If you're suffering from an oral health problem and at risk of losing your teeth, this doesn't necessarily mean that you will have to cope with a life without teeth. There are several cosmetic dentistry options that you can choose from. One of the most suitable options that you can pick is the use of dentures.
Thanks to modern dentistry, dentures have become a suitable cosmetic dentistry option that can help you restore your teeth, even after missing multiple teeth. If you want to know whether dentures are suitable options for your oral health problem, visit us at our Carson, CA Washington Dental, and let's help you restore your perfect smile.
Definition and Types of Dentures
Dentures replace your missing teeth that can be taken out and replaced into your mouth. There are two general types of dentures, the complete and the partial dentures. Complete or full dentures are used by people with several missing teeth, while partial dentures are suitable for those missing one tooth or a few of them.
The way that these dentures work depends on whether you're using full or partial dentures. All the same, the base of the dentures usually covers the roof of your mouth while the lower part, shaped like a horseshoe, accommodates your tongue.
Dentures are custom-made in a dental laboratory using a form impression taken from your mouth. Your dentist will determine which type of denture is best for you, depending on the type of oral health problem.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures, also known as full dentures, are types of dentures that take up the whole mouth rather than part of the mouth. Complete dentures are highly realistic, making you look as if you have all your natural teeth.
Complete dentures can either be "immediate" or "conventional." Conventional dentures are made about twelve weeks after teeth removal. On the other hand, immediate dentures are pre-made and are usually placed after a teeth removal process. Therefore, wearers don't need to stay without teeth when they are healing. However, their bones might shrink with time, especially after teeth removal. This makes the immediate dentures a disadvantage since they might require some adjustment to fit them while your gum is healing. Therefore, they are usually used temporarily as the conventional ones are made.
Partial Dentures
A removable partial denture is a type of dental bridge used to replace a few missing teeth. This type of denture is usually gum-colored or pink plastic base, which is sometimes connected to a framework that holds the denture in your mouth.
Partial dentures use a permanent bridge by placing crowns on either side of the space, which attaches the artificial teeth. This kind of structure helps fill the space created by missing teeth and prevents them from changing their position. Precision partial dentures are usually removable and have internal attachments apart from clasps that attach them to the nearby crowns to bring a natural smile.
Apart from these two common types of dentures, there are other categories of partial dentures that you should know about. This includes the following:
Implant-Supported Dentures
As the name suggests, implant-supported dentures use implant support to secure them. The implants provide a significant amount of support for a solid foundation, allowing the dentures to remain securely in place. They also bring a natural and lasting look.
Overdentures
Overdentures sit on the top of the gum and are held in place with dental implants. It can be placed on the upper or lower jaw, based on the patient's needs. Overdentures are also removable, like partial dentures.
Upper Dentures
Upper dentures are specific types of dentures designed for the upper teeth. They are the best solution for people who are missing their upper teeth.
Economy Dentures
Economy dentures or generic dentures are cost-effective types of dentures. They usually don't fit securely or comfortably into the mouth and might sometimes look as if they are fake. Therefore, they might need denture adhesive to make them securely fit.
The Benefits of Full and Partial Dentures
Most people with missing teeth aren't clear whether to choose full or partial dentures. Your dentist should guide you through the decision-making process to ensure that you pick dentures that suit your oral problem. However, to prepare for your options. Here's an overview of the benefits of complete dentures compared to partial ones.
The Benefits of Full Dentures
Complete dentures are recommendable for people with no or few salvageable teeth. The process of acquiring these dentures involves special care, restoration of the mouth's health, removing damaged or diseased disease, healing any infections, and ensuring that the mouth remains pain-free. Therefore, you might need to wait for a few months for the mouth to heal before the final denture installation.
One of the advantages of complete dentures is their ability to restore oral health for severe or chronic tooth problems. They also fill out your face perfectly, which might appear sunken due to the lack of teeth. They also restore the ability to eat a wide variety of food, which improves your overall physical health.
The Benefits of Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used to replace a single tooth or a few teeth. They sell at a lesser price than the complete dentures. They can quickly restore the aesthetics of your mouth and fill the gap in your smile, especially those that are candidates of same-day tooth treatment. These people don't have to wait for an extended period before they have their dentures installed.
Partial dentures are also suitable for protecting the health of your remaining teeth. They usually achieve this by preventing the remaining teeth from shifting and weakening. They also prevent the overuse of one side of the mouth while waiting for the permanent ones, which can cause wear and damage.
The Benefits of Dentures Compared to Other Cosmetic Dentistry Services
Dentures have remained the go-to solution for older adults who've lost their teeth due to age. However, in the modern world, young people can benefit from them. Here are a few benefits from dentures that you should know about:
Cosmetic Advantage
Losing several teeth is not cosmetically appealing. It makes people shy while smiling or laughing. Apart from that, when you have some teeth missing, the entire dental framework is affected. Dentures work as a suitable replacement for your missing teeth to alleviate your appearance. The advantage of dentures is that they are made with materials with the same material as your teeth, making them a suitable cosmetic option.
