Dentures are quite useful and they have been changing peoples’ lives for many years now. Dentures are artificial teeth and gums that are formed to your mouth and replace your teeth that were taken out. The beauty of dentures is that they are custom made to fit your mouth, teeth, and gums perfectly. They can be used to replace just a couple of teeth or all of them. When they’re made properly, no one can even notice that they’re not looking at your own natural teeth.
Your dentist is the one person who can tell you whether you need dentures and if so, which type would fit you best and what the cost would be. Every denture is unique so the costs also vary from denture to denture.
Main types of dentures
There are two main kinds of dentures, partial and complete. Their names are quite self-explanatory- while complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are missing, partial dentures are used when there are still some natural teeth left.
Complete dentures are quite common today. Two subtypes of complete dentures are conventional ones and immediate dentures. Conventional dentures can be placed in the mouth several weeks after the teeth were removed, while immediate ones are ready for placement as soon as the teeth are removed. However, the healing process might slightly change the shape of your gums causing the denture to not fit properly anymore. That’s why conventional dentures might be a better choice. An immediate denture will need adjusting during a couple of months after it’s been placed, but it can serve you well until conventional denture is placed. Smileleaguedental.com can give you more advice and information on dentures and might help you choose what’s best for you.
Partial dentures replace only the several teeth that are missing. The teeth are connected by a metal frame on which they rest. In some cases, crowns are placed on your remaining teeth and serve as anchors for the denture. Partial dentures are not permanently fasted and you can decide to take them out anytime.
Implant-supported dentures are also quite popular. The implant is permanently fixed into the jaw and is comprised of a metal post which is usually made out of titanium, and a crown that resembles a natural tooth. These dental implants can be used to replace one or multiple teeth.
How they are made
Dentures today are usually made out of a hard resin. Denture teeth are much more fragile than natural teeth and can be more easily chipped or damaged. That’s why they must be replaced every four to six years. Your dentist will certainly give you all the necessary information concerning the cleaning and maintenance of your denture. The part of the denture that serves as gum, is usually made out of similar resin.
The dentures, no matter what kind you have, need to be taken care off. They need to be cleaned properly and regularly with a denture cleaner and a denture brush. Regular toothpaste and toothbrush can damage them, so make sure to only use the products your dentist told you to use.