Your natural teeth are meant to give you a lifetime of smiles but sometimes they can be damaged or become missing. There are many dental procedures that can solve this problem but sometimes dentures are the right fix for you. Dentures area removable replacement for your missing teeth that look natural. Our dentists are prepared and eager to help you repair your smile as soon as possible. We hope that this article will help you feel more comfortable about dentures as an option to help restore your smile.
There are 3 types of dentures that are all removable and have a natural appearance; conventional full denture, immediate full denture, and partial denture. Conventional full dentures are used if you are missing the upper, lower, or your whole set of teeth. This type of dentures take the longest to acquire since you have to wait until the remaining teeth are removed and your mouth has fully healed. The healing process may take several months and during this time you will be without teeth. For immediate full dentures, one of our highly skilled dentists will take measurements and molds of your jaws so that the dentures can be placed immediately. Your dentures will be inserted into your mouth right after the remaining teeth are removed.
Immediate full dentures allow you to never be without teeth but does has some drawbacks. The bones of the removed teeth reshape as they heal, which can cause your dentures to become loose or ill-fitting. Therefore, your immediate full dentures will need to be realigned several months after they’ve been inserted. Both types of full dentures fit over your gums and holds onto your mouth the same way; an upper denture covers the roof of your mouth and the lower is horse-shoe shaped.
Lastly, partial dentures are a removable alternative to dental bridges in that they only replace a few missing teeth instead of a few rows of teeth. This type of denture connects through a metal frame that connect to your natural teeth. There is also a type of partial dentures that anchors itself with the crowns on your natural teeth. Our dentists will recommend which type of dentures is best for you depending on the location and number of missing teeth you have.
Regardless of what type of denture you have, they will give you information on how to care for your new dentures.
You will need to visit your dentist at least once a year to realign, rebase, or remake your dentures as needed. Your dentures may need to be adjusted due to natural mouth changes that occur when we age. You can maintain your dentures by:
- Preventing drying – Make sure to always have your dentures in plain luke warm water or a type of denture cleanser solution
- Brushing daily to remove any food particles or plaque
- Making sure your dentures don’t fall
Also, make sure not to attempt to repair your own dentures; you may cause irreversible damage. By following all the tips above, your dentures will live a long-lasting life.
Any type of dentures you acquire take some getting used to but will work as naturally as the teeth you were born with. Dentures give you back your smile and allows you to enjoy all your favorite types of food. Talk to our team today about if dentures are right for you. Our team of dentists have experience providing the best dentures for our patients and ready to help you get back your smile.