Have you been suggested Dentures?! Then you must have a lot of questions.
How safe are they? Will they hurt? Can we talk and chew normally with them on? How soon can I get them and how cost-effective are they? It’s very likely that these are some of the common questions you may have when you are considering getting dentures.
Dentures are a great way to get your smile back and it can boost a person’s confidence as psychological benefits are often what the patients are more concerned about, especially if you are suffering from significant tooth loss or teeth injuries due to an accident and damaged all of your teeth. Dentures are quite beneficial and they are the perfect solution for missing teeth. They are usually made with superior materials and processes which could almost make you forget you are even wearing them.
Denturists highly recommend dentures as they have a multitude of benefits for patients who suffer from broken or damaged teeth. They improve the mouth’s functionality, supports facial features, better oral health conditions, and increase your self-confidence.
Let’s start with ‘what are Dentures?’
Dentures, also known as false teeth, are removable prosthetic devices or frames for holding one or more artificial teeth. Basically, dentures are synthetic/artificial replacements for missing natural teeth. Dentures fill the gaps/spaces created by missing teeth, and also help individuals to eat, speak, and smile normally. These frames and teeth are colored/shaded to match the natural color of gum tissue and teeth. Dentures are made of hard plastic known as acrylic.
But, why do we need dentures? Missing teeth can affect speech, chewing efficiency, smile, and facial appearance. Digestion of food starts from the mouth, missing teeth decreases the chewing ability which in-turn influences digestion and food absorption, reducing the nutrition levels. When there is a loss of teeth, facial muscles snags making you look older than your actual age and dentures help in improving your appearance. All these factors can greatly influence the quality of life.
Tooth loss can occur for different reasons. The most common reason for tooth loss is due to periodontal disease (a disease that attacks the gum and bone structures around the teeth), which is a serious infection in the gums/tissues that hold the teeth to the jaw bone. The cause for developing periodontal disease is poor oral hygiene which triggers bacterial growth in the mouth. Long term undiagnosed hormonal issues in women can cause loss of a tooth. The other reasons that one could opt for dentures is due to loss of tooth/teeth in an accident or due to facial or jaw injury.
Let’s look at some of the Types of Dentures:
- Traditional/Conventional Complete Dentures: Complete dentures replace the patient’s entire set of teeth which is commonly worn by elderly patients and they are customized according to the patient’s mouth. It restores the natural feel, shape of the teeth, and appearance of the face. With dentures, patients can grind, crush, and chew like how they used to eat normally before dentures.
- Removable Partial Dentures: This type of denture is suggested when the patient still has some of the natural teeth left. These are built into a metal framework and has a pink color base which is attached to the metal frame.
- Immediate Dentures: A set of dentures are usually placed on the same day after the teeth/tooth extraction. In the traditional type, after all the teeth have been extracted, they need to wait for around 3 months until the jaw bone is completely healed for the replacement. Immediate dentures are refitted or replaced after the complete healing.
Denture Alternatives:
- Fixed Partial Dentures or Implant-Supported Bridges: Unlike complete dentures, these dentures are non-removable. They restore one or more teeth that are/are missing in a row. The denturist can fit this type of dentures only if strong natural teeth are present on both sides of the missing teeth. It is way too stronger than a false removable tooth.
- Snap-in-Dentures/Implant or Tooth retained over Dentures: These are placed over the remaining natural teeth or implants. These are securely held in place using anchors onto existing teeth or dental implants. Within the tissue side of the dentures, the locator attachments will be embedded. The locator attachments snap onto the existing teeth/ implant, so they are convenient and removable. This kind of denture is widely preferred and is an effective choice because of its stability.
Depending upon the initial screening and understanding of the patients’ history and requirements, the right type of denture is suggested. After-care of dentures is equally important.
Few tips for maintaining & preserving the Dentures:
It’s important to clean the dentures just like natural teeth. Take them out of the mouth, run clean water, and gently brush to remove the food particles and plaque. Brush it all over with a soft denture or toothbrush using a mild soap or denture cleaner. Ensure not to use regular toothpaste/electric toothbrushes as it’s abrasive and can damage & wear away the dentures. Cleaning the dentures helps keep them from getting stained.
Also, rinse your mouth with mouthwash. Ensure to clean your gums thoroughly with sterile gauze to reduce the risk of bad breath and oral irritation.
Always remove the dentures before sleeping to avoid damaging them. Removing dentures will improve blood supply to supporting tissues and allows your gums some time to relax. Immerse the dentures fully in water and make sure it doesn’t dry out. If the dentures have metal attachments, the denture-soaking solution is recommended as the other solutions may have chlorine in them which can corrode the metal.
If you have had teeth loss and are considering dentures, do visit us for an expert consultation with our Denturist. At Credence Dental, our doctors specialize in dentures and implants and ensure you receive the best solution for your dental issues.
Call us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment.
