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My Jaw is Shrinking

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It feels like my jaw has started getting smaller. I first noticed that my dentures don’t fit as well as they used to. I may be paranoid, but when I look in the mirror, my jaw seems smaller. Is my jaw shrinking? Can it be stopped?

Macy

Dear Macy,

Before and After Facial Collapse

Wearing dentures eventually leads to facial collapse.

I wish I could tell you that you are only imagining things and there is nothing to worry about, but that is not true. Your jawbone really is shrinking. When you first had your teeth removed for dentures, it signaled to your brain there aren’t teeth there any longer.

Our bodies are remarkably efficient, so it determined without teeth roots to support, the minerals in your jawbone would be more useful elsewhere and began to resorb them. This slowly shrinks your jaw. After a number of years, there isn’t enough jawbone left to support your dentures and they’ll no longer stay in. This is known as facial collapse in dental circles and your original dentist who placed the dentures should have warned you about it.

Implant Supported Dentures—the Solution to Facial Collapse

The first thing you’ll have to do is build back any lost bone structure. This can be done with an outpatient procedure known as bone grafting. After that, you have two choices.

The first choice is to go back to wearing completely removable dentures. I don’t actually recommend this because the same cycle of bone loss will start again. However, it is an option.

The second choice is to have dental implants placed in your jaw and then anchor the dentures to them. This is known as implant supported dentures or implant overdentures. The implants in your jaw serve as the roots of your teeth, letting your body know there are teeth in place and thereby preserving your jawbone. Replacing teeth with dental implants is becoming the standard of care.

You’ll find there are lifestyle benefits as well. Your chewing capacity will greatly increase. You can go back to eating anything you want. They are easier to care for, you simply brush and floss as you would with healthy teeth. You’ll never have to take your teeth out at night.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Imam.

I Hate My Dentures

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I’ve had dentures for four months now and I still hate them. My dentist keeps saying I’ll get used to them, but I can’t. I take them out more than I wear them. I’m only 47 and I feel like I’m 70. Do I still have options or am I stuck with this?

Larry

Dear Larry,

illustration of dentures and a single dental impalnt

I’m curious as to whether or not your dentist gave you options when you first decided on getting dentures? If he didn’t, he’s done a great disservice to you, especially at your age.

While some people do get used to dentures, others never to. Even if you had gotten used to them, I think you’re better served in the long run with a different treatment plan.

The Danger of Dentures

Before and After Facial Collapse

When your teeth were removed, your body recoginized that. As a result, it thinks you no longer need the minerals in your jawbone because there aren’t any of the teeth roots left to support.

This has the unfortunate result of causing your jawbone to slowly shrink over time. Your dentures will start slipping. Eventually, you won’t have enough jawbone left to keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

Implant Overdentures: The Solution to Facial Collapse

implant overdentures

The way to prevent this is with dental implants. It puts a prosthetic tooth root into your jawbone, usually made of titanium, and then tops it with a dental crown.

It would be too costly to do a dental implant for every tooth when you’re talking about all of your teeth. Because of that, most people use implant overdentures.

These use four to six implants and secure them to a set of dentures. This has multiple benefits. First and foremost, it will prevent facial collapse. Second, it will increase your quality of life when it comes to your teeth.

With even the best fitting dentures, your chewing capacity is reduced by 50%. With implant overdentures, they’re so secure, it becomes sigificantly easier to eat.

If your dentist didn’t even warn you about this, I suggest you go to a different dentist for treatment.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Imam.