Dentures or Implants: Which Can Help with Jawbone Preservation?

If you have missing teeth, you may be wondering what your options are for replacing them. When it comes to tooth restoration, there are two popular options that many patients turn towards: dentures and dental implants. But is either one of these options ideal for preventing the jawbone deterioration that results from having lost teeth? Your dentist in Whitinsville can tell you more!

Why Missing Teeth Is Very Problematic

Believe it or not, your natural teeth are still by far the best available option at your disposal for biting and chewing food, and needless to say, having missing teeth can complicate things. But one thing that should really concern you is the impact that missing teeth can have on your jaw. As you bite and chew, pressure from your teeth is exerted downwards through their roots, where it stimulates your jaws and encourages them to grow and remain healthy. Without this stimulation, your jaws will weaken and prematurely deteriorate over time, and unfortunately, missing teeth can expedite this process.

Insufficient bone density in your jaw can cause all kinds of problems, including a gradual decrease in facial structure than eventually leads to facial collapse. It can also weaken your remaining natural teeth and cause them to fall out! By replacing missing teeth, you aren’t just restoring the look of your smile—you’re setting it up for a healthy future.

Can Dentures Prevent Bone Loss?

Dentures are ideal for patients that are missing most or all of their teeth. They’re essentially prosthetics that rely on a combination of suction, muscle control, and adhesives to stay in place. But since they aren’t permanently attached to anything inside your mouth, they sometimes have trouble remaining in place, which in turn can negatively affect your chewing power. Without a proper connection to your jawbone, they can’t offer it anything in terms of preservation, either. In fact, there’s even some research that suggests that wearing dentures can even increase bone atrophy, which results in substantial jawbone shrinkage!

Will Dental Implants Assist with Jawbone Preservation?

Dental implants, on the other hand, can effectively do everything that dentures can do and more, including preventing jawbone deterioration! The implants consist of titanium posts that are surgically embedded into your jawbone, where they’ll effectively replace the entire structure of any lost teeth. The upper portion is comprised of a crown that resembles your natural teeth in terms of look and feel. Once they’ve been implanted, they will naturally fuse with your jaw through a process called osseointegration. Not only does this ensure that the implants provide the same level of stimulation that your natural teeth would, but it also provides you with a complete smile that’s meant to last for virtually a lifetime.

If you have missing teeth that you need to replace, jawbone preservation is one factor that you should take into consideration—and while both dentures and dental implants can restore teeth, it’s the latter that will greatly prevent bone loss.

About the Practice

Whitinsville Family Dentistry has proudly served patients in the Whitinsville community under the leadership of Dr. Jason Tubo for several years. The practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of services including restorative options like dentures and dental implants. If you have any questions about either one of these treatment options or you’d like to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to visit the practice’s website or give them a call: (508) 234-8107.