Dentures are removable false teeth that fill gaps caused by missing teeth. In contrast to implants and bridges, dentures are removable. This means that you can take them in and out of your mouth at any time. Dentures are made from pink and white acrylic that closely resemble your natural teeth and gum structure. You can use dentures to replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or all of your teeth. Wearing dentures replaces your missing teeth so that you can chew, talk, and function comfortably again.

What are the benefits of wearing dentures?

Dentures offer a cost-effective and convenient way of replacing your missing teeth. There are many happy denture wearers who function comfortably with their false teeth and hardly miss their natural teeth. Here are some of the major benefits of wearing dentures to replace your missing teeth:

Better looks

Having missing teeth can be embarrassing, especially if they are in the front. Wearing dentures replaces your missing teeth to restore your smile. You can smile with confidence again and no longer have to try and hide your teeth when talking!

Stable bite

Missing teeth leads to many issues over the years. Whenever you lose a tooth, your remaining teeth start to shift into the resulting gap. This causes your remaining teeth to become crooked which leads to bite issues. Wearing dentures prevents your remaining teeth from collapsing into the missing gaps and it also supports your bite forces.

Affordable tooth replacement solution

Dentures are the most cost-efficient way to replace your missing teeth. Alternatives to dentures, such as dental implants or bridges, are very expensive. Additionally, denture treatment is much simpler than receiving dental implants. Whereas dental implant treatment usually takes several months or even years to complete, you can typically make a new set of dentures within just a few weeks.

Denture complications

There are many happy denture wearers who love their false teeth. Then there are those who face varying degrees of problems using their false teeth. Problems can range from minor discomfort all the way to an inability to wear your dentures. Here are some common issues which you may face when it comes to wearing your dentures:

Pain and discomfort

It comes as no surprise that wearing removable teeth is not nearly as comfortable as having your own teeth. If dentures aren’t stable in your mouth they can cause pain and discomfort. This may include subpar chewing capability, speech difficulties, recurring sore lesions, and other difficulties.

Deterioration of the rest of your mouth

Long-term denture wear can damage your remaining teeth, jaws, and facial muscles. The stress from dentures, especially the clasps, causes your remaining teeth to loosen, develop decay, and fail over time. Wearing dentures also weakens your jawbone structure by applying pressure to the jawbone. Finally, not having your own teeth causes the collapse of your facial muscles. As you continue to lose more teeth and jawbone structure, your dentures also become looser and looser.

The need to replace your dentures

You need to replace your dentures every few years. Since denture teeth are made from acrylic, they wear flat with repeated use. This causes the false teeth to lose their chewing efficiency which compromises your eating capability. Dentures are also likely to break or loosen over time which requires maintenance and repair.

What are the different types of dentures?

There are several different types of dentures. These include complete dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures, and implant-supported dentures to name a few. Here’s what you need to know about each type of denture:

Complete dentures (full dentures)

Complete dentures, or full dentures, are false teeth that replace every tooth in your jaw. These dentures get their retention from suction forces against your mouth. As a result, complete dentures need to cover as much as your jaws as possible. Many complete denture wearers use denture adhesives, such as Polygrip and Fixodent, to stabilize their false teeth in place. This prevents their false teeth from moving when they chew or speak and enhances their denture wearing experience.

Partial dentures

If you’ve lost some but not all of your teeth, then you need to wear partial dentures. Partial dentures, or simply partials, have anchors that attach them to your teeth. These anchors stabilize your partials and hold them in place. As a result, partial dentures are more stable than complete dentures. This is why dentists always recommend saving as many teeth as possible so that they can use these teeth as anchors to stabilize your partials.

Immediate dentures

Immediate dentures are designed to replace your missing teeth before you actually remove these teeth. Your dentist makes immediate dentures using casts of your teeth by knocking out the teeth designated for extraction on the cast itself. Immediate dentures are ready to be inserted in your mouth as soon as the bad teeth are removed. This way you won’t be walking around toothless during the recovery period. Keep in mind, immediate dentures are only designed for short term use. Once your gums have healed, you need to work on a permanent denture option or start looking into dental implants.

Implant-supported dentures

Implant-supported dentures are also known as overdentures or snap-on-dentures. These are false teeth that are supported by two or more dental implants. The dental implants act similarly to teeth and they anchor your dentures in place. Adding a fe dentyal implants to support your false teeth provides for more stability, less pain, and improved chewing capability. 

