Loss of teeth at any age can make life difficult for anyone. While dental implants are catching up dentures traditionally have been the go to solution used by people to fix the problem of loss of teeth. And they still remain widely used and accepted method because they are more cost effective, quick and non invasive as compared to dental implants.
If you are trying to decide whether dentures are the way to move forward for you, you have landed at the right place. Dentures are removable devices that replace missing teeth and also some surrounding tissue. There are mainly 2 kinds of dentures.
- Partial Dentures – are used when there are still some natural teeth remaining and the purpose of the denture is to fill the gap by cementing a bridge which replaces the missing teeth. They also help in making sure that other surrounding teeth don’t change their position because of the one or more missing teeth. These are also called removable partial dentures as they can be removed and can be of 2 kinds –
- Metallic partial dentures made of acrylic metal cast.
- Partial flexible dentures made of nylon or valplast.
These are not to be confused with interim partial dentures which are fitted temporarily for improving speech or help in chewing or for aesthetic purposes.
- Complete Dentures – are used when all teeth are to be replaced (either because teeth have been lost naturally or have been removed). Complete dentures rest directly on the gums and are also removable.
There are many advantages of going for dentures either partial or complete and these include the following –
- Dentures are easy on your pocket.
- Fixing dentures is a fairly easy and quick process and can be done in 4 to 6 sittings.
- It’s a totally non invasive procedure.
- Even people who have gum or bone loss can use dentures.
- Dentures can be removed or replaced easily.
There are also some cons of using the dentures which include –
- They may need some readjustments with age.
- Dentures need some getting used to. Some people experience pain, increase salivation, difficulty in chewing or speaking.
- Dentures also need care just like natural teeth and if not taken care of can still lead to gum diseases.
Modern dentures are no longer what they used to be 20 years ago. Today one can make them with minutest details and customizations of shade, shape and positioning so as to achieve the overall natural look one desires. They are also lighter, flexible and fit better.
The process of denture development involves –
- Taking series of impressions and measurements of your jaw.
- Creating models of final dentures which need to be tried multiple times for correct customization.
- The final denture is then cast.
- Any adjustments if needed are done post that.
New dentures take a little time to get adjusted to and may be accompanied by some discomfort as mentioned above. Your dentist can advise on how many hours a day you must wear your dentures and how to take care of them.
If you are thinking of partial dentures then its best to consult your dentist to better understand what kind of removal dentures (partial metallic dentures or partial flexible dentures or interim partial dentures) best suit your problem and your pocket.
To know more on the subject you can call us at at 940-274-3229 to walk in to Ensure Dental Care today. All Dental insurance in Texas plans accepted.