posted: Dec. 16, 2021.
Are you considering getting dentures but are concerned about the possible changes to your appearance? Your dentists in Neenah, WI, Dr. James Kramer, and Dr. Stephanie Kramer of Kramer Family Dentistry can explain the changes you can expect and help you explore your denture options.
How your teeth affect your appearance
Missing teeth not only affect the way your smile looks but may also cause other changes in your appearance. The roots of your teeth constantly press on your jawbone, keeping the bone strong and healthy. When teeth are lost, the bone may begin to shrink due to lack of stimulation.
Your teeth and jawbone support the muscles in your face. After tooth loss, the muscles may begin to sag, causing the skin to wrinkle. Tooth loss can also cause your lips to sink in and your chin to protrude.
Replacing your teeth with dentures can help you avoid dramatic changes to your face although you may still notice some degree of facial sagging or wrinkling.
Dentures can help you avoid troubling changes
Proper denture fit is the key to protecting your appearance. If your dentures are too big or short, your face might look puffy. Dentures that don't fit properly can affect the alignment of your chin and make your face look lopsided.
During your visit to the Neenah, WI, dental office, your dentist will help you find dentures that fit well and enhance your appearance. If you have some tooth remnants left, dentures that fit over the remnants might be a good option. The roots of the remnants will continue to stimulate your jawbone and help decrease shrinking.
Full dentures offer an excellent option if you've lost all of your teeth, but they aren't the only choice. You may also want to consider implant-supported dentures. These dentures are connected to small titanium posts placed in your jawbone. The posts bond to your jawbone just like natural tooth roots do.
Implant-supported dentures can:
- Keep Your Jawbone Strong: The stimulation provided by the implants reduces jawbone shrinkage.
- Make Chewing Easier:Implants offer excellent biting power.
- Improve Comfort: Since your dentures are securely anchored to your jawbone, they won't slip or slide when you eat or speak.
Would you like to find out if dentures are a good option for you? Call your Neenah, WI, dentists, Dr. James Kramer, and Dr. Stephanie Kramer of Kramer Family Dentistry, at (920) 725-2533 to schedule an appointment.
FAQs
When you wear complete dentures, and all your natural teeth are missing, bone shrinkage occurs. A lack of bone to support your facial muscles can affect your face shape. Additionally, dentures rest on your jawbone and make the bone shrink faster.
Can dentures reshape your face? ›
Yes, your face may change slightly with dentures – however, with high-quality and well-fitted dentures the appearance of your face will likely improve… Dentures change your face and combat ageing by: Reducing lines around the mouth and face. Increasing fullness of the lips.
How long does it take for your face to adjust to dentures? ›
Thirty days after the dental procedure, most denture wearers will find that the eating process is a little more normal; they can eat most foods again, and chewing is more manageable. You'll also be able to talk normally as you get used to how the dentures fit, and you're no longer producing more saliva than usual.
Will dentures help my sagging face? ›
Although some dentures do not prevent this, implant-supported dentures can. A receding jaw can cause a person's chin and nose to be closer together, changing the entire structure of the face. Dentures will help keep the jaw lower and prevent this from happening. This will promote a more natural look.
Will dentures age my face? ›
Your jaw will no longer close as it did, so this will affect your bite. You'll also experience a “loss of vertical dimension” -- which is when the distance between your chin and nose shortens. Bone loss in your jaw may also create the look of a sunken face -- which can cause your wrinkles to deepen.
How can I avoid sunken face with dentures? ›
5 Ways to Keep Your Face from Shrinking with Dentures
- 1 – Supporting Dentures with Teeth. If you don't remove all your teeth, you're not going to experience as much bone loss. ...
- 2 – Implant Dentures. ...
- 3 – Improve Denture Fit. ...
- 4 – Get Good Nutrition. ...
- 5 – Wear Your Dentures Less.
When dentures are too big, they can make your lips and cheeks look too puffy. On the other hand, too short dentures may cause the cheeks and lips to fold. Although properly fitted dentures can reduce the puffy look, some patients may still experience the side effect of denture flanges that fit snugly around the gums.
Do dentures ever feel normal? ›
New denture wearers will begin to feel more 'normal' after about 30 days. During this time, you can expect to have some soreness and discomfort as your mouth heals and you become accustomed to having a foreign object in your mouth.
How long does it take to talk normally with dentures? ›
How Long Does It Take to Talk Normally After Dentures? Denture wearers can talk and eat normally after 15–30 days of getting their new dentures.
What happens to your face if you don't wear your dentures? ›
Regularly wearing dentures supports your facial muscles, helping maintain your face's natural shape. When you don't wear dentures, your facial muscles may start to sag, causing an aged appearance.
From the outside, facial collapse presents as a face that is shriveled, with sunken cheeks and a protruding chin. It causes you to look much older than you otherwise would.
Do dentures affect jawline? ›
Improper denture fit
The improper fit of dentures can lead to problems, including an underbite and overbite. This is caused by resorption of the jawbone, which can cause facial drooping. This occurs particularly in the back part of the jaw, where less bone material supports the lower jaw.
Do dentures make your lips look smaller? ›
Dentures replace your teeth, but they don't replace all the support your teeth provide. Because traditional dentures don't have the same vertical dimension as your teeth, your lips may become thin and flat. This loss of vertical dimension may also contribute to wrinkles around your mouth.
What is the best age to get dentures? ›
Complete dentures are more prevalent in those above the age of 45. They're often used for those who have lost many teeth and suffer from periodontl disease. However, keep in mind that dentures can be a solution for anyone. In some cases, dentists may recommend them for people in their 30s or even 20s.
What is a good age to get dentures? ›
Studies reveal that people over the age of 40 are most likely to get dentures. Only 33.6 percent of people between the ages of 40 and 64 do not suffer from teeth loss. As such, dentures become an indispensable part of a person's life once they cross the 40-year-old threshold.
What dentures make you look younger? ›
FOY® Dentures not only help you look younger when they're first made–they're designed to help you look younger for longer. Traditional dentures can create pinch points that accelerate bone loss. FOY® Dentures balance the forces in your mouth, eliminating those pinch points. FOY® Dentures are also highly durable.
Can dentures change your smile? ›
My Smile Is Slanted
Improperly fitted dentures and general wear can cause dentures to appear slanted or crooked in your mouth, causing people to notice your smile – and not in a good way. If your smile looks lopsided or slanted, it's time for new dentures.
Does your jaw shrink with dentures? ›
Chewing on teeth stimulates the jaw bone and keeps it in full shape. However loss of teeth leads to lack of stimulation, causing bone shrinkage. If you wear dentures, the movement of dentures actually tends to accelerate jaw bone shrinkage.
What are facelift dentures? ›
cosmetic Dentures Give You a Facelift
The principle behind Cosmetic Face-Lift Dentures is simple: replacing teeth in their youthful proportion will make you look more youthful. In our custom designed individualised Dentures, your teeth are given their original height.
