How Dentures Change Your Face

What You Will Learn

• How dentures help your face look
• Why missing teeth make your cheeks sink in
• Ways to keep your face shape nice with dentures
• Why some dentures work better than others

Why Your Face Changes After Losing Teeth

When you lose teeth, your face can look different. This happens because:

• Your teeth hold up your cheeks and lips
• Your jaw bone gets smaller without teeth roots
• Your skin may start to sag

Without teeth, your face might look older. Your cheeks may look sunken in. This is called facial collapse.

How Dentures Help Your Face Look Better

Dentures can make your face look better by:

• Filling out your cheeks
• Supporting your lips
• Making your smile look full again

Good dentures bring back your face shape. They help you look more like you did before losing teeth.

Types of Dentures and How They Change Your Look

When Dentures Make Your Face Look Worse: “Denture Face”

Sometimes dentures can make your face look worse. This is called “denture face.”

Signs of denture face are:

• Lips that look too thin
• Deep lines around your mouth
• Chin that looks too close to your nose
• Cheeks that look flat or sunken

Denture face happens when:

• Dentures don’t fit right
• Bone keeps getting smaller under dentures
• Dentures are old and worn down
• Dentures are too small or thin

5 Ways to Keep Your Face Looking Good with Dentures

1. Get implant-supported dentures if you can. They help stop bone loss in your jaw.
2. Have your dentures checked every year by your dentist.
3. Get new dentures when they start to feel loose (about every 5-7 years).
4. Do face exercises to keep your facial muscles strong.
5. Use denture adhesive for better fit if your dentist says it’s OK.

Better Options: Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures are the best for keeping your face shape. They use dental implants that go into your jawbone.

Benefits of implant dentures for your face:

• Stop bone loss that causes facial collapse
• Give better support to cheeks and lips
• Look more like natural teeth
• Help you chew better, which keeps jaw muscles strong

Many seniors choose implant-supported dentures because they help keep their face looking younger.

Case Study: How Good Dentures Fixed Mary’s Face

Mary (age 67) had old dentures that didn’t fit right. Her face looked sunken and she had deep wrinkles around her mouth.

Her dentist made her new precision dentures with:

• Better support for her cheeks
• The right height to fix her bite
• Custom fitting to her gums
• Lifelike teeth in the right spots

After 3 weeks with new dentures, Mary’s face looked fuller. The deep lines around her mouth were less deep. Her family said she looked 10 years younger!

How Speech Changes with Dentures

Dentures also affect how you talk. When you first get dentures, you might:

• Have trouble saying “s” and “f” sounds
• Make clicking sounds when you talk
• Feel like you have something in your mouth

This happens because your tongue and lips need time to get used to the dentures. Most people speak normally after a few weeks.

Dentures and Your Smile

Your smile is very important for how you look. Good dentures should:

• Have teeth that look natural, not too big or small
• Show the right amount of teeth when you smile
• Match your face shape and skin tone
• Have pink parts that look like real gums

Dentures with ceramic teeth often look more natural than plastic teeth.

Common Face Problems with Cheap Dentures

Cheap dentures often cause face problems like:

• Bite that’s too short, making wrinkles worse
• Teeth set too far back, making lips look thin
• Poor support for cheeks, causing a sunken look
• Teeth that are too white or all the same size, looking fake

It’s better to get good dentures that fit right, even if they cost more. They help your face look better.

How Bone Loss Changes Your Face with Dentures

Without teeth roots, your jawbone shrinks over time. This is called bone resorption. It happens even with dentures.

Bone loss causes:

• Your face height to get shorter
• Your chin to move closer to your nose
• Your lips to fold inward
• Deep lines around your mouth

Implant dentures help stop this bone loss by putting fake roots in your jaw.

Fixing Facial Problems with Existing Dentures

If your dentures are making your face look bad, you can:

• Get them relined to fit better
• Add soft liners for more comfort
• Have your bite fixed if it’s too low
• Get new dentures with better support
• Talk to your dentist about implant options

Questions People Ask

Take Care of Your Face and Dentures

To keep your face looking good with dentures:

• Clean your dentures every day
• Take your dentures out at night to rest your gums
• See your dentist for checkups twice a year
• Get your dentures adjusted if they feel loose
• Use sunscreen to protect your skin
• Do facial exercises to keep muscles strong

When to See a Specialist

See a prosthodontist (special denture dentist) if:

• Your face looks very different with dentures
• You have pain when wearing dentures
• Your dentures move when you talk or eat
• You can’t get used to your dentures after a month
• Your face is getting more sunken over time

Summary: Keeping Your Face Looking Good with Dentures

Dentures can help your face look better after losing teeth. The best way to keep your face looking good is to:

1. Get high-quality dentures that fit right
2. Consider implant-supported dentures if possible
3. Have your dentures checked and fixed regularly
4. Replace dentures every 5-7 years
5. Keep up good oral health habits

With the right dentures and care, your face can look natural and healthy for many years!