1)       Associated with disorders related to mal-nutrition and digestive problems.  The inability to chew food properly relates to poor food choices, inability to digest food properly

2)      Disabilities related with speech disorders and impediments.  Imagine speaking and having your teeth out!  Many people with full dentures don’t even wear their lower teeth.  And the looseness associated with both sets of dentures coming loose is a condition many have to adapt to.  Think also of the bulk of the dentures on the roof of the mouth, or the bulk of denture material constricting the tongue motion.

3)     Disabilities related to socialization—Fear of denture teeth falling out and eating in public is a very real concern for millions of denture wearers.  Any people with even a couple of teeth missing and having that “hillbilly” look is horrify to many people.  Tooth bridges, dental implant, full and complete dentures rectify these concerns most of the time—but all have limitations.

4)     Disabilities relating to esthetics—this could be an entire article in itself.  Besides the ‘hillbilly look” and the stigma of lower socio-economic status.  Teeth loose also causes the front teeth to eventually and progressive flare out.  This is commonly associated with the ‘dumb look.”  Look at how comedians portray this!

5)      Neurological problems.  A recent article in Neurology magazine wows correlation between denture paste and neurologic problems.

6)      Lower mobility—Yes—there are additional correlation between edentulism and tooth loss and mobility.  Poor nutrition probable plays the greatest threat here.

There are limits in all tooth replacements.  Certainly the advantages and disadvantages to all types of replacements such as dental crowns, dental bridges, partial and full dentures.  Dental implant crowns, dental implant bridges, and implant supported or retained dentures are more advanced tooth replacements options.  The implant option is more costly, but has the advantage of comfort and greater security.
Dr. Gibbs shares this information for his patient and people in the Glen Ellyn, Wheation area (Chicago area). He may be located contacted at 603-858-8800, or at his Glen Ellyn dentist website or Google page for Glen Ellyn Wheaton dentist.

When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone begins to wither away, causing a loss in facial height, a change in the chin cress, and a “weak” look as the bones become smaller.

Even more disturbing is the sunken cheeks that result from tooth loss and dentures.

Dental Implants-Aging Face

This sinking in of the cheeks is not from the loss of the physical mass of the teeth, it is from the atrophy of the facial muscles, the loss of bone, and the subsequent loss of facial height.  And, unlike some people may believe, these changes are not normally reversible with the simple addition of “bulkier” dentures.

Will Your Cheeks Sink In?

Even more disturbing is the sunken cheeks that result from tooth loss and dentures.  THIS SINKING IN OF THE CHEEKS IS NOT FROM THE LOSS OF THE PHYSICAL MASS OF THE TEETH, BUT FROM THE ATROPHY OF THE FACIALMUSCLES, THE LOSS OF BONE, AND SUBSEQUENT FACIAL HEIGHT.  It is not normally reversible with the simple addition of “bulkier” dentures.

The use of dental implants can increase chewing ability and the help regain the tone of the facial muscles,  The use of dental implant bridges, all on four dental bridges, teeth in a day dentures, and dental implant crowns allow patients to chew  AND smile again in confidence!

As addressed earlier, statistics support that there are numerous health problems including digestive disorders and malnutrition with toothless patients.  Likewise, the patient must adapt to an entirely new life insofar as eating is concerned:  Food will taste different as the patient loses taste buds from the roof of the mouth and the ability to enjoy the texture and even the thermal sensations of the food is diminished.  Gagging is also a potential problem that should be addressed.

While tooth loss may seem like a small problem compared with other health and fitness issues, it is often the first sign of much greater health problems for many people.  Tooth loss can possibly even put a patient at higher risk for oral cancer, dementia, and systemic diseases, and may even contribute to decreased mobility and a shortened life span.

Dementia The American Dental Association (Oct. 2007) released results from an astonishing study conducted through the National Institute of Health.  The study found that people with no teeth or very few teeth had a higher rate of dementia.  This study is the first of its kind to shed some light onto a troublesome disease affecting today’s aging population.

At this point the exact link is unclear.  Based on their findings, however, some possible theories were suggested.  One was the impact and damage from gum disease (resulting in tooth loss) and it’s affects on the brain. Another possible cause of the link was the inability to properly chew food for optimal nutrition.

Digestion begins in the mouth, with the teeth and mouth working together to break down food.  While dentures may be considered a replacement for teeth, they do not have the same chewing strength and function as normal teeth.  Dentures, unfortunately, can greatly decrease a person’s ability to chew food, which, in turn decreases digestive efficiency and increases the possibility of malnutrition.

When compared to natural teeth, statistics indicate that there is 32% less chewing efficiency with replacements in the form of dentures.   The average bite force in the first molar area (chewing teeth), registered 150 to 250 PSI (pounds per square inch) with electronic strain gauge studies with natural teeth.  This is in comparison to replacement dentures registering at 50 PSI in the first year of tooth loss. This loss in biting and chewing efficiency progressively drops to 4 to 10 PSI after 10 years. In other words, dentures can only partially restore chewing function and that function will continue to decrease over time.

