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Losing teeth can be difficult. It can affect your self-esteem, your abilities to chew or speak, and it can even impact your health. Dentures have long been a good replacement for missing teeth. Dentures are a prosthesis that can come in a full size to restore an entire mouth of teeth or they can come as a partial fitted to replace certain missing teeth. Technology has advanced dentures far past the those of the lore of George Washington. (Though historians say that his dentures were not made of wood, but some were made of gold, ivory, lead, and even animal teeth.) Dentures of today are more comfortable and realistic, but even with the best fit, they can begin to shift over time. 

Missing teeth changes your jawbone

Your tooth stimulates your jawbone with its roots and nerves. Without this stimulation, your body believes the jawbone is no longer in use and begins taking the minerals of the bone (a process called resorption). Resorption of the jawbone causes the bone to soften. As it softens, it will change shape, collapse, and shrink. While your dentures may have fit perfectly at one point, they cannot morph to match the changes in the jaw.

Dental implants stimulate the bone

Dental implants replace the roots of your tooth and will stimulate the bone. This will prevent resorption and ultimately it will prevent your jawbone from changing shape. The implants will also provide stability and a permanence for the dentures. If you have had missing teeth for many years without implants, your bone tissue may not be strong enough for traditional implants. Your dentist may be able to secure your dentures with mini dental implants or MDI Denture Stabilization System.

Discuss the best way to secure your dentures with your dentist

Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris of Mansfield Dentist Associates in Mansfield, TX can help you feel more secure with your dentures. Call our office today at (817) 473-6227 to schedule a consultation. We treat patients from the Mansfield, South Arlington, Kennedale, Southeast Ft. Worth, Alvarado, and Midlothian areas.