The answer to whether dentures change your face is generally affirmative. Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth, and their primary function is to restore the dental arches, which rebuilds the lower third of the face. The visual changes they cause are typically restorative, correcting the structural collapse that occurs after losing natural teeth. A well-made denture can reverse an aged or sunken appearance, returning a more natural contour to the facial profile.
The Facial Impact of Missing Teeth
The loss of teeth initiates a process that profoundly affects facial structure. Without the roots of natural teeth stimulating the jawbone, the body begins to resorb the bone tissue, a process called alveolar bone resorption. This bone shrinkage is progressive and can cause the jaw to lose up to 25% of its width and height in the first year alone.
This loss of underlying skeletal support leads to a noticeable sinking or hollowing of the cheeks and lips. The lower jaw appears to rotate closer to the nose, shortening the distance between the chin and the nose, giving the face a compressed look. Facial muscles lose their support structure and begin to sag, deepening wrinkles around the mouth and causing the lips to fold inward, contributing to a prematurely aged appearance.
Restoring Vertical Dimension and Lip Support
Properly designed dentures work by counteracting the structural collapse caused by tooth loss, specifically by restoring vertical dimension and soft tissue support. The most significant structural correction is the reestablishment of the correct “vertical dimension of occlusion” (VDO), which is the precise distance between the upper and lower jaws when the mouth is closed. Loss of this vertical height makes the face look squashed, but a new denture is engineered to restore this measurement, effectively lengthening the face back to its original proportion.
By filling the oral cavity, dentures provide a firm base for the surrounding facial muscles. This support pushes the lips and cheeks outward, preventing them from sinking inward and reducing the appearance of deep lines and folds around the mouth. The recovery of the VDO results in a fuller, more rejuvenated appearance, reducing the severity of marionette lines.
Understanding Fit and Long-Term Facial Changes
While new dentures offer immediate aesthetic improvements, they do not halt the underlying biological process of bone loss, which is a major factor in long-term facial changes. Traditional dentures rest directly on the gum tissue and underlying bone, which can sometimes accelerate the rate of bone resorption over time. As the jawbone shrinks, the denture base loses its snug fit, becoming loose and unstable, typically within a few years.
A poorly fitting or worn denture can lead to negative facial changes by failing to maintain the corrected VDO. When the vertical dimension collapses again, the lower jaw can over-rotate and move forward, potentially leading to a jutted or pointed chin appearance, sometimes referred to as a “witch’s chin”. To prevent this cycle of collapse, the appliance must be periodically “relined” or replaced to conform to the changing shape of the jaw ridge.
Aesthetic Differences Between Denture Types
The type of denture chosen dictates the longevity of the facial aesthetic and structural preservation. Traditional removable dentures rely on suction and the gums for stability, offering an initial excellent restoration. However, they cannot prevent the ongoing atrophy of the jawbone. This means that the positive facial changes achieved will gradually diminish over time as the bone continues to resorb and the dentures require frequent adjustments.
In contrast, implant-supported dentures offer a superior solution for long-term facial stability because they address the root cause of the structural collapse. Dental implants are small titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone, where they function like artificial tooth roots. These implants provide the necessary stimulation to the bone tissue, which significantly slows or completely stops the process of bone resorption. By preserving the jawbone volume, implant-supported options maintain the integrity of the facial structure and the corrected VDO for a much longer period.