Why You Should Consider Wearing Dentures
Posted on: March 2nd, 2015 by Dr. Gabor Bodnar
If you have lost one or all of your teeth, dentures can help. Most people take eating and speaking for granted. That is until they prematurely lose one or more of their adult permanent teeth, at which time either or both, of these functions, can prove challenging. Luckily, dentures can replace all your missing teeth, restore your smile and, in many cases improve your appearance.
Partial Vs. Full Dentures:
Removable partial or full dentures can replace a single missing tooth, several teeth, or all of the teeth in your upper and/or lower jaw. However, all dentures have to be custom-made to fit the exact contours of your mouth, including your gums and any existing teeth.
The base of a complete set of dentures is made from a flesh colored plastic which rests on your gums and in the case of an upper set, covers the roof of your mouth. It stays in place because it has been perfectly molded to fit your gums and bone ridges in your mouth. However, a thin layer of saliva between the denture and your gums, which forms a seal, also helps to anchor the upper denture. This is why a dry mouth, which is a common side effect of some medication but can be caused by other things, can cause dentures to loosen.
Because there has to be sufficient space for your tongue, the lower set is horseshoe shaped, held in place by the tongue and the muscles in the cheek. Partial dentures, which are attached to surrounding teeth, are usually more stable than full dentures. However, if you don’t have any, or sufficient, natural teeth to anchor the partial denture to, they can also be attached to an implant, which is embedded in the jaw itself.
Both complete and partial dentures need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure that they remain well fitting and comfortable with no signs of irritation or gum disease. With the proper care, they will last many years.
Dental Implants:
There is always the possibility that, for one reason or another, dentures may not work for you. In which case you might want to consider dental implants which, unlike dentures, are permanently fixed in the law itself. While the procedure is more complicated, the benefits are huge in as much as, after the healing period, implants look and feel no different from natural teeth, and rarely have the problems that can come with conventional dentures.
Prosthetics:
If you have lost some of your teeth (whether to periodontal disease, an unfortunate accident or anything else) and would like to investigate the possibility of wearing dentures, let us know. We are trained and capable of fitting you with dentures, crowns, etc. Dental prosthetics are a combination of science and art. Implants, for example, require precise surgical skills which take years to perfect. On the other hand, when it comes to crowns, the specialist has to be able to visualize, then create, the final product. All of which we have years of experience with.
Cosmetic Dentist > Dentist
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Dentures