Implants and Facial Appearance

How do traditional dentures impact facial appearance?

Most patients know the disadvantages of not replacing missing teeth on time. However, few of them are aware of how important it is to choose the right teeth replacement option. Many people decide to get traditional full dentures for their cost and convenience, but fail to see the whole picture.

Dentures can have a huge impact on your appearance. As long as they fit properly, patients wouldn’t notice any significant change. However, after a few months of use, these dentures start having problems. This comes as no surprise: dentures don’t prevent bone resorption, so once the jawbone is remodeled, the denture’s base doesn’t fit as it used to.

Poorly fitted dentures can dramatically change your appearance for the worse. Not to mention that, besides the changes related to the denture in itself, patients also face the alteration in facial aesthetics that bone resorption causes.

Are you wondering, “How will I look with dentures?.” If your dentures are not supported by dental implants, you can expect the following changes in your appearance:

Sagging Face
Sagging face is one of the most common complaints among long-term denture wearers. Depending on each particular facial structure, this condition can be evidenced by hanging jowls, turkey neck, or deep facial folds and wrinkles. This happens because most dentures don’t fully replace the volume of the jawbone lost due to bone resorption. That means that, although you have the same amount of soft tissue as before, as you don’t have the proper support for that tissue, it just “hangs down” your face.

Sunken Lips
Another typical problem is the sunken appearance of the lower third of the face. It is also a consequence of bone resorption: in this case, instead of having skin hanging down off your face, lips just roll inward, creating a hollow appearance around your mouth. In the long run, you might not even be able to close your lips properly and may experience leakage at the corners, which can provoke irritation and even infections.

Witch’s Chin
This goes hand in hand with the sunken lips. As your jawbone lose volume in the area of the lips, your chin points out, and the distance between the chin and the tip of the nose decreases. This alteration in the lower third is often described as “witch’s chin” and negatively impacts facial aesthetics.

Puffy Lips and Cheeks
When too much bone tissue has been lost, dentures are thicker and more voluminous. If the denture isn’t manufactured correctly, or for some reason, isn’t fitting properly, it can actually push your soft tissues outwards, resulting in puffy lips and cheeks. Implant dentures avoid this because they don’t have a flange that goes around the gums.

Crooked Jaw
Poorly fitted dentures alter your normal bite and make your jaw tilt to one side or the other. This may not be obvious at first, but as your denture wears down, the tilt increases and becomes evident for you and the people around you. Moreover, besides the aesthetic problem, a crooked jaw can also interfere in the normal functioning of the temporomandibular joints, resulting in pain and functional inconveniences.

Counteracting the harmful effects of facial aging in denture wearers

Ill-fitting dentures dramatically impact facial appearance, especially in the lower facial third. Many changes can be noticed after wearing deficient dentures for a long time:

The distance between the nose and the chin decreases, and the chin points out (“witchy look”).

The lips start showing signs of ageing (wrinkles and expression lines) and have a sunken appearance. 

The skin around the face and neck sags, and in some cases, lips and cheeks look puffy.

All these changes make patients look older than they are, and they get more and more noticeable as time goes by. The good news is that, in most cases, all these ageing signs can be reversed by wearing custom-made, skilfully designed implant-retained dentures.

The benefits to your vitality

Reduced lines around the mouth and face in general

Better appearance of the lips

More prominent cheekbones

Tightened and strengthened facial muscles Increased blood flow to the skin, which makes it more radiant, healthy and smoother

Strengthening and firming of the jawline and neck

Achieve correct facial support

Rejuvenated Appearance with Implant Dentures

Rejuvenate your appearance and feel young once again with implant-supported dentures. Don’t fall victim to denture face – we will ensure your implant dentures fit properly and make you smile with confidence again!

Schedule Online Now

 OR CALL (843) 242-0645 OR TEXT US TO GET STARTED.

Restore your Smile with Implant Retained OverdenturesWhat Are Implant Retained Overdentures, and Why Are They So Popular?

Implant retained overdentures are an excellent solution for those patients missing all teeth in a dental arch. These dentures combine the function and comfort of dental implants with the convenience of a traditional denture: the cost of a full-mouth restoration with individual implants can be almost prohibitive. That’s why it comes as no surprise that so many patients ask about implant retained overdentures. They are an innovative solution for replacing a full set of missing teeth that is surprisingly affordable.

So what are implant retained overdentures, and why are they quickly becoming one of the most sought-after tooth replacement options for River Landing Dentistry patients? Here’s what you need to know.

