It’s A New Age In Tooth Replacement

Posted on Jul 07, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

When it comes to tooth replacement, I am naturally a proponent of Dental Implants for many reasons. For some people, their only hesitation is the cost, since the fees for implants are upfront and may not be fully covered by insurance. However, Dental Implants are designed to last a lifetime and require no repairs, root canals, and are self-supporting. This means that implants do not rely on adjoining natural teeth to serve as crowned supports, as with a crown-&-bridge combination.

Americans no longer wash clothes on a wash board with a bar of soap even though this accomplished the job much cheaper than a washing machine. The washing machine provides more efficiency and gives the user a far better experience while being more practical for today’s fabrics.

Althought dentures and partials replace the presence of teeth, they are a merely filling empty space. At one time, they were better than no teeth at all. They enabled an adult to have some ability to bite or chew. However, denture wearers endure all sorts of problems; some problems they are aware of and others they are not.

A typical problem of denture wearers is an unstable fit. This is the result of the ever-decreasing jaw bone that once supported natural tooth roots. Without tooth roots to stimulate the jaw bone, the bone begins to shrink. The pressure from wearing dentures speeds up this process. When denture wearers sleep in their dentures, the rate of this bone loss accelerates from the 24/7 pressure the jaw bone experiences.

This is the reason long-time denture wearers develop a “granny look.” Their faces have a collapsed look and chins become pointed. Jowls form when facial muscles become detached and the entire face takes on an aged appearance far beyond the actual years of the person.

When one dentures do not fit securely due to bone loss, the constant rubbing and discomfort often causes the wearer to eat a soft diet of foods that dissolves easily in the mouth. These foods often lack protein and fiber. Not only is what you eat important to maintaining good health, being able to chew thoroughly and comfortably is important. Remember, digestion begins in the mouth. It is a fact that denture wearers experience a higher level of gastrointestinal problems than non-denture wearers and take more medications.

Because food is often the centerpiece of many social occasions, people who are not comfortable eating or speaking because of unstable dentures often find themselves declining invitations because they fear embarrassing moments. Studies have shown they tend to eat out less often and even wear less make-up.

Regardless of the advancements made in denture and partial design, they are simply outdated. No denture adhesive or paste or reline will truly make a denture a good substitute for natural teeth. Dental advancements have focused on implant dentistry because they have proven to be a dependable, reliable means of tooth replacement that makes sense.

Let’s talk about your needs in tooth replacement during a Consultation appointment. Just call (828) 274-9440 for a convenient time.