Types, Benefits, and Methods of Maintaining Dentures

Dentures are artificial teeth and gums designed by dentists to replace missing or lost teeth. People wear dentures to restore their smiles and enjoy a healthy diet.

Dentures are custom-made by dentists to fit your mouth and resemble natural teeth. Artificial teeth making up dentures are made of plastic or hard resin.

Types of Dentures

Dentures can either replace all teeth on the upper or bottom gum line or a few missing teeth. Regardless of the denture type you get; your dentures will visually match your existing natural teeth. Below are the types of dentures you can acquire:

• Partial dentures

These are attached to your natural teeth to fill spaces left by lost or missing teeth. Partial dentures can easily be removed at any time for cleaning or when sleeping. Partial dentures not only fill spaces left by missing teeth but also hold other teeth from moving.

• Complete dentures

These are dentures designed to fit your gums and replace all your natural teeth. Complete dentures can be made for your top or bottom gum line. Just like partial dentures, these dentures, too, can easily be removed.

When to Have a Denture After Teeth Removal?

Patients can have dentures fitted in their mouth as soon as their teeth are extracted. Below are the various forms of dentures:

• Conventional dentures. These are placed in the mouth after complete healing of the gum. Usually, the healing process takes six to eight months.
• Immediate dentures. They are designed in advance and can be fitted soon after teeth removal. Patients do not have to wait for the gum to heal to have a denture. Instead, proper adjustments are made during the healing process to ensure proper fitting.
• Immediate dentures are a temporary solution and are disposed of after the gum completely heals. After the healing process, your mouth will be ready for a permanent denture.

An oral exam may be necessary before determining the form of the denture to settle on. At times, your dentist may advise you to wait for complete healing of the gum before having your denture.

How to Take Care of Your Dentures

Proper oral hygiene is a critical part of keeping your body healthy. Just like regular teeth, dentures need to be cleaned daily to maintain good oral health. Although dentures are artificial teeth, plaque, bacteria, and tartar might build upon them, causing harm to your teeth and gums. Consider the following methods to take care of your dentures:

• Dentures are more fragile than natural teeth and may break if they are dropped. So, always clean them carefully.
• Brush the dentures daily to remove any food deposits. Gently brush all the surfaces to keep them in proper shape and avoid scrubbing too hard as it may cause grooves on the denture surface.
• Soak your dentures in denture cleaners. Avoid using toothpaste and other cleaning materials since they are abrasive and can cause damage to denture materials. This helps disinfect the dentures, leaving them fresher.
• Ensure to clean your gums and natural teeth with a soft and wet toothbrush after removing dentures.
• Do not keep your dentures overnight unless advised by your dentist. Instead, submerge them fully in warm water to keep them moist. This also helps give your gums time to relax.
• Do not chew, gargle or swallow denture cleaners. Ensure you thoroughly rinse the dentures before fitting them in your mouth.

Patients have a responsibility to maintain oral hygiene through home-based hygiene practices. Dentures last several years if well taken care of. However, your dentures may need to be adjusted due to normal wear or change in the shape of the mouth.

Poorly fitted dentures may cause health problems. Visit a denture care center immediately if you experience sores or infection.

Benefits of Dentures

Below are some benefits you enjoy after getting dentures:

Improved self-confidence. Dentures help fill out empty spaces in your mouth. Missing teeth may make you shy away from chatting with friends and socializing at events.

Health. Missing teeth may cause your facial skin to sag, making you look older. Dentures support facial structures and muscles, improving your appearance and oral health.

No diet restrictions. Dentures are designed to resemble natural teeth. They are made to be comfortable and fully functional while biting and chewing. Thus, they enable you to enjoy your favorite meals.

If you miss a couple of teeth and need to have your denture in Stone Oak, TX, visit Hardy Oak Family Dentistry, one of Texas’s best denture care centers, to regain a healthy smile and learn more about dentures.