Different denture materials

Complete dentures are almost exclusively made from acrylic resin. There is no need for any type of metal or other fancy material since complete dentures have no clasps. On the opposite hand, partial dentures come in a wide variety of different materials. Partial dentures can be made from acrylic, metal and acrylic combo, or a special type of flexible plastic. Each type of material has its own risks and benefits. Let’s take a closer look at the different material used in fabricating dentures:

Acrylic

Acrylic is used to make complete dentures as well as partial dentures. While acrylic is perfectly fine for complete dentures, it is not as effective for partials. Acrylic partials are the weakest types of partial dentures. Plus, acrylic partials are very loose since their metal clasps only passively engage with your teeth. This is why acrylic dentures are usually made for temporary use only as opposed to a long-term tooth replacement solution.

Metal framework with acrylic

These types of dentures have a solid metal framework that stabilizes the denture and anchors it in place. Metal partial dentures are the most common type of partial dentures. They are comfortable, stable, and affordable. One issue with these types of partials is that the metal clasps can occasionally interfere with aesthetics. This is especially true if you’re missing your front teeth. Metal partials also break easily if you ever drop them. They are also very difficult to repair if you ever break them.

Flexible plastic

Flexible partial dentures are made from resilient plastic that is durable, comfortable, and natural-looking. One benefit of flexible partials is that they have pink-colored plastic clasps instead of the metal ones. This makes flexible partials a better option for replacing missing front teeth since the clasps are not very noticeable. Flexible partials are also more resilient than metal partials and they don’t break as easily.

Which denture is best for my needs?

There are many different types of dentures to consider from. If you have a few teeth left in your mouth then you want an acrylic partial, metal partial, or flexible partial. If you no longer have any teeth in your mouth then you either need to wear a complete denture. Another option is to look into adding a few dental implants and wearing implant-supported dentures instead. Talk to your dentist to explore your different options. Talk to your dentist to decide which type of denture is best suited to your needs.

Why are some people unhappy with their dentures?

There are many patients who love their dentures and never think of getting dental implants. Then there are those who can’t stand their false teeth and constantly struggle with them. So why the discrepancy between the two groups? Here are some reasons why some patients keep struggling with their false teeth:

Ill-fitting dentures

When you first receive a new set of dentures they almost always need to be adjusted. Adjusting your dentures is important to improve the fit and feel of your false teeth:

• If you’re experiencing sore lesions in your mouth then your denture may be cutting into your gums. Point out the areas you’re feeling discomfort to your dentist and your dentist will adjust them for you.
• Sometimes your false teeth move too much when you chew on them. This is usually due to an incorrect bite. Your dentist needs to check your bite relationship and calibrate your bite in order to fix this problem.
• Dentures become loose over time. A simple denture reline or rebase can improve the fit of your false teeth. This makes your dentures much more stable in your mouth.

Wearing dentures that feel uncomfortable or painful can cause harm to your mouth. Don’t settle for ill-fitting dentures! See your dentist to have them adjusted or see if it’s time for a new set of dentures. Schedule an appointment with a dentist near you to learn more about how you can improve the fit and feel of your false teeth.

Old dentures

You may not be happy with your dentures simply because they are too old. Dentures start to loosen as a result of wear-and-tear and jawbone shrinkage. Denture teeth also become flat and lose their chewing ability overtime. Receiving a new set of dentures is a simple solution that can make you love your dentures again.

Poor candidate for dentures

Unfortunately, there are those people who are never happy with their dentures. Some people can never get accustomed to wearing false teeth. This could be due to excessive gag reflex, inability to secure your dentures in place, lack of sufficient jawbone, and many other unforeseen reasons. Even a perfect set of dentures won’t help you out if you’re not a good candidate for wearing dentures. The only solution here is to start looking at your options involving dental implants.

How to find a dentist for denture treatment?

Replacing your missing teeth is very important to your oral health and overall well-being. Having missing teeth in your mouth can affect your chewing, speech, and confidence. Missing teeth cause you to develop facial wrinkles, they affect your digestion, and can have other negative impacts on your health.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you should see a dentist to have your mouth fixed. Your dentist will review your situation to see if you’re a good candidate for wearing dentures. They will go over your options to see which type of denture is best suited to your needs. Feel free to use our dentist Search Engine to find a great dentist next to you. Browse through nearby dentist profiles to learn more about each one. Read their reviews, view their treatment photos, check out which services they offer, and book your appointment online. Don’t postpone treatment any longer! Let’s find you a great dentist to give your beautiful smile back.

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