What Patients Need To Know About Dentures

Dentures – Solution for Missing Teeth

Teeth are lost for a number of reasons. Acute oral trauma can result in the loss of multiple teeth in certain persons. On the other hand, some suffer from dental decay or gum disease, which eventually results in tooth loss. Whatever the reason for a person's tooth loss, dentures are an affordable and practical solution.

Dentures once had a negative reputation. They were regularly criticized for being uncomfortable to wear and difficult to keep in place. The good news is that nothing has remained the same. Dentures of the modern-day are comfortable, custom-fit to each individual's mouth, made of durable materials, and simple to keep in place. As a result, the majority of people are unconcerned when others wear dentures.

It is crucial to avoid falling into denture misconceptions and misperceptions. Rather than that, those who are missing a large number of teeth should continue reading to understand the truth. Following their reading, the majority of dental patients will be eager to call their dentists to discuss their options and schedule a fitting appointment.

What Are Modern Dentures?

Let us begin by defining dentures. Denture designers construct complex dentures to replace many missing teeth as well as the surrounding soft tissues. Dentures are created specifically for each patient's mouth and can be used to replace a single tooth, a complete arch, or even an entire mouth of missing teeth.

Although there are three primary types of dentures, they all share a few qualities. They are all comfortable and help people chew more effectively and communicate more clearly. Modern dentures are also custom-made to fit a patient's remaining teeth, if any, and restore the patient's jaw and cheeks to their usual appearance.

From What Are Dentures Made?

The first false teeth were fashioned by men using undesirable materials such as wood or animal teeth. Fortunately, denture technology has advanced tremendously since that time. Denture manufacturers currently build dentures from robust, long-lasting materials like as plastic, porcelain, and acrylic resin.

While porcelain and plastic have been used to fabricate dentures for a long period of time, acrylic resin is presently the preferred material for denture fabrication.

Although acrylic resin is more robust than porcelain, it is not as long-lasting. Additionally, it is more securely attached to the base of the dentures and is easier to adjust. Additionally, because the acrylic resin is a less expensive and lighter material, it appeals to the majority of dental patients. Acrylic resin's sole genuine downside is that it does not last as long as porcelain. As a result, dentists must replace dentures made of this otherwise excellent material every five to eight years.

The Three Types of Dentures

Dentures are merely the first choice a patient must make to restore missing teeth. Then, schedule an appointment with a dentist to discuss the three various types of dentures available and whether one may be a good fit for you. Three options are available:

Partial dentures
Full dentures
Implant-supported dentures

In most cases, it will be obvious during the initial consultation which type of denture would best meet the patient's practical and economical requirements. For example, the choice between full and partial dentures will be straightforward, as denture manufacturers construct full dentures to replace all of a patient's teeth on one or both gum lines. Dentists, on the other hand, use partial dentures to replace three or more missing teeth inside an otherwise healthy gumline.

Dentists produce custom-made partial and complete dentures to fit each patient's mouth. Suction and, in certain situations, the temporary adhesive is used to secure complete dentures. On the other hand, dentists frequently fasten partial dentures to nearby teeth. Denture wearers can remove both dentures at night and for routine cleaning.

Dentures that are implant-supported are slightly different. They are, for instance, more expensive than conventional full and partial dentures. This is because wearing them requires surgery to anchor numerous permanent implants to a patient's jawbone before a dentist can fit them. Dentists can employ implant-supported dentures to replace an entire gum line or just a few teeth. Nevertheless, the majority of dentists suggest them solely for the lower jaw.

Dentures supported by implants, like conventional dentures, can be removed. In practice, the primary distinction is that they are more tightly kept in the patient's mouth, which provides more stability.

How to Care for Dentures

female cosmetic dentistry patient smiling in mirror in dental chair

Every type of denture, regardless of material, requires routine cleaning. On the other hand, dentures constructed of synthetic materials rather than natural teeth do not prevent the accumulation of bacteria, plaque, and tartar on the materials. Bacteria, plaque, and tartar accumulation wreak havoc on a patient's gums and existing teeth.

The good news is that cleaning dentures are a straightforward procedure. Simply remove dentures at night, run clean water over them to release food particles, and then scrub them with a denture brush and cleaner.

Conventional toothpaste and toothbrushes, on the other hand, should not be used on dentures since they are significantly more abrasive and can erode the materials. Additionally, it is vital to rinse the dentures well after each cleaning and to soak them overnight in warm water to prevent the materials from drying out.

Schedule an Appointment to Learn More

Patients interested in learning more about dentures and determining which type may be the greatest fit for their unique circumstances may now contact a dentist. The first step is to schedule a checkup and consultation.