STOP THE BONE LOSS THAT LEADS TO PREMATURE AGING!!
Losing one or more of your teeth starts a chain of events that can have dire physical and cosmetic consequences. The most obvious result is a gap in your smile. Less obvious is the loss of chewing function and the inability to eat a complete diet that can result from tooth loss. While these are certainly serious issues, a potentially bigger problem lies hidden beneath the surface: BONE LOSS.
Your jawbone needs the chewing action of the teeth to stimulate it and keep it strong. Otherwise it will begin to disappear(atrophy) in the same manner that the unused muscles beneath a cast supporting a broken bone get smaller. Without the support of your teeth and facial bones, your face will begin to look prematurely aged. This is what creates the commonly called "witch's chin". The good news is that tooth replacement with dental implants offers a solution to help prevent bone loss. Dental implants help to prevent your bone from "melting away".
The Truth About Dentures
"The first day the denture goes in is the last day of health for the jaw bone. It only gets worse from there--guaranteed."
A word of warning to the denture wearer: One of the things that is seldom shared with the denture client is that there will always come a day when no denture can be satisfactorily made or worn due to the deteriorated condition of the jaw. When that day comes, the only potential way to get teeth again is with major bone grafting procedures (if it's even at all possible at that point). It is best to avoid ever reaching this point in life by having implants placed well before the day of needing major bone grafting arrives. This is now one of the biggest challenges we encounter in dentistry. This is hands down the most common reason for poor fitting dentures especially on the lower jaw.
