Removable dentures are a quick and practical solution to replace missing teeth.
While not only the elderly can lose teeth, tooth loss is closely related to aging. When people reach old age, bones and tissues can weaken, causing teeth to loosen or fall out.
The smile can be affected when teeth are missing in the mouth; this would cause the patient to feel insecure when smiling or speaking, which would affect their self-esteem. When teeth are missing in the mouth, this could cause the remaining teeth to start to move and twist, thus affecting the position of the teeth and consequently biting and chewing.
Dentistry provides patients with different options to replace their missing teeth, through surgeries or dentures. For many patients, the best and most comfortable option may be removable dentures.
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable dental prostheses that serve to replace teeth that the patient has lost. In addition to allowing the patient to regain their teeth’s functionality, dentures help prevent problems arising from missing teeth.
Removable dentures can be made of resins or metal alloys and offer the advantage that they can be removed from the mouth when required by the patient.
Types of removable dentures
Removable dentures can be classified according to the number of teeth to be replaced and the procedure used to fix them in the mouth. The types of removable dentures are:
Partial removable dentures: these are used when the patient still has some natural teeth. They allow replacing a missing group of teeth. Partial dentures are placed over the gums and supported by metal pieces around healthy teeth.
Complete removable dentures: These are used when the patient does not have any teeth. Complete dentures allow the replacement of both complete dental arches and are supported on the patient’s gums. A denture adhesive is used to help fix full dentures.
Overdentures: This type of denture is similar to full dentures. They allow both complete dental arches to be replaced. However, overdentures are supported on the gums but also on dental implants, which gives them more stability and, at the same time, allows them to remain removable.
Advantage
The most important thing about removable dentures is that they allow to replace missing teeth easily; this represents an aesthetic improvement for patients and allows the patient to regain their teeth’ functionality.
Also, being removable, these dental prostheses are easy to clean, which would reduce the risks that the patient could suffer from problems or diseases related to poor oral hygiene.
Removable dentures are also an inexpensive and accessible option for patients who cannot or do not want to undergo dental implant treatment.
However, if the patient wishes, there is also the option of overdentures. They offer better stability and more security than conventional dentures while maintaining the benefit of being removable.
Disadvantages
Full or partial dentures can be uncomfortable for the patient at first. Besides, these can move or become loose, which would cause problems for the patient when talking or eating.
To keep them from moving, denture adhesives can be used; however, these substances are difficult to clean, and allow dirt and bacteria to accumulate, which can cause bad breath and oral hygiene problems.
The most significant disadvantage of partial dentures, they are attached to healthy teeth by metal pieces, which can end up wearing the teeth over time.
In the case of overdentures, the procedure can be very long for a patient who wants an immediate solution. After performing the surgery to insert the dental implants on which the denture will be supported, it is necessary to wait until the bone and gums heal to place the overdenture; this may take several months.
How to care for removable dentures
Caring for and cleaning your dentures is the best way to keep them in perfect condition.
During the first days, it is necessary to chew carefully until the patient is fully adapted to the teeth.
After each meal, it is necessary to clean the teeth, so the patient must extract the teeth and clean them with a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste; Afterwards, the patient should rinse the denture. The denture should be removed from the mouth and placed in a container with water or denture cleaner before sleeping. Once or twice a week, the patient should soak the denture in an antiseptic mouthwash for at least 30 minutes.
The patient should also clean the gums and the inside of the mouth thoroughly with a soft bristle brush and supplement hygiene with mouthwash. If the patient wears an overdenture, the patient must carefully clean the dental implants’ areas to avoid the accumulation of bacteria.
Dentures should be prevented from falling to the ground, as they are fragile and could break. It is also wise to avoid chewing or biting very hard things that could break artificial teeth.
Also, it is essential to visit your dentist at least twice a year. The dentist will be in charge of verifying the teeth’ condition and providing recommendations to the patient to maintain good oral hygiene and the teeth’ perfect state.
If you are suffering from tooth loss, a removable denture could be the solution for you. Visit our dental practice in Indian Trail, NC, where our highly trained dentists will help you discover the option that best suits your needs. At Infinity Dental Arts, we want to help you smile again!
