Teeth Crowded In Seniors
Posted on: November 13, 2011
Teeth Crowded In Seniors
Nov 14, 2011
The size of our jaws decreases with age. This is shown in a unique study from the Faculty of Dentistry at Malmö University that followed a cohort of dentists throughout their adult lives.
Bone loss due to age and denture.
The unique study started in 1949. Plaster molds were made of the jaws of dental students, who were then in their twenties. Ten years later the procedure was repeated, and in 1989, forty years after the first molds, a final round was performed. On that occasion the researchers were in touch with 18 of the original 30 participants.
“We found that over these forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw,” says Lars Bondemark, professor of orthodontics, who analyzed the material together with his colleague Maria Nilner, professor of clinical bite physiology at the College of Dentistry, Malmö University .
Aging teeth are usually crowded and yellow and we have numerous dental treatment options to consider
This crowdedness comes from shrinkage of the jaw, primarily the lower jaw, both in length and width. While this is only a matter of a few millimeters, but it is enough to crowd the front teeth. “We can also eliminate wisdom teeth as the cause, because even people who have no wisdom teeth have crowded front teeth.”
How much the jaw shrinks is individual, but for some patients the changes are sufficiently great for them to perceive that something is happening to their bite.
“In that case it’s good to know that this is normal,” says Lars Bondemark, who maintains that dentists need to take into consideration the continuous shrinking of the jaws when they plan to perform major bite constructions on their patients.
“We’re working against nature, and it’s hard to construct something that is completely stable.”
Why the jaws change throughout life is not known, but the magnitude of the change is probably determined by both hereditary and anatomical factors, including what the patient’s bite looks like.
3 Responses to "Teeth Crowded In Seniors"
November 17, 2011 at 7:53 pm
The blog was very informative and thank you for sharing this amazing information with everyone. It is good to have a good, healthy gums and teeth. Some old aged people still have a good, healthy teeth and also they don’t have crowded teeth.
December 27, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Many people have a misconception that it is normal to experience tooth loss when one ages. However, senior adults can look great and feel good with a set of nice pearlies and good oral condition, but much effort is needed in maintaining their oral health.
November 14, 2011 at 8:27 am
Do we have to pull out some of our teeth as we grow older, how many and which ones?
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People are living longer and healthier lives. And, older adults also are more likely to keep their teeth for a lifetime than they were a decade ago. However, studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health.
Whatever your age, it’s important to keep your mouth clean, healthy and feeling good. And it’s important to know the state of your periodontal health. You don’t have to pull any if they are sound and healthy—- Kamsiah