Can You Stop Facial Collapse If You Need Dentures?

Posted by Sophia Kai

I was diagnosed not too long ago with a severe adult onset calcium deficiency. I’ve always had some problems with my teeth. Because of the calcium deficiency, my dentist is suggesting that I remove all of my teeth and get dentures. I’m well aware that I will get facial collapse if I do this. Yet, he’s telling me that it’s my best option. Is there any way to prevent facial collapse? I’m only 39 and do not want to spend the rest of my life unable to chew and looking like a great grandma.

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

While I haven’t examined you, I do have a couple of major problems with how your dentist has handled this. First, you developing a calcium deficiency at your age has zero impact on your adult teeth. They are already formed. If you had that deficiency while they were developing that would be a different story altogether. However, yours is adult onset.

Second, he only mentioned removable dentures to you. That’s the worst of your options. I’m grateful that you knew about facial collapse, so you had the presence of mind to write someone else and find out what your options are. It’s sounds like your dentist is one of those who’d rather extract teeth than fix them.

The first thing I recommend you do is to get a second opinion on your teeth. My guess is you don’t need to remove them all. There may be some that need work, but I doubt they’re all helpless. The ones which you can save, save them. The ones you can’t, you replace. The best tooth replacement is a dental implant, but you do have other options.

On the off chance that all your teeth can’t be saved, then the only way to prevent facial collapse is with implant supported dentures. You’ll get four to six dental implants placed and then anchor them to your dentures. The implants are prosthetic roots which signal to your brain that you still have teeth and it will preserve your jawbone.

This blog is brought to you by a caring dentist in Naples, Dr. Robert Bracho.