Functional Advantage
Eating can be a problem if you lack some of your teeth. Your teeth play a significant role in pronunciation, as much as they help in digestion through chewing. Fortunately, the use of dentures helps their users to resume their regular lifestyles.
A Cheaper Solution for Your Dental Problem
When you compare the use of dentures to other types of cosmetic dentistry, you'll learn that they are the most favorable option. For instance, dentures are much more affordable than dental implants and usually play a more or less function as they do.
Guarantees a Non- Invasive Alternative to Oral Health Restoration
There is no surgical intervention needed to set up dentures. As soon as the dentist looks at the impression of your teeth, you're good to go. You also don't have to worry about any invasive approach once your dentures wear out. Compared with dental implants that require surgical procedures, dentures seem to be the most suitable option.
Flexible to Use
Most people don't want to wear dental appliances all the time. However, dentures give you the flexibility to wear them all day or at a particular time of the day. However, your dentist might recommend you to wear them for the first few weeks after they’ve been placed for adjustability reasons. This, however, does not limit you from choosing when to wear them and removing them when you want.
Easy to Clean
Dentures are removable, making them easy to clean with minimal effort. You only need to use a special cleaning agent and a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean them.
Comfortable to Use
Dentists create dentures to make you as comfortable as possible. Therefore, you can talk normally and eat with ease, just as you would do with natural teeth. Dentists can also make a new pair of dentures if your jawbone changes over time.
What to Expect in Denture Placement Services
Dentists use a similar process to create and place dentures in their patients. Both the dentist and the patient must follow this process to ensure that the process is completed well. However, the procedures used can change depending on the specific dentist that you visit and the extent of your oral health problem. These are the typical steps of denture placement.
The Pre-Denture Healthy Visit
At your first visit, the dentist will check whether your gums and soft tissues are healthy and are ready for your new teeth. Therefore, you should expect a complete examination, including X-rays. The X-ray ensures that there are no unforeseen challenges with the jawbone. Sometimes, the dentist might recommend additional procedures during this step, like removing excess flabby tissues to ensure a better fitting denture or reshaping the bone to accommodate a tighter fit.
If everything is as expected, the dentist might decide to make the denture using a cast or mold from your upper or lower gum. Making the mold without the teeth is a more preferred method since it allows the dentist to make a perfect impression of your gum on which the fabrication of the new dentures will be based. Finally, the dentist will discuss essential elements of the entire process like the size, shape, and shade of the dentures.
Measuring The Denture Length and Adjusting the Plane
At the second visit, the dentist will decide the length of your dentures according to your mouth's appearance. For the dentures to be fully fit, they will probably check whether there is a correct alignment between the upper and the lower teeth. The dentist will check and review the crucial relationship between your upper jaw and the lower jaw at this stage. The dentist will use a loose-fitting denture and a rim of wax to approximate the position of your teeth and ensure that the bite is perfect and there is no clicking when you are talking or chewing.
Denture Wax Tray- in
During your third visit, your dentist will replace the loose tray that has the final dentures. The final set usually feels and looks like a denture but has a loosely-fit base, and the teeth impressions are usually wax instead of the actual denture material. This visit allows your dentist to check how the dentures would look, adjust them, and size them to the final measurement.
Adapting to the New Dentures
Having dentures is an entirely new feeling. You might be happy that having your new dentures will make you super happy, but there are a few things that all first-timers experience. Continue reading and learn what you should expect and how to cope with this situation.
Sore Gums and Adapting to the New Dentures
Once your new dentures are fitted, you will likely start to experience sores in certain areas of your gum within 24 hours. This situation is common, and your dentist will probably schedule an appointment after 24 hours to look at the adjustments. It's not recommended to adjust the dentures by yourself. The task should be left out to your dentist or their technicians.
If the soreness persists, the dentist will recommend removing the dentures and re-inserting them at least 12 hours before the adjustment appointment. That's why your dentist must see the pressure points of your gum and find out the pressure points of your gum. Once they find the pressure areas, they will adjust the dentures accordingly. Your dentures will settle once the sore gum has been solved, although it might take time to adjust to the dentures.
You Need Practice Chewing with the Dentures
It might be challenging to chew your food with your new dentures at first. Usually, it takes about four to eight weeks for anyone to adjust to chewing with the dentures. Therefore, you should choose soft and easy food to chew first as you accustom yourself to the dentures. As you get used to soft food, you can gradually try harder food.
