Hello, Dr. Matheson here from Matheson Dentistry to discuss dentures and why they are not acceptable long-term solutions. While dentures may be a quick fix and an affordable option, the long-term issues are a hassle. Dentures are not very functional. Oftentimes, they can be painful and will eventually affect your quality of life. I'm going to share with you three reasons why dentures are not a long-term fix for your tooth loss problem.
Reason number one why dentures are not a long-term solution
Dentures are simply resting on your gums and are not actually attached to your jaw. Your teeth are now plastic, and your chewing efficiency is reduced by up to 80%. While chewing, your dentures may rock back and forth, with gums being pressurized in different areas. It's really hit or miss whether your teeth will come together at the same time, and as you can imagine, chewing food becomes incredibly difficult.
Our culture loves food, and a lot of socializing and events revolve around eating. People with dentures often find it challenging to go out to eat; instead of ordering what they would want or enjoy most, they settle for what they can eat with their dentures. Then there's the trips to the bathroom to clean, adjust, and glue the dentures back in. It can be uncomfortable and sometimes a humiliating experience, and, as mentioned earlier, it can create social isolation and even depression.
Lack of nutrition is also a concern. When you eliminate foods from your diet and the amount you consume is decreased due to the inability to chew easily, you reduce your intake of important vitamins and minerals. If you can no longer eat healthy raw foods like carrots, broccoli, apples, and almonds, you're missing out on some vital sources of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants such as magnesium, potassium, fiber, and so on. You could blend these into a smoothie, but then you won't be chewing your foods, and a lack of chewing pressure on the bone leads to resorption. Over time, this denture-induced bone resorption can make it difficult to have dental implants placed without prior extensive bone grafting procedures.
Another reason why dentures are not a long-term solution
It'll take some time to get used to having so much plastic in your mouth. If you've ever worn an orthodontic retainer, you might recall how difficult it was to speak without a lisp. Over time, maybe you got used to it, but chances are you never got comfortable or even had a normal conversation wearing them. Denture wearers find themselves speaking more slowly and even avoiding conversation. This is no way to live. This is especially hard on older patients who already have social challenges as they age and struggle with feelings of depression and loneliness.
In addition to lisping and whistling whenever you say your s's, the upper denture that fits into the upper palate is bulky, and it has to be to create a suction cup effect and prevent breakage when chewing. Due to this, it can be very uncomfortable and often affect how you eat, taste, and enjoy foods. The taste elements like sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are sacrificed because taste sensors are covered up by the denture. If you're a big foodie like me, this may be a dealbreaker. If you are experiencing these difficulties, you should think about having implants placed to support better nutrition and taste.
Bone loss is one of the biggest problems with dentures
Without teeth attached to the jaw, there's no healthy force to maintain its structure, and it eventually begins to shrink or atrophy. Instead of teeth crushing the food, there's only plastic sitting on top of the gums that's only able to mush food up. Consider people who have been in a cast and haven't moved their arm for a while. After the cast is removed, the arm, being out of compression for a few months, shrinks and atrophies due to the lack of use. That's exactly what happens with your jaw when it doesn't have teeth or implants to keep the jaw moving and functioning properly.
The reduction of bone loss can be as high as 50 or 60% in the first year and continues to decline each year. This is also why the face over time shrinks and the cheeks fall in, and wrinkles around the mouth become more prominent. Another thing to note is that there is no palate on the lower denture to make room for the tongue, so there's no suction cup effect like there is with the upper denture. When the bone and tissue shrink and there's nothing for the lower denture to be supported by, the tissues become incredibly sore, and often patients will stop wearing their lower denture altogether.
Eventually, dentures will need to be refitted and continue to be refitted, adding more plastic to make up for the reduction of bone tissue and volume. There just isn't enough surface area for the denture to attach to, no matter how much glue is applied. The only way to significantly slow bone loss, eat, look, and feel normal again is with dental implants.
Thanks for watching. If you'd like to learn more, contact us here at Matheson Dentistry and check out our other videos.
I hope this has helped you understand the short and long-term effects dentures have on your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you find yourself in a place where you might lose your teeth, I hope you'll consider what we talked about and whether the risks and long-term complications of dentures are worth it.