Dentures in Shawnee KS
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth-things that people often take for granted.
When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.
Benefits of Dentures
Dentures are one of the most popular treatment choices to replace missing teeth. This is because they offer a wide range of benefits. These include:
- Restores the function of your teeth - Dentures are designed to work just like regular teeth. This means that they can restore the full function of your mouth and you will be able to bite, chew, and speak properly once more.
- Free you from dietary restrictions - Many patients find that they have to miss out on a lot of their favorite foods when they lose their teeth, as they no longer have the necessary function to bite and chew them. However, a set of dentures means you can eat most of your favorite solid foods once more.
- Improve your speech - When we form words, our tongue pushes against our teeth to help us make the right sounds. However, if you have missing teeth you may find it difficult to properly pronounce certain words. Dentures will help you to enunciate your letter better and restore your usual manner of speaking.
- Improve your appearance - People with missing teeth can feel embarrassed or ashamed of their appearance. However, with a set of dentures, the aesthetics of your smile will be restored.
- Restore your confidence - If you are happier with your appearance, it will show through your increased confidence and self-esteem. This in turn can affect your personal and professional relationships, and help you lead happier and more fulfilling lives.
- Long-lasting - Dentures can last for anywhere between five to ten years before they will require replacement. This makes them a great investment in the health and attractiveness of your teeth.
What Are Dentures Made Of?
In the past, the artificial teeth that make up dentures were made out of porcelain or plastic, but more modern dentures are generally made out of a hard resin. The materials used to make denture teeth are known to be more fragile than natural teeth and can easily chip or crack if dropped or otherwise uncared for. This material also wears down much quicker than natural teeth and thus must be replaced with a new set of dentures every five years or so.
The supporting structure of dentures that holds the artificial teeth in place and resembles the natural gum line is often made out of a similar resin used for the teeth, or a more flexible polymer material that fits snugly to the natural gum line.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are often used instead of other tooth replacement methods when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support structures such as dental bridges, or when more than one or two teeth are missing. The partial dentures are fitted to the part of the gum line that they will sit on, and fasten to nearby natural teeth to keep from falling out of place. They are not permanently fastened, however, and can be easily taken out at any time for cleaning and while sleeping.
Immediate Dentures
There are some other kinds of full and partial dentures that differ from traditional permanent dentures including a type called immediate dentures. These dentures are created before the teeth that are being replaced with dentures have been removed and are used immediately after tooth extraction and during the healing process, which can be up to six months long. These dentures can be more easily refitted than permanent dentures to accommodate for mouth changes as the swelling the gums and jaw subsides while healing. The immediate dentures will be disposed of once the healing process is complete and your mouth is ready for permanent dentures.
Conventional Dentures
Conventional dentures are generally part of a treatment plan that starts with the extraction of remaining teeth, a short interval without teeth while the gums heal, then creation of a customized denture. A conventional denture may be fabricated as an upper only, lower only, or combination of both arches. They are often a more comfortable fit and also provide a wide range of options when it come to daily wear.
Full Dentures
Full dentures, otherwise known as complete dentures, are dentures that replace all of your natural teeth. You can have them fitted for your top or bottom gum line, and are held in place by suction and/or the help of an oral adhesive. Just like partial dentures, they are easily removable.
Maintaining Your Dentures
Removable, partial or full dentures require proper care to keep them clean, free from stains and looking their best. For good denture care:
- Remove and rinse dentures after eating.
- Handle your dentures carefully.
- Clean your mouth after removing your dentures.
- Brush your dentures at least daily using non abrasive denture cleaner.
- Soak dentures overnight in water or a mild denture-soaking solution.
- Rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if using a denture soaking solution.
- Schedule regular dental checkups.
- Come see us if you have loose fitting dentures or if they cause any irritation or sores.
When caring for your dentures you should typically avoid:
- Abrasive cleaning material. Avoid stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleansers and harsh toothpaste, as these are too abrasive and can damage your dentures.
- Whitening toothpastes. Toothpastes advertised as whitening paste often contain peroxide, which does little to change the color of denture teeth.
- Bleach-containing products. Don’t use any bleaching products because these can weaken dentures and change their color. Don’t soak dentures with metal attachments in solutions that contain chlorine because it can tarnish and corrode the metal.
- Hot water. Avoid hot or boiling water that could warp your dentures.
At Monticello Family Dental we can help you decide if dentures are a good fit for you. We will answer any questions that you may have and will make the process smooth and comfortable. We want you to feel confident in your smile and we will help every step of the way.
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