What about “Partial Dentures?”

Removable partial dentures are dentures that are supported with hooks or clasps to surrounding teeth.  While they are an alternative to full dentures in some cases, a patient still faces many of the same challenges and potential problems.  In addition to speech and taste inhibition and bone loss associated with full dentures, there is also the possibility of increased decay and mobility of the remaining teeth with partial dentures.  Increased bleeding of the gum tissues is also a concern..

Research has shown that the tooth holding a partial denture in place only lasts for about five years.  The partial may also end up resting on the tooth (or teeth) which can put excessive force on both the tooth itself and the bone supporting the tooth.

The partial may also rock and act like a lever on the retaining tooth (as the bone continues to shrink away) causing the tooth to be torqued out of place.  This action can also weaken the bone or weaken the filling present in the anchor tooth.

“I think anybody will tell you that tooth loss can be upsetting,” says Shirley Brown DMD, PhD, a dentist who practiced for 25 years before moving into psychology full-time.  Researchers have reported diminished feelings of masculinity or femininity, impending doom; or fear that other people will feel that they will be perceived as older by others, feeling that they have aged, or that they have diminished strength and vitality, and are depressed.  When it comes to younger people, “tooth loss can be harder,” says Dr. Brown, “because they consider it to be ‘abnormal.”

There are also a number of concomitant social concerns reported by patients who wear dentures:

Dentures coming loose or “flying out”

Traditional dentures ‘float’ on the gums.  Sometimes just a sudden movement, such as laughing, coughing or sneezing, will dislodge them.

Denture  adhesives

Adhesives are necessary to help keep dentures in place.  Not only does denture adhesive taste bad, it interferes with the taste and enjoyment of food.  Research has shown that denture adhesive may also contribute to nervous system problems.

Facial changes

Wrinkles occur from loss of bone and tissue surrounding the teeth.  This bone is necessary to support the delicate muscles of the face.  Many people think these facial changes with tooth loss are the result of loss of mass with the tooth loss.  The reality is however that most of the change is the atrophy, or wasting, of the mass of facial muscles that is associated with lower biting ability.  People with dentures often chew with a little as 5% of their original biting force–no wonder they chew through common foods!

With proper restoration, usually with dental implant supported bridges, implant overdentures, or implanted retained dentures, thesechanges can be dramatically improved.

Eating at restaurants

Patients often report that they are fearful about the ability to actually chew food.  This can be difficult to deal with in front of friends and loved ones, especially in social situations or public places.

Pain

Ill-fitting dentures can rub against tender gum tissues causing painful sores or lesions.

Lower self-esteem

Statistics have shown that patients who wear dentures have greater feelings of reduced beauty, a diminished sense of well-being, and lower self-confidence.

And consider these alarming facts:

• 20% of edentulous (without teeth) patients don’t wear both removable dentures all the time.
• 7% of edentulous patients are not able to wear their dentures at all.
• 88% of denture wearers have difficulty with speech.
• 62.5% of mandibular (lower) denture wearers had awareness of denture movement while speaking.
• 50% of denture wearers avoided certain foods.
• 17% of denture wearers masticated better without prosthesis.
• 16.5% of mandibular denture wearers NEVER wear their denture.

Guided surgery does involve additional costs but clearly has many benefits.   This type of implant placement is especially used where there is minimal bony support for the dental implants, where multiple implants need to be placed, cases where the sinus has to be raised (sinus lift), implant supported bridges, implant supported overdentures or dentures, “all-on-four”, teeth in an hour restorations, and generally any more complicated procedure.

Please contact our office for addtional questions at LiveWithoutDentures.com, or at 630-858-8800.  Also look at our other dental impalnt blog, Wheaton dental implant site, or other Glen Ellyn dental implant site.

1)   Bereavement—the feeling of loss was often as severe as the feeling of losing a spouse or child!

2)  Lowered self esteem—many people felt lower personal value as they had “gone down the socio-economic scale”!

3)   Altered self confidence—this was most dramatic in people losing all the teeth or getting partial or full dentures.  The loss of self confidence was evenmore pronounced one to years after.
4)  Inability to discuss this “taboo” subject—This goes across the back drop of lower self esteem and fear of social situations.
5)  Behaving in way that keeps the tooth loss secret—many reported holing their hand over their mouth or changing the way they smile.  Some reported even refusing to smile in public.
6)  Altered behavior in socializing and close relationships—again, changing their ability to smile.  Not eating in public was found in many people as they reported fear of food getting between the teeth, or even worse having false teeth come lose while eating or speaking.
7)  Premature aging—this feeling that they had aged “before their time” was common in the group, and was greater as the number of teeth was larger.
Wow!  Losing teeth is more than the cost of extractions and replacement.  Dentistry has so many ways to replace missing.  Dental bridges, dental crowns, dental implants, partial dentures, and even full dentures can replace missing teeth.  The advances in dental implants especially can permanently correct the tooth loss problem.