Understanding Dentures

A variety of dental and health problems can result from tooth loss. Without properly aligned teeth an individual might not be able to chew correctly and this may affect their diet. Improper or incomplete chewing habits can lead to indigestion and even more serious conditions like malnutrition. Losing even one tooth may cause the remaining teeth to shift their position, altering an individual’s bite pattern and leading to pain in the head, neck and jaw.

Patients with missing teeth have two restorative alternatives to choose from - a complete denture to replace all the teeth in the upper or lower jaws, or partial dentures or overdentures for replacement of a few teeth. As well as being removable and intended for those who have lost a few teeth, partial dentures require abutting teeth to anchor them. Overdentures are also removable, but use remaining tooth roots to hold them in position.

Dentures are molded specifically to fit each individual patient. This requires a thorough examination of their gum line and facial bones. Some patients may require extraction of remaining teeth or shaping of the areas of the jaw to allow dentures to fit comfortably.Sometimes, during the extraction or shaping process swelling may occur in which case a temporary denture is inserted for six to twelve months before a permanent denture is made so that it fits properly.

Patients have many material options to choose, and the choice can significantly affect the overall result and the expenditure involved. For example, plastic dentures are less durable than the polymer dentures which are also more natural looking. Many people opt to pay the higher cost for the polymer in order to enjoy the benefits.

Taking care of a denture is quite easy and should be integrated into a conventional dental hygiene routine. Patients generally brush their natural teeth, gums and palate every day, and this can be done to dentures, as well. There are two reasons dentists advise their patients to remove the denture at night: One, it permits the saliva to access the gums to ensure a healthy natural environment and, two, to soak the dentures in a disinfectant solution to rid the denture of germs and food particles brushing may have missed. Because dentures may occasionally irritate the gums and lining of the mouth, it is important to keep them, and the mouth, as clean and healthy as possible.

Dentists recommend that denture patients return periodically for evaluation of their denture and the affected area of the mouth.