Replace Your Missing Teeth Using Dentures
Dentures are the solution to anyone missing all or several teeth. As you age, it is common to start losing teeth. However, this can affect your ability to eat and even change the way your face looks like. Moreover, it can make you change your dietary habits. Fortunately, these prosthetic appliances are designed to act as your natural teeth and replace their lost function. Although it may seem simple, there are many different types of dentures. Furthermore, this could lead to confusion when investigating which one will work for you. Today, in this article, we will explain what dentures are, their different types, and their characteristics.
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable prosthetic appliances made of acrylic or a combination of metal and acrylic that are designed to replace every missing tooth in your mouth to restore function and aesthetics. They can even support the muscles around your lips when anterior teeth are lost, giving you a younger appearance.
As every case is different, they are custom-made to fit only your mouth. Nevertheless, there are many types of dentures. However, all of them can be gathered in two major groups: complete dentures and partial dentures.
Complete dentures
These dentures are used when every tooth of a dental arch is missing. They are entirely made of acrylic and possess a pink base to simulate the gums for aesthetic purposes. Complete dentures rest over the gums where the teeth used to be. As its shape resembles the gums, it creates a vacuum effect that keeps the denture in place.
Dentures can be divided into 3 types of complete dentures.
- Conventional: Made after the bone and gums have completely healed after tooth extraction of pre-prosthetic surgery.
- Immediate: They are made before your teeth are extracted. The dentist takes an impression during the planning appointments and uses it to make a denture with approximate measures.
- This denture is inserted immediately after tooth extraction, allowing you to eat while also protecting the wound as it heals. However, it requires multiple adjustments as the tissue constantly shrinks through the healing process.
- It is essential to understand that immediate dentures act only as a provisional solution. They must be replaced with a conventional denture once the tissues have completely healed. Moreover, as they don’t fit as tight, not doing so could cause bone resorption.
- Overdenture: This type of denture is supported by natural teeth. In some cases, a few teeth could be saved and prepared in a dedicated way that acts as an attachment to the denture, giving it better support and stability. Moreover, this can also be done using dental implants.
- Partial dentures
These dentures are used when there are still enough remaining teeth that don’t require extraction.
Removable partial dentures prevent the common side effects of teeth loss, such as bone resorption and teeth migration. Therefore, helping preserve oral health. Same as with complete dentures, there are different types of partial dentures, such as:
- Metal dentures: They possess a metallic framework that acts as their core and ties together all the elements of the denture. Also, partial dentures rely on metal clasps that anchor to a few teeth to achieve support, stability, and retention. Although they are made of metal, every visible part of the denture, aside from the clasps, is covered by pink acrylic that simulates the gums, blending with the tissues to go unnoticed.
- Flexible dentures: They are made of a highly flexible thermoplastic material. They don’t possess any metallic element and fit tightly to the teeth and gums to stay in place. However, even if they will not fall off, flexible dentures are unstable enough to cause bone resorption. Therefore, they are recommended as final dentures.
In many occasions, people may find out only one of their arches is completely edentulous while the other is partially dentate, in the case the dentist can combine a complete denture with a partial denture to restore every teeth.
Special considerations
Although dentures are an excellent solution, it may take you some time to get used to them. They could be slightly uncomfortable the first couple of days. Furthermore, it is usual to have an increased salivary flow while the mouth gets used to the denture. Moreover, you could also experience some difficulty accustoming to eat and speak while wearing them. However, all these inconveniences will disappear after a few days. As every case is different, dentures are tailor-made to fit your mouth. Whether you require a partial or complete denture, your dentist will evaluate your case and explain which type is your best option. Moreover, not only do they restore your missing teeth, but also enhance your aesthetics and restore your ability to eat properly, improving your overall life quality while recovering the smile you have lost.
Let’s get started. Request An Appointment for Dentures
Dr. Rahaf Suede, DDS at Great Lakes Smiles Dental is trusted by many patients in Plymouth and surrounding areas for comprehensive dental care. She is recognized for her high quality dental treatment and patient satisfaction. Contact her now for an appointment Call (734) 459-9360
Schedule an appointment
