Dental Implants vs. Dentures - Continued
Partial Dentures
Removable partial dentures are either tooth supported or tooth and gum supported. When entirely tooth supported, the space has been replaced or filled in, but the supporting teeth remain the same. In other words, the load has been increased on the remaining teeth. In the case of a partial denture that is both tooth and gum supported the areas where teeth are missing have been filled in with gum supported dentures. This means that the gum tissue and bone under these dentures will gradually shrink, and the partial denture will have to be remade or relined periodically. If these areas are not relined, a space develops under the denture. It is not bearing its fair share of the chewing load, and the remaining natural teeth are overworked. The teeth are overloaded and under these conditions, the remaining teeth will undergo accelerated bone loss.
Supporting Bone
Nature has provided tooth supporting bone for the years when teeth are present. When teeth are lost the tooth supporting bone degenerates. Nature takes away what you do not use! The bone under the gums "shrinks" and dentures get loose. Dental implants, when properly placed and maintained, provide excellent bone support so that the bone tends to be preserved since it is still being used. A patient with all his or her natural teeth in a healthy, well maintained and functionally accurate condition can chew at 100 percent efficiency. With every tooth lost the amount of chewing efficiency decreases depending on whether or not the teeth are replaced and how. Ultimately, if all teeth are lost, you will have perhaps a 15 to 18 percent chewing efficiency (with good - fitting dentures on adequate bone ridges). With implants and non-removable bridge work you could obtain as high as 95 percent efficiency.
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