Facelift Dentures from Tyler cosmetic dentist Dr. Rick Coker
Do you currently have dentures that you don’t like? Until now, you haven’t had a very good choice. 1.) You were either offered an inexpensive set that had plastic teeth and didn’t fit very well, or you were offered a 2.) more expensive traditional denture which usually fit better. But, you still looked like you were wearing a denture.
Finally there are tools and techniques that were developed for cosmetic dentists which can now be applied to dentures. This third option offered by Dr. Coker is called 3.) facelift dentures.
The basis for this facelift denture is called neuromuscular treatment. Because your dentures rest partially on the muscles in your jaw, neuromuscular dentistry makes sure to find the position of your optimum muscle relaxation and function. If we can achieve stable and relaxed muscles before we take impressions for your dentures, you will automatically get a better fit.
This is the only type of denture that works to combat jaw bone resorption, the cause of the aged or “sunken-in” facial appearance that occurs when you lose your teeth. Most patients don’t realize that once their teeth are removed, jawbone deterioration begins. Because the normal behaviors of biting and chewing cause the root of the tooth to physically stimulate the bone, once that root is removed the stimulation stops and the bone begins to deteriorate.
As long as natural teeth are in place and disease is absent, your upper and lower jaws can be expected to remain healthy and intact. However the loss of your teeth and the placement of traditional dentures – which are designed to rest on top of the gum tissue - do not provide direct stimulation to the jaw bone and thus do nothing to combat the effects of jawbone resorption. This results in patients who look much older than they actually are.
Facelift Dentures are designed to stimulate the jawbone by creating a better fitting denture that rests partially on the muscles. They are placed to build your ”bite” at a position which best supports your muscle function. This same position also provides stronger facial support, which in turn, creates a more youthful look.
Of course, this is the most expensive type of denture, but this denture will be comfortable, it will fit, you will be able to chew and most importantly, it will give you a beautiful smile.
Most people who wear dentures have a “collapsed” look to their face. This is because once the natural teeth are removed, bone loss accelerates. If your dentures are not made to optimum neuromuscular dimensions, your face will continue to look like you are wearing dentures. We have made facelift dentures for patients who looked years younger when we finished, and they could eat normally again! This process does take an average of four visits and is much more expensive than the economy version, but the results are definitely worth it.
