A brief Guide to Dental Dentures

Many people associate dental dentures with old people. However, dentures are a great way of restoring teeth and are an ideal remedy for young people as well. In addition to improving the smile, dentures can also help one eat, speak and keep their facial muscles from sagging – maintaining that young and healthy look.

What are dentures?

Simply put, dentures are removable frames or plates holding one or more artificial teeth. They are teeth-like and are a perfect solution for a range of dental issues.

Early warning signs

You might need dentures if you are experiencing one of these warning signs:

• If you are experiencing severe toothaches that won’t go away, you could be a good candidate for dental dentures. A toothache could be a sign of decay that has found its way to the nerve ending. Although a root canal therapy can remedy this, there are times when the decay is beyond the point of salvage, necessitating for dental dentures or implants.
• Sensitive gum is another excellent sign that you may need dentures, primarily when they arise due to periodontal disease. Although gingivitis can be addressed using cleaning and preventative methods, the problem might only get worse. And if untreated can result in bone loss, tooth loss and the need for dentures.
• If your teeth are moving or lose, you could be needing dentures soon. The same applies to gaps growing between teeth.
• Lastly, if you already are missing a tooth or teeth, it’s a big sign that you need to get dentures as soon as possible. Delaying getting dentures will only increase your chances of losing additional teeth. With no support of the neighboring teeth, the healthy teeth shift faster and become weaker.

Types of dentures

Your dentist will suggest different kinds of dentures depending on your situation. Full dentures replace your teeth completely, removing any remaining teeth to create room for the dentures. Examples of full dentures include immediate and conventional dentures. Partial dentures, on the other hand, are fitted on a wire frame and only replace missing teeth, leaving the healthy teeth intact. Overdenture is an example of partial dentures.

Determining the right denture for you

To establish the right dentures for you, your dentist will:

• Evaluate the type that works best for your situation
• Make a mold of your mouth to get an accurate fit
• Craft the dentures as per the mold, and come up with customized teeth
• Install the dentures and make the necessary adjustments to ensure your comfort

How to care for your dentures

Dentures are delicate and need proper care to prevent them from chipping or warping. Here is how to care for your dentures:

• Rinse them off before brushing
• Use a non-abrasive cleanser and a soft bristle brush to clean the dentures
• Keep the dentures in a safe place, covered with water to prevent warping
• Avoid chewing gum as it sticks to the acrylic plastic and may break the seal on the denture
• Do not attempt to fix your dentures. If they crack or break, return them to the prosthodontist for repairs