As you dentist, I am always trying to help you keep your teeth healthy, but most of all, keep them in your mouth! Losing teeth is a terrible blow to your overall health, including:
•Wearing dentures can cause discomfort, reduced confidence, decreased ability to chew and enjoy foods, and a daily inconvenience.
•Research has shown that denture wearers experience a decrease in self-esteem and self-confidence. They also tend to unplug from society, don’t look at people in the face, smile and laugh less, don’t leave home often, wear no make-up, and eat out rarely.
•An underlying occurrence is bone loss. Bone loss, over time, contributes to deep wrinkling and a sunken-in appearance around the mouth, a “witches chin”, jowls, and a severe reduction in biting strength.
•When tooth roots are missing from the upper or lower jaw, the bone begins to shrink, or resorb. This resorption is even accelerated by the pressure of dentures. An indicator of bone loss is the change in the fit of your denture. Dentures that once fit securely will eventually begin to loosen due to the change in the bone underneath the gum. As the bone shrinks in size, the ridge under the denture slowly flattens out.
•Over time, the denture has less of a foundation, decreasing one’s ability to bite and chew comfortably. The biting strength of natural teeth is 250 pounds. A denture wearer bites with 5 to 6 pounds. A healthy diet of fiber, protein and vitamin rich foods becomes increasingly difficult.
Why let dentures and tooth loss have this much control over your life? Call toll free 1-855-9-Smiles to request a free consultation appointment. We discuss tooth replacement options that are practical and affordable, including the latest ‘All-On-4’ implant system!
