As an
alternative to bridges and implants,
dentures can be used to replace several
missing teeth. It is possible to get
either full, or partial dentures. Full
dentures remain in place by form fitting
to the gum ridges. Partial dentures
often have additional ridges that fit
around the natural teeth helping them
stay in place.
It can take several visits to our dental
specialist in order to be properly fit
with a denture. Our dentist will take
several impressions of the gums, and
send these to our technicians. They uses
these impressions to construct your new
dentures. On the next appointment, you
and our dentist will check the dentures
to ensure that your bit is correct and
that the dentures meet your approval.
Considerations One of the significant
disadvantages of dentures is resorption
of the underlying bone. The bone is
normally maintained by the stresses of
chewing. When the teeth have been
removed, the bone is no longer subject
to the same stress, and therefore begins
to atrophy. The use of dental implants
instead of dentures maintains the same
kinds of stress on the underlying bone
and prevents bone resorption.
Types of Dentures
Complete or full dentures replace all the
teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
A denture helps you to properly
chew food, a difficult task when
you are missing teeth. In
addition, a denture may improve
speech and prevent a sagging
face by providing support for
lips and cheeks.
Overdenture is a
denture that uses precision
dental attachments to hold the
denture down. The overdenture
attachment can be placed in
tooth roots that have been
saved, or placed into dental
implants which have been placed
to receive them.
Immediate denture is constructed before
teeth are removed so that you
will not be without any teeth.
Constructing immediate dentures
involves taking impressions
(making copies) of your mouth
before the teeth are removed.
When your remaining teeth are
removed the denture can be
inserted immediately.
Partial denture is a removable dental appliance
that replaces multiple missing
teeth. It can be attached to the
teeth with clasps (clasp or
conventional partial) or it can
be attached to the teeth with
crowns with precision
attachments (hidden clasps).
Both types have a metal
framework and plastic teeth and
gum areas.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Dentures
Advantages
:
- Dentures provide a pleasant,
natural looking smile.
- They are extremely durable.
- If well maintained, they
should last averagely from five to ten
years.
- They can correct problems
with speech to chewing, for many
patients.
Disadvantages :
- Dentures take a little while
to get used to.
- In the first few days, you
may encounter speech problems.
- You may suffer from mouth
irritation or sores. These are usually
caused by your new
denture , poor dental hygiene, and not
removing your dentures when needed.
- You may only chew at 15-23%
efficiency compared to a person chewing
with their
natural teeth, because the chewing force
will not go directly to your bone.
- In the case of a full upper
denture, the upper palate is full
covered and this will affect
your sense of taste.
Repairing your Dentures
If your partial denture
breaks, cracks or chips, or if a denture
tooth becomes loose, contact our clinics
immediately. Do not try to fix it
yourself. However, our dentist can
usually repair a broken denture, often
on the same day.
It is especially important to
see our dentist if your partial denture
breaks while you are eating. This
sometimes indicates that there has been
a change in the fit of the dentures
because the underlying tissue has
changed. When our dentist repairs your
denture, he or she will also examine
your mouth and check whether your
partial denture needs adjustment. |