Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is Better for Preventing Bone Loss?

Missing teeth is an epidemic; it’s estimated that nearly 70% of US adults between the ages of 35 to 44 are missing at least one of their teeth! And perhaps the biggest problem with missing teeth is that it usually leads to additional missing teeth, which can cause all sorts of health problems including bone loss in your jaw! But if you have missing teeth, which treatment options are capable of restoring your lost pearly whites and ensuring jawbone preservation? Keep reading to learn more about dentures and dental implants, and why the latter is the best option for preventing bone loss.

How Can Missing Teeth Lead to Bone Loss?

Your teeth are by far the best available tools at your disposal for chewing and eating food. But chewing isn’t just the first step of the digestive process; it’s also essential for providing stimulation to your jaws! As you bite and chew, the pressure that’s exerted travels downwards through the roots of your teeth and stimulates your jaws, encouraging them to grow and remain healthy. But without this stimulation, your jaws can weaken and prematurely deteriorate—and missing teeth will expedite this! Insufficient bone density in your jaw can lead to all sorts of problems, including a gradual decrease in your facial structure that leads to facial collapse, as well as losing additional teeth.

Can Dentures Preserve your Jawbone?

Simply put, dentures are artificial teeth and gums, and they’re a very popular solution for people who are missing many or all of their teeth. They rely on a combination of adhesives, muscle control, and suction to stay in place on your jaws. However, since they aren’t permanently attached to anything in your mouth, they can easily slip and slide around and negatively impact your chewing power. This also means that since they aren’t properly anchored to your jaw, dentures offer nothing in terms of jawbone preservation. There is even some research that suggests wearing dentures can even increase bone atrophy, which results in substantial jawbone shrinkage.

Are Dental Implants the Better Option for Jawbone Preservation?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth roots, and fortunately, they can do everything that dentures can do, and more! Once they’re implanted, they will naturally fuse with your jaw in a process called osseointegration. This results in unmatched durability and longevity, while also providing you with a complete, beautiful smile. But the best part is that since the implants fully mimic your natural teeth, from the root to the crown, they’re also able to provide adequate jawbone preservation.

If you have missing teeth, it’s a problem worth addressing—and dental implants are the best option for doing so, especially since they’re also able to preserve your jawbone. Talk with your dentist if you’re ready to replace those lost pearly whites and enhance the look and feel of your smile for the foreseeable future.

About the Practice

The Dental Smile Center is honored to serve patients and families in the Van Nuys area under the leadership of Dr. Idan Snapir. Dr. Snapir received his dental doctorate from UCLA and brings over 20 years of experience to his practice. If you have any questions about dental implants or dentures, or you’d like to schedule a visit, you can contact the practice online or over the phone at (818) 528-8846.