Slipping dentures are a dental patient’s worst nightmare. It’s hard to talk and eat – not to mention embarrassing!
Jaw bone loss causes dentures to slip when talking or eating, and affects the overall skeletal structure of the face. Jaw bone loss changes the profile, and can also result in thin lips, drooping muscles, and jowls. If that wasn’t bad enough, exposed nerves and irritation of the gum tissue can create constant pain and discomfort for denture patients.
Dental implants are an increasingly popular option for tooth replacement and eliminate the pain and discomfort of removable dentures. Dental implants are like natural teeth because they are anchored securely to your jawbone.
“It is as if dental implants “trick” the bone into thinking the tooth is still present,” says Dr. Mark Zajkowski of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in South Portland, Maine. “Dental implants have been proven not only to stop bone loss, but they can also help restore the health of the jaw. Patients are always happy to report that they feel more youthful after making the switch and no one knows they have a replacement tooth!”
Generally, if you are healthy enough for routine dental treatment, you are probably a candidate for dental implant treatment. If you have missing teeth, talk to your dentist about dental implants. You can eliminate the numerous embarrassing inconveniences of dentures, prevent bone loss, and smile, talk and eat with confidence!
