If you’re missing teeth, you may have heard that you are at risk of bone deterioration. This happens because your jawbone is not being stimulated by your teeth, and thus as the saying goes “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Unfortunately, bone loss can cause you to lose even more teeth, and it can make it very difficult to get dental implants. If you have significant deterioration, you may need a bone graft procedure to help restore some of the damage. This could be a requirement before getting dental implant surgery, but in some cases the deterioration may be too severe, and you may not be able to get dental implants at all.

Thankfully, if you do not have adequate bone density to support dental implants, dentures could be a viable solution. But do dentures prevent deterioration? Here’s what you need to know about dentures and your jawbone health.

Do Dentures Prevent Bone Loss?

While you will still experience some bone loss with dentures, it will be significantly less than it might if you did not replace your missing teeth at all. This is because your dentures do stimulate the jawbone when you use them to chew, though not as well as your natural teeth or dental implants might.

What About Implant Dentures?

Implant supported dentures are a hybrid between dental implants and dentures. They are secured to your jawbone in the same way as dental implants; however, they are not separate crowns, they are still attached to one larger denture.

Implant dentures can stimulate the jawbone more than traditional dentures, but not as well as dental implants.

Should I Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the gold standard in tooth replacement. They are permanent, look and feel natural, and they have many oral health benefits including preventing bone degradation. Dental implants also provide a greater biteforce than dentures, so you can enjoy more of the foods you love.

If you are missing teeth and considering dentures, rest assured that they will help you eat and speak properly all the while helping to slow the progression of bone deterioration in the jaw, so you can get back to smiling again!

About Our Practice

At Sommers Family Dentistry, we want our patients to feel like they’re part of the family, too. We offer a wide range of dental services including general exams, cosmetic procedures, and even dentures, implant dentures, and dental implants.

To schedule an appointment for a new pair of dentures, please visit our website or call us at 419-668-3606.