Tooth loss is a major problem faced by many. It may happen as a result of tooth decay and gum disease that ultimately rear their evil heads in, or because of an unfortunate injury or long-term oral cancer. More than 36 million Americans do not have teeth, and 120 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth, statistics suggest. The numbers are, however, expected to grow in the next two decades due to the increasing demand for a commercially-appeasing high-sugar diet popularized amongst the people. For this reason, edentulism affects our most vulnerable populations – the aging and the economically disadvantaged. Fortunately, there is an affordable solution to tooth loss – dentures. 15% of the edentulous population in the U.S. has dentures made each year, so what’s the appeal with dentures?
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that aim to replace missing teeth, replicate the oral hard and soft supporting tissue components, and help restore your smile. If you have lost your teeth as a result of maximal wear-and-tear of the teeth, extreme gum disease, or due to an injury, you may be more likely to find performing regular oral functions such as eating and talking difficult. False teeth in dentures can help you get back to unproblematic eating, talking, and smiling. They may also benefit your appearance and your general health.
The elderly or people who have had to undergo teeth extraction may experience some odd side-effects if they do not get them readily replaced. When enough facial support is unavailable, your facial muscles around your cheek and chin begin to sag, making your face look sunken in and older than it is. Dentures help fill out the appearance of your face and profile, says the American Dental Association (ADA). A quality denture can make you look youthful and vibrant, visibly taking a few years off of your appearance by tightening and uplifting your smile.
Types of dentures
Full dentures use a gum-colored acrylic base plate that fits perfectly over your gums, covering your palate and the lingual structures of the lower jaw. Over this base, the artificial teeth that are color-matched to your own will be attached so that when you wear a denture, it looks as natural and indistinguishable as possible. Dentures may primarily be of three types:
- Conventional full denture:
This full denture is placed in your mouth after all the remaining teeth have been removed and the tissues have healed. During the healing process (which may take several months), you will be without teeth. They cover the entire span of the upper and lower edentulous and sits atop toothless gums and ridges. This style of denture is great for people who have lost all their teeth to assist in restoring function and aesthetics.
- Immediate full denture:
This is also a full-mouth denture but the difference lies in its same-day delivery. They are inserted on the same day as the removal of the teeth. You will not have to go without teeth during the healing period but may need to have your denture relined or remade after your jaw has completely healed.
- Partial denture:
A partial denture is a prosthetic device that can be removed on impulse. The denture rests on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. This helps facilitates normal teeth functions when one or more teeth have been removed or lost, but not all of the teeth. They solely rely on the neighboring teeth for support.
Why should you get dentures?
Dentures are prosthetic devices that help make your daily oral activities easier and seamless to do. Getting custom-made dentures can help you do just that and so much more. They can be very valuable for the individual in rebuilding self-confidence and preventing the subversion of oral tissues.
- Superior aesthetics: The aesthetic benefits of dentures are one of the prime reasons for their popularity. Dentures are removable appliances that use artificial teeth custom made to fit in your mouth and make them look like natural teeth. A shade guide is used to perfectly match the tooth color to the rest of your teeth; the same for the soft tissues. Your fake teeth look natural and stunning.
- Preserves the health of surrounding tissues: They prevent the gradual gravitation of surrounding teeth into the spaces of lost teeth structures thereby aiding in maintaining appropriate teeth posture and position. With partial dentures, you will not have to worry about odd gaps and awkward positions of teeth. For completely bare jaws, the bones may start to deteriorate due to loss of stimuli from the teeth, hence dentures help keep the oral structures in place and healthy.
- Superior functionality: With dentures, you will not only be able to chew and bite into food normally but there will also be very few restrictions on the types of food you can eat with your dentures on. With sustained functionality, you will no longer have to worry about talking, eating, or smiling!
- Restores facial structure: Loss of teeth can cause the cheeks to sag and the face to appear sunken. Support with dentures can help uplift the facial structure and restore the appearance, making you look younger and healthier!
- Improved oral hygiene: It is easier to maintain proper oral hygiene as the dentures can be removed for cleaning and brushing, thus getting rid of gunk on the denture surfaces.
- Affordability: Dentures are the most cost-effective method of replacing missing teeth. Most dental insurance usually covers the cost of dentures.
Brand new dentures may feel awkward in your mouth for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. It is not unusual to experience slight mouth soreness and irritation, but they should subside rather quickly. Follow-up appointments are key to maintain the vitality of the dentures. You may also be given a strict list of oral hygiene instructions that help you prolong the longevity of the dentures and your oral tissues. Proper cleansing of the dentures for the prevention of plaque accumulation is a must.
Dentures help you regain your lost self-confidence and helps you smile brighter. If you are currently contemplating getting dentures or have not yet replaced your missing teeth, it is time to bring back your flawless smile. 4Smile helps you connect with some of the best dental professionals who can build your smile right up with the help of dentures! Contact us now.
