Dentists recommend that after losing one or more teeth, patients should inquire about replacement options to prevent what is known as dental drift. This occurs when healthy teeth shift to fill in a gap, ultimately causing misalignment. However, many individuals postpone treatment oftentimes because of cost, indifference, or lack of time. Is it possible, though, for too much time to pass that replacement is no longer an option? Keep reading to discover if dentures can help after spending years with a toothless grin.
Forgoing Treatment: What Could Go Wrong?
Choosing to forgo or dismiss tooth replacement after losing a tooth or having one removed may not seem like a big deal; however, it can pose significant problems over time. An incomplete smile not only impacts your ability to eat certain foods, but it can also inhibit your speech and aesthetics.
More importantly, your oral and overall health can suffer, especially if your natural, healthy teeth begin to shift out of alignment. Dental drift can lead to enamel erosion, jaw pain, and other serious oral health problems if left untreated. It’s often why many patients require orthodontics.
What Happens After Tooth Loss?
One of the main reasons dentists urge tooth replacement after any kind of removal or loss is the reality of jawbone resorption.
Tooth roots are designed to stimulate the underlying bone, which helps to keep this area of the mouth and face dense and supportive. When a tooth is missing or removed, it no longer delivers what the jawbone needs. As a result, it will begin to weaken over time, causing other nearby teeth to loosen and fall out.
Are Dentures the Answer?
If you’re tired of looking in the mirror to see an incomplete smile staring back at you, your dentist may be able to provide customized dentures in Westminster.
Although not permanent like dental implants, these removable prosthetics allow you to resume a normal, healthy lifestyle, eating the foods you love and no longer feeling embarrassed by slurred speech.
Crafted to fit comfortably inside your mouth, these prosthetics can be constructed as a full (complete) denture or partial depending on how many teeth you are missing. With a gum-colored acrylic base and artificial teeth, dentures can restore the visual appearance you desire as well as make daily living easier and more enjoyable.
All you need for a partial denture is healthy abutment teeth for the metal clasps to attach to. If it’s a full denture you need, natural suction and adhesive can help hold it in place more firmly.
Don’t assume you’re out of luck if you’ve been without a full set of teeth for years. Checking with your dentist to see if you’re eligible for dentures is the most effective way to put your smile on the right track for a healthier future.
About the Author
Dr. Joanne Bancroft has been practicing dentistry since 2003. Earning her dental degree from the State University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2002, she completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Providing durable and lifelike dentures for patients suffering from tooth loss, she and her team can rebuild smiles to look beautiful and function with ease. If you would like to discuss your eligibility for dentures, contact us at (720) 458-6561 to learn more!