What Are Dentures, Their Treatment, Types & Aftercare Tips?
What are Dentures?
Dentures, also commonly referred to as false teeth, are dental devices fitted on patients with missing teeth to serve as replacements. Most dentures are made of either acrylic, metal, or nylon materials and can be complete or partial. Both complete and partial dentures are effective as artificial teeth and can help replace one or several missing teeth.
Types of Dentures
Dentures come in 2 different variations, namely:
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are tooth replacements that are fabricated after the patient has healed from a tooth extraction procedure and can be immediate or conventional. For conventional dentures, fitting may commence 8 to 12 weeks after tooth removal, depending on the patient’s healing capabilities. On the other hand, our dentist in Lewisville, TX, might recommend getting immediate dentures instead. When that’s the case, you won’t have to wait until your tooth’s extraction site is fully healed.
Immediate dentures are prefabricated in advance, so you can have them installed on your first dental appointment immediately after tooth removal. With time, immediate dentures will have to be adjusted because the gum and bone tissue will shrink. This makes them more suitable to serve as a temporary solution as you wait for the extraction wound to heal so you can get conventional dentures instead.
Partial Dentures
Removable dentures are different from complete dentures. Unlike the former, this type of denture is made up of replacement teeth fully attached to a gum-colored plastic base. The base is of partial dentures are usually joined to a metal frame which secures them in place when fitted to the mouth. A dentist near you might find prefer you get partial dentures if you still have a few strong teeth left in your upper or lower jaw to support the prosthesis. When partial dentures are fitted properly, they can become permanent and prevent surrounding teeth from changing their position.
Dentures Procedure
The fabrication of dentures can take approximately 2 months to complete. We will follow the steps below when fitting you with new dentures.
First, we will take measurements of your jaw and note how they interact with each other to make suitable impressions.
Our dentist will then make models using wax or plastic to perfect into dentures. As we make the dentures, we will require you to try them on and give feedback as many times as possible until the prosthesis feels comfortable.
Benefits of Getting Dentures
Below are the benefits of dentures:
No Restriction on What You Can Eat
Dentures do not have any food restrictions. You can eat what you want when you want without worrying about damaging the dentures.
Comfortable and Reliable
We make our dentures to be as comfortable and reliable as natural teeth. With time, you might even forget your teeth replacements are not natural.
Improves Your Smile
Dentures replace all your missing teeth and give you a more attractive smile. This can help boost your confidence when you interact with other people. So, get dentures near you and enjoy the freedom of smiling in public with confidence.
Easy to Clean
Traditional dentures can be removed easily without having to visit a dental office. This allows you to take them off and clean them more easily when you get home.
Improves Your Speech
Some words can be difficult to pronounce without teeth. Fortunately, with dentures, the tongue can come in contact with the artificial teeth, thus helping you pronounce words you couldn’t pronounce well before with ease.
Dentures Aftercare Tips
Here are some aftercare tips for dentures:
Keep Your Dentures Safe
If you have removable dentures, ensure you keep them safe and handle them with care. Dentures can fall and break off when held clumsily. Also, check for obstacles in your path while walking to avoid accidental tripping.
Clean Your Dentures After Eating
Dentures gather food particles the same way as natural teeth would. For that reason, it’s important to clean off any debris left behind after a meal by placing them on running tap water.
Soak Your Dentures Overnight
Dentures require moisture to maintain their shape. Before you sleep, ensure you take your dentures off and place them in a cup containing water or denture-soaking solution.
Avoid Using Bleach and Abrasive Dental Cleaning Products
Toothbrushes made of strong bristles and harsh toothpaste can damage your dentures. We also recommend avoiding tooth whitening products since they often contain bleach that weakens and discolors dentures.
Visit Your Dentist for Regular Checkups
Wearing dentures for the first time can feel a bit uncomfortable. If you feel like they still don’t fit properly even after wearing them for a few weeks, visit your dentist for adjustments. We will make all necessary changes to your prosthesis until you feel comfortable enough to wear them throughout the day.
Conclusion
Dentures are a cost-effective solution for patients with several missing sets of teeth. You can remove them before brushing, sleeping, or eating, making them more convenient than alternative tooth replacement options. Call or book an appointment with Arte Dental Lewisville today for dentures in Lewisville, TX, and receive your customized set of dentures. We accept many major payment options and dental insurance providers to make it easier for you to access affordable dental care.