Tooth Loss and Implants
First, we need to establish two facts about tooth loss and tooth implants:
- Tooth implants are not merely cosmetic procedures
- Tooth implants are valuable for the aged as well as the younger adult
Both of these facts run counter to what many people believe, but to help more fully understand the value of tooth implant technology, we need to first look at tooth loss. There is a relationship between the tooth roots, bones, and facial structures. The bones hold the roots of the teeth in place, and the roots hold the bone in place. This means that when teeth are lost, the bone that supported the teeth has no remaining function and, believe it or not, it begins to "melt" away, or "resorb."
Complete tooth loss causes wide-spread deterioration of the jaw's bone structures, leading to collapsed facial profiles, lost lip support, dramatic increase of skin-wrinkles around the mouth, and the appearance of a pointed nose and chin that are too close together--picture the "wicked witch of the north" stereotype, because, infact, it is called "witch's beak." In effect the lower third of the face collapses as the bone "melts" away. Smiling and laughing become increasingly difficult. Eating becomes a problem and nutritional and/or digestive problems often follow.
Worse news follows: wearing dentures actually to accelerate the bone loss, thus making the effects come on more rapidly. That's why the dentures msut be relined, or made thicker--the bone they rest upon is going away. Because of this, dentures, fitted correctly at one point, often cause pain, sore spots on the gums, and bad breath. At some point, adhesives become necessary as there is not sufficient bone structure left to hold the dentures in place properly. For more on dentures, see below.
Full Dentures
Full dentures have problems:
- As explained above, they accelerate bone loss
- They compromise the integrity of the facial structures
- Unattractive changes in facial appearance visibly accelerate the look of aging
- As explained above, they cause pain, sore spots on the gums, and "denture breath."
- As explained above, they require relining and often require the use of adhesive.
- With dentures comes the inability to eat certain foods--especially high-fiber foods. With this comes nutritional and digestive problems.
- When dentures move or fall out they can cause real embarrassment in social situations.
Front Tooth Loss and Traditional Bridges
With anterior (front) tooth loss, the traditional "replacement" has been a bridge. Unfortunately, this has drawbacks:
- The bone "melts away" or collapses where the tooth root is missing.
- After a time, the melted-away bone becomes visible, apparant, and difficult to hide
- Bridges require that adjacent teeth be ground into "pegs" to fit and cement in place
- As cement washes out, the teeth under the bridge often decay.
- If a bridge fails, additional teeth are often ground into pegs to give it more support.
Back Tooth Loss and Partial Dentures
With posterior (back) tooth loss, the traditional "replacement" has been a set of partial dentures. Unfortunately, this has drawbacks:
- Opposing teeth will drop down or shift into the gap created by the missing teeth.
- The Anterior teeth will flare outward
- The cheeks cave in and the corners of the mouth droop
- Jaw height is lost and pain the the TM joints can result
- Wearing partial dentures, like full dentures, accelerates bone loss.
- The partials are held in by hooking them on other, natural teeth. Eventually, this lossens those natural teeth.
- Partials tend to be uncomfortable.
- The partial may rock when you eat--thus pinching the gums.
- The partial will require relining as the bone it rests upon melts away
- The partial normally requires replacement every 3-5 years
Advantages of Implant-Supported Replacement Teeth
"Implant-supported" means that a piece of metal is permanently attached to the bone structure where the tooth (teeth) is missing. Then a replacement tooth made of long-lasting dental material is attached to the metal pin. There are very definite advantages to this methodology:
- Bone loss/deterioration is all but stopped.
- Integrity of the facial structures is maintained
- Wrinkles caused by the bone melting away are practically stopped
- Lost lip support is restored
- Comfort is restored
- Eating ability is restored so that nutrition and health are maintained.
- The replacement teeth will not move around or fall out so they don't
- cause pain, sore spots on the gums, and "denture breath."
- fall out and cause embarrassment in social situations
- No relining is required and the replacement teeth will normally last a very long time.
See more on our page about
complete lower tooth replacement.
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Phone 205-854-7448
Suite 100
2500 Center Point Road
Center Point, AL 35215
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