Jawbone Showdown: How Dentures or Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Loss

When considering replacing missing teeth, dentures may be the first option that comes to mind. They are a tried-and-true solution that many people benefit from daily. Dentures can restore people’s confidence in their smile, but another option are dental implants. This tooth replacement treatment is just as popular and can restore the function and appearance of lost teeth.

But with two great options, which one can help with the bone loss associated with missing teeth? Read on to discover how dentures and dental implants can affect jawbone loss.

Why Does Missing Teeth Lead to Bone Loss?

While missing teeth can affect the appearance of your smile, it’s important not to overlook the impact it can have on your oral health. One of the main things it can contribute to is losing jawbone density.

Aside from helping you eat and speak, your teeth also stimulate your jaw! The pressure from biting and chewing gets sent down to the root of your teeth and into the jawbone. It encourages your body to keep sending nutrients and circulation to ensure your jaw stays strong.

When you lose a tooth, the bone that once supported the tooth’s root isn’t being stimulated. Your body starts reabsorbing the bone to use those nutrients elsewhere. It’s a natural process, but it can cause the jaw to shrink and weaken, affecting your facial structure and appearance. 

Can Dentures Help Stop Jawbone Loss?

In short, while dentures cannot prevent jawbone loss entirely, they can help reduce how quickly it takes place! If you wear them consistently and properly, pressure gets applied to your gums and jawbone. Your body can sense when you are using your jaw, and it encourages the bone tissue to stay strong. However, dentures aren’t attached directly to the jaw like natural teeth are with their roots. Since no nerves are present, the pressure the jawbone does receive is not stimulating enough to stop jawbone loss completely.

As the jawbone deteriorates and your facial structure starts to change, your dentures will start to fit improperly or get damaged. This, in turn, can affect how well they stimulate the jawbone, leading to a continuous cycle.

Can Dental Implants Help with Jawbone Loss?

One alternative to dentures are dental implants. They are placed in your jawbone just like home-grown teeth, so they can provide your jaw with natural stimulation. They are versatile and can replace one tooth or multiple. You can even attach dentures to them! Implant dentures can stimulate your jaw and provide greater stability than traditional dentures.

While most patients are good candidates for dental implants, you must have enough jawbone density for the dental implant to fuse with. If you have some bone loss that prevents you from getting dental implants right away, you can undergo a bone graft to help rebuild your jaw and set you up for successful dental implants.

However, dentures are not a bad alternative choice. They can still provide some stimulation as long as you wear them diligently, but fully replacing the missing teeth might be in your best interest! You can always discuss your options with your dentist and explore what can be done to restore your smile while maintaining a strong jaw.

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar earned his dental doctorate from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. He takes pride in serving the Denton community with compassion and care. We are proud to offer top-notch dental treatments like dental implants. Dr. Aguilar partners with local implant specialists, so you can trust that you’re getting expert care every step of the way. If you have missing teeth that you want to replace, schedule an appointment or call us at (940) 566-5332.