Dentures
Dentures are a form of dental treatment available to those who have missing teeth. Missing teeth may have been caused by trauma, decay or other relative ailments. Dentures can help people to retain the smile they may have lost and will also help with the overall structure of the mouth. The denture you are given will depend on the condition your mouth is in. If there are still some teeth in tact then a partial denture may be advised. If all teeth are missing, then a complete denture will be prescribed. Dentures are made of plastic or metal, or a mixture of both.
How do dentures work?
Dentures will be placed into the mouth after the teeth have been prepared. Preparation will typically involve shaping any remaining teeth into a suitable structure or removing the teeth entirely. You will have to wait around six months in order for the gums to heal before the denture can be fitted. Immediate dentures will likely be used during this time, a kind of preliminary denture, to help the teeth through the healing process.
On your visit to the dentist casts will be made of your mouth so that the dentures can be prepared. Once prepared, the dentures will be placed in the mouth and should remain their by way of the normal suction of your gums. Implants may be necessary if there is difficulty keeping the dentures in place while eating. You should talk to your dentist about such matters. Reshaping of the dentures may be necessary should the gums shrink over time. This will most likely happen after the removal of your teeth.
What affect will dentures have on me?
Of course, dentures will help you to have a smile you can be proud of, but there are other things you need to think about. Dentures will also help to give your mouth a functional shape, which will help with speaking and the chewing of food. Dentures will also help to prevent drooping of the facial muscles, which can make you look older. It can take a while to get used to dentures, with things like food and speaking warranting practice.
You should start out with chewing small soft foods and then work your way up to more solid foods. With time the process will become more natural. Speaking will also require practice. If your dentures slip out of place while speaking, then you should perform a biting action and swallow what saliva there is in your mouth. If your dentures continue to fall out of place then you should talk to tour dentist.
Helpful information
At first, when you are given your dentures, you will most likely be recommended by your dentist to wear them all the time, including when you go to bed. Over time you will be advised to stop wearing them when you go to bed and to keep them in a glass of water. This will help to uphold the health of your gums. It will be necessary after a period of time to replace or re-align your dentures.
This is due to the natural deterioration of your dentures or if the shape of your mouth changes. If dentures are loose fitting then this can cause pain to the mouth and the spread of infection. Regular visits to your dentist are essential to make sure your dentures are working properly.
How should I clean my dentures?
As with normal teeth you should make sure you clean your dentures on a regular basis. It is a simple procedure to clean your dentures, but you should be careful that you do not drop and break them. It is therefore advised that you hold them over a bowl of water while they are cleaned. To clean your dentures you will first need to brush them to remove bits of food. Then, you will need to soak the dentures, followed by another brushing.
You will need to make sure that you adequately brush every part of the dentures. Your dentist will recommend you a special sparkling dental cleaner to make certain your dentures are properly cleaned. Your dentist will also be able to give your dentures a thorough cleaning if you so wish, which will help to remove stubborn stains. You should not use bleach to clean your dentures.
