Benefits of Dentures

While dentures will never feel exactly like natural teeth, and they take some getting used to, today’s dental plates are more comfortable and natural looking than ever.

There are two main types of dentures: partial and full.

A partial denture is used when you have some teeth remaining and it usually consists of artificial teeth on a plastic base attached to your natural teeth.

Full dentures are used when all the teeth have been lost. Complete dentures are either “immediate” or “conventional.” Immediate dentures can be positioned as soon as teeth are extracted to avoid the problem of being without teeth during the healing process. A conventional denture is placed eight to 12 weeks after teeth have been removed.

Many people aged 45 to 65 have lost at least one tooth, and 25 percent of people over 65 in the U.S. are missing all their teeth. Tooth loss typically occurs through decay, gum disease (periodontitis) or injuries such as sports mishaps. The number of adults in the U.S. needing dentures is expected to rise from 33.6 million in 1991 to 37.9 million in 2020.

Functionality and Aesthetics

Missing teeth can distort your facial appearance, impair your speech, and limit the sorts of foods you can eat. Dentures solve these problems.

Dentures enhance your appearance by filling the gaps in your mouth, restoring your self-confidence. They can actually make you look younger by lessening the sunken-cheeked appearance that tooth loss can cause.

At the same time, dentures address issues with speaking, allowing you to make yourself clearly understood in conversations.

Dentures also eliminate the dietary restrictions that come with biting and chewing difficulties, so you don’t have to settle for soft foods.

A downside of dentures is that being removable, they tend to shift in your mouth, but most people get used to them after a while.

In the past, the main consideration in making dentures was their function as an aid to eating, but today they’re also designed to be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

Teeth play an important role in maintaining the structure of your mouth. Leaving gaps if you lose teeth can have serious consequences. Loss of teeth can result in a shift of bite force onto remaining teeth. Over time, these teeth can encroach into the gap left by a missing tooth.

Most people who have lost some or all of their teeth can benefit from dentures. The type of dentures that are best for you will depend on the health of your teeth and gums.

Although dentures will have to be replaced eventually, they usually last a long time – typically five to 10 years with proper care.

Looking after your dentures entails:

• Being aware that they’re fragile and may break if dropped.
• Visiting your dentist if they become chipped or cracked.
• Soaking them in cold water or a cleanser solution overnight.
• Brushing them daily to remove food debris and prevent an accumulation of plaque.

Dentures With Implants

Dentures can be used with dental implants to provide a tooth replacement system with even more benefits than regular dentures.

An implant involves the surgical insertion of a titanium screw into the jaw to create an artificial tooth root. With time, surrounding tissue heals around the implant, which becomes a permanent part of the bone.

Implant-supported dentures provide an effective alternative to denture adhesives, holding the dental plate securely in place but allowing for easy removal for cleaning. They are also often more affordable than individual implants throughout the mouth.

When teeth are missing, adjacent bone no longer has to support them, so the body starts to resorb the bone as redundant, dramatically impacting facial appearance and oral functionality. Traditional dentures can’t prevent this problem, but implants help to preserve the structural integrity of the jaw.

Fountain of Youth Dentures

Besides implants, another tooth replacement system that solves the problem of jaw bone deterioration is provided by Fountain of Youth Dentures, which use the latest technology and premium-quality cosmetic teeth.

Because conventional dentures fit on top of the gum tissue, they cannot provide the even pressure the jaw expects. Fountain of Youth Dentures are designed for a better fit that rests partly on the muscles to provide even pressure across the jaw bone and gums. They position the bite for optimal functionality and stability. This system has the added benefit that it can make the denture wearer look years younger.

Fountain of Youth Dentures, which can also be secured with implants, cost more than standard dentures but provide a greater degree of comfort, function and enhanced facial appearance.

Quality Versus Economy

Dentures have been around since 700 BC when Etruscans in Italy fashioned artificial teeth from animal or human teeth.

Ivory dentures became popular in the 1700s, when the first U.S. President, George Washington, popularized them as one of the most famous early denture wearers. Washington’s dentures comprised hippopotamus ivory and human, donkey and horse teeth. Acrylic resin and other plastics became the materials of choice for dentures in the 1900s.

Thanks to advances over the last 20 years in technology and materials, and how impressions are taken, modern dentures fit better and appear more natural than their older counterparts, providing you with a set of fully functional teeth to give you back your self-assurance.

A dentist experienced in providing dentures will ensure they sit properly within your mouth with minimal slipping, so you can feel confident with everyday activities such as talking and eating.

Making a quality denture takes more expertise, time and expense than so-called economy dentures, which offer tempting cost savings but can turn out to be uncomfortable through a bad fit, moving around in the mouth and causing pain and difficulties in eating.