Ja w Bo n e& Den tu res
Q. “My dentist says relining my lower denture again won’t help because it’s my jaw bone that’s causing the problem. What’s my jaw bone got to do w ith my denture?” A. The ridge your denture rests on is your lower jaw bone covered over with gum tissue. When your denture was first made, it was shaped to the contours of this bone ridge. After adding some denture adhesive or paste, I image the fit was fairly secure when it was new.
What has occurred , how-ever, is bone loss, or ‘resorption.’ This is when the bone shrinks in height and width, which is a result of missing tooth roots. Without tooth roots, the jaw no longer has the stimu-lation n eed ed to m a in ta in a healthy mass. Therefore, res orp tion beg in s an d causes the bone ridge to flatten out.
The pressure of wearing dentures on the jawbone actually accelerates the rate of bone loss. For those who sleep in their dentures, bone resorption occurs at a faster rate due to pressure on a 24/7 basis. In addition to an ill-fitting den ture, this bone loss leads to many problems.
Eating with a loose den-ture is difficult since the action of chewing causes the denture to move around. This leads to sore spots on the gums and causes many people to resort to a diet of soft foods that dissolve easily in the mouth. This typically means that they sacrifice the fresh fruits and vegetables that are needed for adequate fiber, vitamins and minerals .
Protein rich meats and nuts are often eliminated from one’s diet when a denture isn’t secure. Chewing meats becomes difficult, even in small bites. Small pieces of nuts tend to become trapped under the denture and pierce tender gum tissue. Seeds from foods like strawberries and kiwi fruits often caused is com fort when caught between the denture and gums.
It is a fact that those who wear dentures have more gastrointestinal problem s tha n people who have their natural teeth. It is also true that denture wearers eat out less often and become less socially involved. Since many gatherings with friends and family involve food, it’s obvious why denture wearers may a void these occasions.
Bone loss also leads to changes in facial appearance. Remove your den-ture and look in the mirror for a true picture of the extent of your bone resorption . You will likely see deep wrinkles around your mouth, a mouth that has a sunken -in appearance, and corners of the mouth that turn downward even when you smile.
In cases of severe bone loss, you may notice your chin looks pointed, jowls have formed from detachment of facial muscles and the lower portion of your face has a collapsed appearance. As long as you wear dentures, your situation will not improve and will continually worsen with time. Dental implants halt bone loss and restore your ability to eat a healthy diet and chew comfortably. Today, there are even den-tal implant systems designed for those who have experienced severe bone loss.
Even though your jawbone can no longer sup port your lower denture, adequate bone to support dental implants could definitely be present. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible for an examination. I examine patients often who think their jawbone is too thin to support dental implants, but many times sufficient bone is still present. You can have your questions answered and learn which implant types will work bes t for you . Call (501) 262·4010 or visit www.Atkinsonimplants.com.