Implant Retained Overdentures: Full Dentures That Snap Onto Implants

As the name implies, implant retained overdentures are full dentures that snap onto dental implants. They look similar to traditional dentures: these dentures use a set of highly-aesthetic prosthetics to replace entire rows of teeth. However, the main difference is that these dentures are retained by dental implants, which are connected to the base of the denture through small components known as “abutments”. Patients can easily remove the denture and put it back in. Once it has “snapped”, it stays firmly in place – overdentures don’t move around while you eat or talk!

Cleaning and Repairs: Implant Retained Dentures

All teeth replacement options need constant maintenance. Whether you choose traditional dentures, dental implants, or implant-retained dentures, you need to keep your smile healthy and visit the office regularly for exams and check-ups. However, it is a fact that some tooth replacement options are more time-consuming than others. So those who lead a hectic lifestyle and are always on the go should consider the following aspects.

While traditional dentures need to be removed and thoroughly cleaned every night, dental implants can be cleaned as if they were natural teeth. You won’t need to worry about denture creams, denture adhesives, or denture-cleaning liquids.

And while individual dental implants are as comfortable as overdentures in everyday life, they are costly and time-consuming. A full-mouth implant rehabilitation requires much more chair time than overdentures, and the repairs and replacement of crowns are bridges are also more expensive and time-consuming.

Hybrid implant dentures are the best of both worlds. They provide the same comfort as dental implants and are as convenient as full dentures. With good oral hygiene, hybrid implant dentures can last up to 20 years, and the good news is that even if you need to get a new denture, your implants won’t need to be replaced. Here at River Landing, we offer treatments that can last a lifetime!

Main advantages of choosing implant-supported dentures

Excellent Stability

Unlike traditional dentures, hybrid dentures are anchored directly to the jawbone, just like natural teeth. This means that instead of sitting snugly on the gum tissue, these dentures are firmly attached to the implants, which provide excellent retention. You will be able to eat your favourite foods again without worrying about your denture moving around your mouth. Hard candies, rare steak, crunchy crisps, corn on the cob… anything can be enjoyed with implant-retained dentures!

In addition, this stability also makes it possible to enunciate with complete clarity. Traditional dentures can often shift out of place, making it difficult to speak clearly. Implant dentures stay firmly in place, allowing you to have a conversation with friends, give a speech, or just talk on the phone without having to struggle with a loose denture.

Prevention of Bone Atrophy

The most important health benefit of hybrid dentures is that they prevent bone resorption. How does this work? Well, implants are made of medical-grade titanium, a material that in contact with bone tissue triggers a physiological process known as “osseointegration.” This process stimulates the deposit of new bone tissue around the implants, and once this tissue is hardened (a few months after the surgery), these implants are fused into the jawbone. This new bone tissue maintains the shape and structure of the jawbone, so your denture will never need a relining or adjustment, saving you both time and money over the years.

While other options might be more affordable and less complex, hybrid dentures provide far greater long-term benefits that could save you significant discomfort, frustration, and time.

Improving Your Quality of Life

Multiple teeth loss has a dramatic impact on social life. Our team at River Landing Dentistry understands the problems these patients face every day: lack of self-esteem, difficulties in eating and speaking, facial alterations… That’s why we do our best to deliver the treatment they deserve. Patients that choose hybrid dentures almost always come back to thank us for the dramatic change these dentures made in their lives. Our goal is to help each patient achieve a healthy, comfortable, attractive smile that boosts self-confidence and helps them enjoy life.

Eat what you love! Enjoy your favorite foods!

With dental implants, you will be able to enjoy again those foods you’ve been pushing aside for years. As they are fused into the jawbone, you won’t need to worry about your teeth moving around or falling out – you will bite and chew as comfortably as when you had your natural teeth.

Can you imagine eating pizza, hamburgers and sandwiches again with your hands? The only way to truly enjoy eating these foods is to hold them with your hands, bite them with your front teeth, grasp them, and tear them away. Do you miss that feeling?

You can’t do that with dentures – they’re not secure enough. Dentures wearers need to cut these foods into pieces and eat them with a fork, which is impossible in many situations. But if you decide to replace your missing teeth with dental implants, you’d be able to enjoy those meals again.

Another advantage of dental implants is that you get to savour the authentic taste of the food. Traditional dentures mainly rely on suction to stay in place. And to create enough suction for the upper denture, there’s a plate that covers the majority of the roof of the mouth. This part of the mouth has many taste buds, similar to the tongue, so when eating with dentures, you might find it more difficult to enjoy the taste of your meals.

But dental implants don’t rely on suction. They are screwed into the jawbone and act as an authentic root. You won’t need to worry about eating or drinking with your implants, and you will enjoy the flavour of your favorite foods!

Schedule Online Now

OR CALL (843) 242-0645 OR TEXT US TO GET STARTED.