If you wear dentures, the movement of dentures actually tends to accelerate jaw bone shrinkage. You may notice facial shrinkage and an aging effect, as well as loosening dentures. Other than missing teeth causing atrophy, jaw bone loss can also be caused by gum disease, oral cancer or other pathology.
Dentures that don't fit properly can affect the alignment of your chin and make your face look lopsided.
Dentures that are too short will cause the lips and cheeks to fold in creating a sunken look and improperly fitted ones can cause bone deterioration which will also change the shape of your face.
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.
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.
Dentures can, indeed, alter your face shape. But, the truth is that dentures may change your face shape for the better. It is noteworthy to remember that a custom set of dentures have the competency to restore your face to immaculate proportions and provide you with a more youthful and symmetrical appearance.
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.
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.
For most patients, bone in the jaw will regenerate in 4 to 6 months, but it can take longer in some cases.
Dentures typically cause up to 70% bone loss within the first several years of use. Partials can have similar effects. Denture prosthetics are designed to rest or ride on gum tissue and do not provide direct stimulation to the jawbone as normal teeth or implants do.
The best way to reverse facial collapse for most patients is to get the Face Lift Dentistry® Method. The source of facial collapse is directly related to the location of their jaw position and the Face Lift Dentistry® method idealizes the jaw position and reverses facial failure with support from inside the mouth.
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.
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.
Ideally, your dentures should support your lips and cheeks, but if they are too large, they can actually push your dentures outward, resulting in puffy lips and cheeks. The correct fitting of dentures can usually prevent this, but the denture flanges that go around the gums can cause puffiness for some people.
There are other restorative dentistry treatments available for eligible patients, such as dental implants and dental crowns. Those who do not qualify for those procedures may also be getting dentures. For this reason, the average age of denture-wearing patients is around 45 years old.
While many get their first set of false teeth between 40 and 49, the need to replace teeth becomes nearly universal as people age.
Because traditional dentures don't have the same vertical dimension as your teeth, your lips may become thin and flat. This loss of vertical dimension may also contribute to wrinkles around your mouth. As your features compress and the skin around your mouth folds, different types of wrinkles can form and deepen.
Shrinking jaw, bone resorption or jaw bone atrophy is the reduction of jaw bone mass over time, and a common result of long term missing teeth or denture wear. It can occur in the upper jaw (maxilla) or lower jaw (mandible). Chewing on teeth stimulates the jaw bone and keeps it in full shape.
Atrophy in the jaw can stem from a variety of causes, including tooth loss, gum disease, and certain medical conditions. Left untreated, jawbone loss can result in issues with your remaining teeth, collapse or distortion of facial features, and a range of other concerns.
Facial collapse is what happens when you lose teeth. The more teeth that are missing without proper replacement, the more the jawbone recedes. Jawbone recession decreases the support that the cheeks and lips receive, resulting in a sunken appearance in which the chin looks more pronounced or pointy.
Dentures can improve facial sagging to a limited extent because they provide some lift and support for your facial muscles. You will experience additional facial support if you receive implant dentures. You may need grafting to build up the bone to support dental implants if you have experienced jawbone shrinkage.
Because dentures rest on that gum ridge and are customized to fit its shape and size, dentures loosen as this happens, and for many patients, end up feeling too big for their mouths. What are your options if this has happened to you?
The Progression of Facial Collapse
When your teeth are missing, your body begins to resorb the bone that was used to support those teeth. Over the course of about 10-20 years the jawbone shrinks significantly. This condition is known as facial collapse.
Can you perform oral sex? Of course it is. Many people are afraid to kiss another person or perform oral sex for fear that their partner – if he or she doesn't know – will notice that they have dentures.