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.
If your dentures are too big or short, your face might look puffy. Dentures that don't fit properly can affect the alignment of your chin and make your face look lopsided. During your visit to the Neenah, WI, dental office, your dentist will help you find dentures that fit well and enhance your appearance.
The only way a denture wearer can prevent facial collapse is to support the dentures with dental implants. Two to eight dental implants can be surgically implanted in the jawbone, and dentures are secured to them.
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.
Sagging chin, also called witch's chin, is caused by changes in the jawbone due to wearing dentures. As the jawbone loses volume, the muscle attachments of the jaw change, resulting in less bulk in the chin area, and more sagging.
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.
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.
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.
While many get their first set of false teeth between 40 and 49, the need to replace teeth becomes nearly universal as people age. However old one is or whatever the situation, using dentures to replace missing teeth can mean better speech, easier eating, a healthier face and a great smile.
When do people get dentures? Most commonly, people who require dentures are between the ages of 55 and 64. Despite the fact that dentures are commonly thought to be for individuals over the age of 50, younger people may require partial dentures or dental implants if they have lost their teeth.
You can stabilize your appearance even more by using implant dentures. Implant dentures replace your teeth roots, which stimulates the jawbones so your body doesn't remove them. This helps you maintain your youthful appearance for longer. The average age of most people who wear dentures is 65 and older.
When wearing new dentures, you might feel that your dentures are too big or that your lips are being pushed forward, making it difficult to smile naturally. This “full-mouth” feeling is common when you first get new dentures and will subside once you become accustomed to wearing them.
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.
Modern dentures almost identically match the visual appearance of your existing teeth and they nest within your gums the same way as well. For people who have lost teeth, dentures are very important replacement structures for the jaw bones and overall facial shape.
Absolutely not! When properly made and fixed, dentures have a very natural appearance.
Strange Facial Expressions: When you first get your dentures, you might think your face looks a little strange. Again, this is normal. Your facial muscles need to adjust to the new dentures, and soon your facial expressions will look the old you.
Academy Award-winning actor and director Ben Affleck wore a full set of dentures at one point in his career. Eventually, he switched to crowns or implants.
Speaking with Dentures: Speech difficulties are common in new denture wearers, and it can be embarrassing. You may find it hard to pronounce certain words. Practicing in private by reading aloud in front of a mirror can help.
Dentures are Not Inevitable for Everyone
However, although getting dentures is actually quite common, not everyone will have to have them. If your teeth last until the end of your life, there is no reason to get dentures. Of course, a major part of having your teeth last that long involves a good oral hygiene routine.
Chewing or Speaking Difficulty
It takes practice to eat and converse with dentures. Dentures are less stable and prone to fall out of position since there isn't much gum or bone underneath to resist movement. In fact, chewing meals with new dentures can take up to 5 times longer.
Facial Shape Changes and Premature Aging
Your lips and cheeks will also lose their volume. This can result in looking older than your biological age. New dentures can help you regain your youth by providing your facial structure with support.
Most patients who have received dentures find that it takes an adjustment period of about 30 days to feel the most comfortable.
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.
Your dentures (also known as false teeth) should look natural and there is no reason why they can't. There are different types of dentures and if you want them to look as natural as possible, factors you should consider include the size, shape and shade.
As long as your dentures are held firmly in place, kissing with them should be just as easy as doing so with your natural smile. Just make sure to take it slow to ensure that everything goes smoothly and remember that you'll get more comfortable with practice!