your jawbone can actually shrink and lose volume, since it’s no longer receiving stimulation from the roots of your missing teeth. Over time, this issue will worsen, leading to a shrunken jaw and full facial collapse, in addition to every other disadvantage that comes with tooth loss. Simply put, your teeth are too important to be without, but dentures can restore them!

Can I Get Dentures Following Bone Loss?

If dentures are worn consistently and properly, you should not experience bone loss from wearing them. In fact, wearing dentures can actually make a significant difference in avoiding bone loss! Since bone loss occurs when the gums and jawbone beneath them don’t receive stimulation, the act of chewing or moving your mouth with your dentures can provide this substitute stimulation. And in the case of partial dentures, those can still effectively stimulate the jawbone, too, since the majority of the tooth roots should still be intact.

However, the challenge with dentures is that while they apply pressure and stimulation against the gums, there are no nerves, so the stimulation is still lacking compared to what your natural teeth would provide. This is why some patients end up opting for dental implant-retained dentures, when possible. Since implants replace the roots of your teeth, they can also fully replace the stimulation they provide to the jaw.

Don’t shy away from replacing your missing teeth with dentures; even if it’s been quite a while since you lost teeth, speak with your dentist about whether they’re an option for you. With so many benefits to offer, like bone loss prevention, you’ll be able to smile confidently and healthily once more!

About the Practice

Drennan Family Dentistry has proudly served the dental needs of patients in Fort Worth and the surrounding DFW metroplex for several years, offering a wide variety of services, including tooth replacement options like dentures. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to contact the team to schedule an appointment, please reach out online or over the phone for more information. Telephone: (817) 790-9788.