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Your Natural Teeth | Partial
Dentures | Supporting Bone |
Making the Decision
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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