Complete tooth replacement with dentures is a popular option for individuals who have lost all or some of their teeth. Dentures will save you if you have this problem, helping you speak better, eat your favorite food, and smile confidently.
Whether it is complete or partial dentures you want, or you’re opting for an implant-supported one, a few options work, depending on dental needs.
Proper care of your dentures is essential, as they fit comfortably and last longer with maintenance. Read further and analyze the different types, care tips, and benefits of dentures to help you make informed decisions about your oral health.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are synthetic teeth and gums that substitute for missing natural teeth. They are custom-made, and you can remove them and fix them back in place. Dentures help to restore confidence, eating ability, smile, speaking, and confidence.
Whether you have lost an entire arch or a few teeth, dentures can be tailored to meet your dental needs. They come in different types, including complete dentures, partial dentures, and implant-supported dentures.
Due to recent advancements in orthodontic technology, dentures are designed to appear and feel incredibly natural. They blend with the surrounding gums and teeth to improve a patient’s confident smile. Dentures can be adjusted or refined to ensure a secure and comfortable fit.
Denture Types
There are several types of dentures, including:
Complete Dentures
A complete denture is designed to help restore complete tooth loss and soft tissue. It is a removable acrylic replacement that fixes the bone in an entire dental arch. It also delivers satisfactory aesthetics and functional results for many patients. However, compared to natural teeth, you might experience issues with reduced taste, dentures, and chewing, which could be stressful.
Complete dentures can be:
- Conventional: These dentures are useful after teeth are extracted and gums have healed.
- Immediate: They are made before teeth are extracted, allowing immediate wear.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures restore teeth and are ideal for individuals with natural teeth remaining in their upper or lower jaw. This denture type can fill the gaps and restore oral function. Partial dentures are removable and often attached to a natural-colored plastic base. They also prevent other teeth from changing position.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Similar to traditional dentures, an implant-supported denture helps to replace several teeth. However, it is attached directly to the jawbone. Dental implants offer improved stability for eating, speaking, and chewing.
Oral health care providers may recommend implant-supported dentures if you miss most teeth. However, to get this treatment, a patient must have enough bone in the jaw to make room for the implants to work perfectly.
Denture Care Tips
Whether it is complete or partial dentures, keeping them clean, comfortable, and stain-free is essential. Here are some tips:
- Please take out the dentures and rinse them thoroughly. After eating, allow water to run over your dentures to remove debris and food particles. When rinsing with water, placing them in the sink, on a towel, or on the counter is crucial. This helps to protect the dentures from breaking if you accidentally drop them.
- Clean Your Mouth Before Putting Back Your Dentures: Before wearing the dentures back, brush your natural teeth and tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush, ensuring that your inner cheeks and roof of the mouth are also cleaned.
- Practice Proper Denture Hygiene: Just like brushing your teeth daily, remove and clean your dentures daily. Soak them in a solution and brush slowly with a soft toothbrush and a denture-cleaning solution. Make sure that the solution is non-abrasive.
- Soak Dentures Overnight to Maintain Moisture: All dentures must remain moist to protect their shape. So, place your dentures in a mild denture-soaking agent or water overnight. Your dentist can recommend a denture solution or offer tips on storing them overnight.
- Visit Your Dentist: Make it a habit to schedule an appointment with your dentist. If your dentures no longer fit, your dentist can help to fix them. Loose dentures can result in infection or cause mouth sores and irritation. If the dentures are damaged and can no longer fit, your dentist may recommend a new one.
Why You Need Dentures
Here are the benefits of getting dentures:
It Restores Speech Functions
Dentures are not just for people who have lost all their teeth. They can also replace just one or a few missing teeth. So, if you have missed a single tooth or an entire set, dentures can help you regain a confident smile and speech.
It is Comfortable and Fits Perfectly
Custom-made dentures are designed to fit your mouth perfectly, ensuring comfort and a precise fit. A mold is created from an imprint of your mouth to craft dentures tailored to your unique needs. Your dentist can adjust the dentures to align with your jawbones as they change over time. This ensures a comfortable fit and can significantly enhance your overall quality of life.
It Enhances Overall Oral Health
Missing teeth increases the risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay. So, you need dentures to help reduce this risk and restore chewing function, reducing the likelihood of oral health issues. Because dentures improve chewing and fill the missing gaps, they eliminate oral health risks and support overall oral health.
It Is Easy to Maintain
You can keep your dentures clean by removing and brushing them daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and denture cleaner, which helps to remove bacteria and plaque. For permanent dentures, brush them like your natural teeth, using a denture cleaner and soft-bristled toothbrush to ensure longevity.
Conclusion
Dentures are necessary, as they offer a reliable solution for complete or partial tooth replacement, helping to improve functionality, aesthetics, and confidence. With proper maintenance and care, your dentures can significantly enhance your quality of life for years to come. So, if you have missing teeth that bother you a lot, you can boost your confidence with dentures. Remember that this treatment benefits your smile and enhances your oral health.
