Dentures
Dentures are artificial replacements for your natural teeth. If disease
or lack of dental care has left you with few healthy teeth or none at
all, your dentist might suggest dentures to replace your missing teeth.
Dentures will restore your smile and return some of the chewing power
you once had.
Unlike permanent bridges, which can be supported by teeth or dental
implants, dentures are removable. Dentures can replace all of your
teeth, or they can just replace a few missing ones. Complete dentures
are usually made of an acrylic resin, while partial dentures are made
from a combination of acrylic resin and metal.
Who needs dentures?
Contrary to popular belief, dentures aren't inevitable as you age.
If you brush and floss daily and see your dentist regularly, you should
be able to keep your natural teeth for as long as you live. If you don't
take good care of your teeth, tooth decay (dental caries) and gum
disease (periodontitis) may necessitate that you have your teeth
removed. Despite your best efforts to keep your teeth clean, some
diseases and conditions can make you more prone to tooth problems,
including:
Dry mouth (xerostomia) - Saliva cleans, disinfects and
re-mineralizes your teeth. Cancer treatments, diseases such as Sjogren's
syndrome, some medications and menopause can all cause dry mouth.
Diabetes - Diabetes, especially if it's poorly controlled, weakens your gums' resistance to infection.
Problems with self-care - Diseases that make it more difficult for
you to care for yourself, such as Alzheimer's, and diseases that cause
limited movement, such as arthritis, can make it harder to keep up with
daily dental care.
Certain medications can put you at risk of gum disease because they
can cause overgrowth and inflammation of your gums (gingival
hyperplasia). Examples include:
Types of dentures
The type of denture your dentist prescribes is based on how many
remaining natural teeth you have and your individual needs. Your dentist
might recommend:
Complete dentures - These dentures cover your entire jaw and can be
used in place of your upper teeth, lower teeth or both. Complete
dentures consist of artificial teeth and gums. They rest directly on
your gums and are used if you have no remaining natural teeth.
Partial dentures - These dentures fit around your remaining, healthy
teeth. Partial dentures usually have artificial teeth and gum,
connected by a metal framework. They're usually held in place by clasps
that attach to your natural teeth.
Overdentures - These dentures fit over your few remaining teeth or
dental implants. Your teeth or implants give the denture stability, so
it's less likely to shift in your mouth. And keeping some of your
natural teeth or having implants helps preserve your jawbone. To fit an
overdenture, your natural teeth usually need to be reshaped to fit in
the denture.
How dentures are fitted to your mouth
How your dentures are made for your mouth depends on whether you get
your dentures as soon as your teeth are removed or later, after your
gums have healed.
Immediate dentures
Immediate dentures are those that are inserted the same day you have
your teeth removed. Your dentist will see you for a series of
appointments before your teeth are removed in order to make molds of
your jaws. Your teeth are then removed and your denture is inserted.
Since your gums and your jawbone will shrink after your teeth are
removed, your denture will need to be adjusted or replaced later.
You might consider an immediate denture if you're having the front
teeth in your upper jaw removed. Having a denture right away can reduce
some of the embarrassment you might feel about not having front teeth.
An immediate denture might not be possible if your diseased teeth
can't withstand the process of making a mold (impression) of your teeth.
In this case you'd need a conventional denture.
Conventional dentures
Conventional dentures are usually fitted after your teeth have been
extracted and your gums have healed - usually about two months after
tooth removal. Your dentist makes impressions of your mouth after
removing your teeth so that the dentures will fit your gums. Because
your diseased teeth have been removed, you can have trial fittings with
your new dentures as your dentist works to make them fit just right.
Choosing conventional dentures means you'll be without teeth for a
month or two while your gums and jawbone heal and your dentures are
being made. This might make it difficult to eat, and it might make you
self-conscious about your appearance. Conventional dentures, however,
usually fit better in the long run.