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Preventing Facial Collapse

I just turned 36 years old and my doctor just diagnosed me with a severe calcium deficiency. I’ve been having massive trouble with my teeth especially since my second pregnancy. I thought my teeth problems were because of the vomiting during my pregnancy. But, my dentist thinks that the calcium deficiency is my problem and that I should give up a losing fight and just extract my teeth. Then, I can replace them with dentures and be done with the constant appointments. The thing is, I looked it up and when people wear dentures their face collapses and they end up looking ancient. I cried when I looked at those pictures. I am way too young to look like that. Is there any other option for someone in my position?

Alana


Dear Alana,

Before and after facial collapse
An illustration of the effects of facial collapse.

For the benefit of those who do not understand the consequences of wearing removable dentures in the long term, I want to go over what happens. As soon as your teeth are removed, your body immediately begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere in your body. It does this in order to be as efficient with your body’s resources as possible. Without having teeth which need to be retained, your body wants to take those minerals and use them where they are more necessary. Unfortunately, as you discovered in your research, this has the effect of shrinking your jawbone. Eventually, in about ten or more years, there will no longer be enough minerals in your jawbone to even retain your dentures. And, you’re right, it will make you look decades older. In dental circles, this is known as facial collapse.

The good news is that there is a solution for this problem. However, before we get into that, I want you to get a second opinion. I have serious doubts that your dentist has properly advised you. When you have a calcium deficiency as an adult, it has no effect on the health of your teeth. Once your teeth are fully developed, which happened years ago, then the calcium you’re getting now has no impact. I believe your dentist is using that as an excuse. Different dentists have varying levels of tolerance for working on problem teeth. That does not mean that you should not try to save them. You just may have to do it with a different dentist. It is always better to have as many natural teeth as possible.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

Let’s say that worst case scenario, you do end up losing your natural teeth. The way to protect your jawbone is to make your body think that you still have teeth. You can do that with prosthetic tooth roots. Dental implants can provide this for you. You would have implants placed in your jaw and then the dentures would be anchored to them. These implant supported dentures signal to your body that you have teeth and then it leaves your jawbone completely intact. The good news is that I do not think it will come to this for you. Get that second opinion.

This blog is brought to you by Tucson Prosthodontist Dr. Howard Steinberg.