Replacing Lost Teeth Using Dentures
Loss of teeth on your whole jaw limits you to eating only soft foods and affects your smile. Apart from limited oral functionalities and smile aesthetic, tooth loss can cause bone loss, thus the need for a bone graft.
However, with some dental replacement options, you can restore your chewing abilities and appearance.
Whether you have dentures already or planning to get a new set, you might have questions about what dentures are, who needs them, how to get them, benefits, and maintenance. Therefore, in this blog, you will get to know more about dentures to prepare you for the procedure.
What Are Dentures?
A denture is an artificial dental work that your dentist places on your jaw to replace your lost or removed natural dental work. The dentures can either be partial or full, meaning they can help replace the dentition on one or both jaws. Therefore, your dentist will custom design your dentures to fit your mouth.
Dental technologists use acrylic resin, porcelain material, and metal to make dentures. The prosthesis can either be metal or porcelain, while the dental work is acrylic resin.
Types of Dentures
There are two major categories of dentures, full and partial dentures. Apart from dentures being full or partial, they can also be fixed or removable. Fixed dentures are held in place by dental implants, while a removable denture is held by the gums and easy to fall out.
Partial Dentures
Your dentist might recommend partial dentures over a dental bridge if the adjacent natural tooth is not strong enough to hold it. To hold the partial denture in place, the dentist can use a dental implant to avoid falling out.
Full dentures
A full denture is a dental work that replaces lost dentition on your whole jaw or both jaws. The dentist can use all-on-x dental implants to hold the full-arch denture or recommend a removable on depending on your personal needs and condition of the jaw. If your jawbone is not strong enough to hold the dental implants, the dentist can recommend a bone graft.
Procedure for Getting Dentures
The procedure for getting dentures varies depending on the type of dentures. If you need fixed dentures, you will require surgery to place the dental implants to support the dental work. On the other hand, removable dentures require evaluation of the jaw and gums before placing them.
Implant-Supported Denture
When you are getting an implant-supported denture, the dentist will first check your jaw bone to ensure it can support the titanium poles. Next, the dentist will use a 3D imaging device to help locate the potential points of placing the dental implants.
Your Phoenix dentist will then place the implants on their precise locations and place a temporary denture on them. Using the temporary denture, the dentist can take impressions of the dental work and your bite to help create a permanent one.
After healing, the dentist will then schedule an appointment to place your permanent dental work and make necessary adjustments.
Benefits of Dentures
By choosing dentures, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Improved chewing and biting
- Enhances your smile aesthetics
- Reduces the risk of bone loss
- Easy to clean and take care of
Taking Care of Dentures
Just like your natural dental work, dentures require care and maintenance. If you have removable dentures, you can use remove them when sleeping and place them in a clean container. When cleaning the dentures, you can first soak them in lukewarm water before removing food particles using a small toothbrush.
After brushing the denture, rinse it with cool or lukewarm water and place them back. If you have implant-supported dentures, you can practice oral hygiene just like your natural dental work. Therefore, you should brush and floss the denture daily. Also, you can consider regular professional dental cleanings to eliminate plaque and tartar.
The Take-Away
Before choosing a denture to replace your lost dentition, you should consult your dentist first. At ESP Dental, we assess your mouth to determine if dentures are the best option for you. Also, we recommend types of dentures depending on your expectations and condition of your jaw and gums. If you have only one lost tooth, the dentist will recommend dental implants.