It's recommendable to chew your food using both sides of your mouth to stabilize the denture. Place the food between your teeth and the corner of your mouth rather than eating with your front teeth. Using your front teeth increases the chances of raising the dentures from behind and making them unstable.
Practice Eating with the Dentures
Eating with your new dentures is a whole new experience. It's crucial to know what to expect. The way you're used to eating will not be the same as using your natural teeth. Eating an apple or a carrot the way you used to eat with your natural teeth is almost impossible. Therefore, you should cut them into pieces before you place them in your mouth.
Once you put them in your mouth, chew slowly and correctly. Use the same procedure while eating vegetables or any fruit that you wish to have. You must take every bit carefully to avoid filling your mouth, which can be a painful experience.
Practicing How to Speak with The Dentures
At first, it might sound funny while speaking with your dentures in place. Once your natural teeth have been removed, your tongue movement will not be the same, and your pronunciation can be different. You must practice if you want to speak as you were used to. Start with the difficult words, speak them aloud, and listen to the sounds as you progress to the less difficult ones.
Your brain will slowly adapt to the new speaking style, and you will start talking correctly over time. The only effort you should put in is mastering your tongue. As soon as your tongue adjusts to the momentum, everything will start falling into place. Practice out loud is the best way to regain your normal speaking.
Practice How to Clean Your Dentures
You must take care of your dentures regularly to keep them in proper shape. Using brushes and other harsh cleaning methods would damage your dentures. In that case, your dentist will recommend a subtle approach to keep your denture in shape. Brush your dentures every day and leave them to soak overnight. Soaking them is a suitable way to keep them in the best shape. Any careless action would result in more problems, the worst being forced to buy new dentures.
Practice How to Smile Confidently
There's a possibility that people will notice and judge your smile once your dentist places your dentures in place. Sometimes, it might be challenging to sleep on either side since there's a lot of pain in your mouth. However, if you want to keep your perfect smile, practicing how to use your dentures is worth the pain that you'll go through.
How to Take Care of Your Dentures
You already know how crucial it is to take care of our dentures. They are made to last for a long time, and keeping them in good shape ensures that they serve you for as long as they can. It's also crucial to take care of them to keep your oral health in check. Here are a few Dos and Don'ts of denture care.
Always Handle the Dentures Carefully
If you have to remove your complete dentures, ensure that you don't bend them or damage their clasps when cleaning them. Constant bending of the dentures will make them lose their elasticity.
Remove and rinse your Dentures after You’ve Eaten
When you're rinsing your dentures after eating, use running water to remove loose particles like food debris. It's recommended to place a towel on your sink’s counter to avoid breaking the denture if it falls.
Clean Your Mouth Once You Remove the Dentures
If you are using partial dentures, you should gently clean your palate, tongue, and natural teeth. You can also remove any adhesive from your gum.
Brush Your Denture Daily
You should remove and clean your dentures gently. Use a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft-bristled brush to soak and clean the dentures. Clean the grooves of your denture adhesive to remove any adhesive that might be remaining.
Keep Your Dentures Soaked Overnight
Almost every denture must be soaked overnight to maintain its shape. Therefore, you should place your denture in a soaking solution or water overnight. Your dentist should advise you on the best means to keep your denture throughout the night.
Rinse the Denture Thoroughly before You Use it
Denture-soaking solution contains hazardous chemicals that can cause pains, burns, or vomiting if swallowed. That's why it's recommendable to thoroughly rinse the dentures after you've soaked them throughout the night.
Schedule and Attend Your Dental Checkups
Your dentist should recommend when to visit their clinic to examine and clean your dentures. During these checkups, the dentist will recommend a proper fit for the dentures to reduce the chances of discomfort and slippage and check whether your mouth is healthy.
Know What to Avoid
There are specific elements that can easily damage your dentures if you use them. It's crucial to learn about them so you can avoid them. These elements include:
- Abrasive Cleaning Materials: Do away with strong cleansers, stiff-bristled toothbrushes, and harsh toothpaste since they might damage your dentures
- Hot Water: Avoid hot boiling water since it could wrap your denture
- Whitening Toothpaste: Whitening toothpaste usually contain peroxide, which can change the white color of your denture
- Products Containing Bleach: Avoid bleaching products since they can weaken your dentures and discolor them. You should also avoid soaking the dentures with metallic attachment in the solution, especially one that contains chlorine, since they might be tarnished or corroded
Taking care of your dentures well can have them last for many years. However, they may need readjustment if your jawbone shifts or other teeth are removed.
Find The Best Dentures Services Near Me
Dentures stand to be one of the best means to restore your smile. However, the success of your denture placement depends on the dentist that you rely on. At our Carson, CA Washington Dental Clinic, we provide state-of-the-art services in denture placement and other types of cosmetic dentistry. For further information, please schedule an appointment with us today.