Dentures are removable dental appliances that take the place of missing teeth and their surrounding gum tissue. They are meant to be unobtrusive, and therefore they are made to appear as close as possible to your natural teeth. They can even help upgrade your smile from “blah” to beautiful!
The two main types of dentures are:
Just like the natural teeth they are meant to replace, dentures are very strong and should last for many years. Normal wear and tear do occur, however, and it is not unusual for dentures to need to be repaired, readjusted, or remade over time.
There are many reasons why patients may need to get dentures. Here are a few:
There are many reasons to consider getting dentures, but the bottom line in this: people need teeth for several important reasons, and dentures play a critical role in a patient’s overall health and quality of life by replacing missing teeth.
Getting dentures is not a quick process, but that is because each set of dentures is custom-created specifically for the individual patient. It takes many appointments spread out over the course of several weeks to get this process right. The dentist will need to get many molds made of the patient’s mouth as well as take measurements so that the dentures are as accurate to the patient’s mouth dimensions as possible. In addition to the basics, the patient will also need to try out their dentures to be certain that the dentist has gotten the right shape, color, and fit. This part of the process alone can take multiple appointments, but it is well worth it to ensure that the perfect set of dentures is the result. The final step in the process involves the dentist performing precise adjustments to make sure that the dentures feel comfortable and natural in the patient’s mouth.
After going for some length of time without having some or even all of their teeth, the patient may feel sore and slobbery and may have difficulty eating and talking. This is not a cause for alarm, however; it is merely the effects of going from having missing teeth to suddenly having several new teeth. The body’s tissues and muscles are simply adjusting, and these symptoms will soon subside as the body establishes its “new normal.”
Your dentist will provide you with specific, detailed care instructions for your set of dentures. It is essential that you follow these instructions in order to prolong the life of your new dentures. With good oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and proper cleaning, you will be able to maximize the life of your new dental appliance.
Your dentist will provide you with specific, detailed care instructions for your set of dentures. It is essential that you follow these instructions in order to prolong the life of your new dentures. With good oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and proper cleaning, you will be able to maximize the life of your new dental appliance.