What You Need To Know About Dentures
Are you considering dentures and have questions about how they work? There are four types of dentures. All four types of dentures have the same benefits to oral health. Chewing hard food and speaking with proper enunciation become increasingly difficult with fewer than the standard 28 or 32 teeth present, and dentures can both relieve the added stress on the remaining teeth and force them to not shift in position. They can prevent the shape of the face from changing following edentulism, providing support to the lips and the cheeks, and play a role in reducing the ever-present threat of gum diseases such as periodontitis.
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Replacing Missing or Damaged Teeth
Dentures comprise replacement teeth that are attached to a metal tray, over which an acrylic designed to mirror the color of your gums is laid. Fixed and removable partial dentures may also include clasps or crowns that are designed to attach to the abutting teeth (the teeth on either side of a gap). An Immediate denture may be inserted into the mouth promptly after the removal of any lingering teeth, allowing for a quick resumption of daily activities, but because the gums can shift or shrink after tooth removal, a conventional denture that will better fit the mouth will have to be designed and inserted once the gums have healed.
About Placing Dentures
To receive dentures, a procedure that may last for one to two months, a dentist must first make an impression of the patient’s mouth. Sample dentures are placed in the mouth in order to determine the specifics—the shape and the color—of the final model. As soon as the conventional denture is designed and manufactured, it is adjusted as needed and ready for the patient to wear.
There is not much pain involved in receiving dentures. Soreness can ensue if teeth must be extracted before a patient can be fit for them. If your new dentures create sore spots in your mouth, your dentist will have to relieve the spot that is causing the pain.
About Wearing Dentures
Dentures can be inserted during the same day as the removal of the diseased teeth. These are called immediate dentures. However, this kind of denture often must be either relined or replaced as the tissues of the mouth heal and shrink.
If you feel that you may require a denture, the first thing is to schedule a checkup with your dentist. If all your teeth are significantly infected with periodontal disease or extensive decay, you may be a strong candidate. However, teeth can be saved, and we prefer to try to save teeth before we consider replacing them. Please call our Amherst dentist to learn more about full and partial dentures and get a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate. We welcome the opportunity to help you restore your smile and function of your teeth.
