If you suffered from tooth loss in the past, you might’ve waited to get them replaced. During this time, you might have trouble smiling confidently or eating your favorite foods. You might be interested in tooth replacements after months or years, so you may be doing your own research. As you look into your options, you may have seen that dental implants may be tricky to get, but what about dentures? Here’s how this restoration can still help you.
What Happens to Mouths After Missing Teeth?
Before diving into how you can restore your missing teeth, it’s important to know how this situation can impact your oral health. The main thing that can happen is that your jawbone may weaken.
Without any roots to stimulate it, your body will start to take minerals from it to use elsewhere. The bone may shrink, causing your cheeks to sink in or increased wrinkles around your lips. That said, this happening also makes it harder to get certain treatments, like dental implants, as they rely on your jaw for support.
So, Are Dentures Possible After Missing Teeth for a While?
Although one tooth replacement may not be possible right away, you might wonder if you can still get dentures. The good news is that you still likely can! This prosthetic simply sits over your gums, meaning it will give you a more confident smile and a better bite than without. In fact, you may be able to slow down jawbone loss as well. The pressure will get sent through the soft tissues to help preserve it more than not having any stimulation.
Is There a Way I Can Prevent Jawbone Loss?
With that said, you may not be able to fully prevent jawbone loss. It can still happen over time with dentures, but it will likely be at a slower rate than before. This can leave you worried about the changes that may happen to your face, but you may be able to get dental implants to help stop it. These are posts that are placed into the jaw, acting like a root and helping keep it strong.
As was mentioned above, the bone will need to be dense enough to support them. While it may not be possible to get this service right away, you may be able to get a bone graft. This procedure will rebuild parts of your jawbone that need it most, meaning those places will be able to support the fixture.
You can then attach your dentures to them to get the benefits of both treatments! All-on-4 implants may also be possible, which don’t need as much bone density as they are placed in naturally thicker parts.
No matter what, your dentist is here to answer any questions you have. By having a consultation, you can learn more about which tooth replacement is right for you and learn the steps you need to take to get the restored grin you deserve.
About the Practice
At Prime Dentistry in Denton, our team is committed to helping patients reclaim full, functional smiles. Dr. Dhiren Ahir is proud to offer dentures and dental implants, so you can feel confident that you get results tailored to your unique needs. We take the time to walk you through either choice, so you make a decision you won’t regret. If you want to replace your missing teeth, schedule an appointment or call our office at (940) 514–0333.