If you recognize yourself in any of these three scenarios, dentures may become part of the conversation.
Patient is missing all teeth:
Age, disease, trauma, and other variables can take such a toll on some people’s oral health that they may lose all their teeth. They consequently benefit from complete dentures that can easily be fitted to both their top and bottom gums.
Patient is missing multiple teeth
When multiple teeth are missing but not full rows, partial dentures may be considered. Created using a mold of the patient’s mouth (just like complete dentures) and made to filll the gaps between the teeth, these dentures help you take back your natural smile.
Patient has missing teeth as well as broken, chipped, or unhealthy teeth
Preserving damaged teeth or extracting them in favor of dentures? That’s a question that patients with severe oral health issues may need to discuss with their dental provider. If you suffer from badly damaged teeth as a result of, for example, trauma or gum disease, it sometimes makes more sense to pursue the latter option.
There are two types of dentures to accommodate your specific situation:
Complete dentures replace all teeth and rest on the gums that cover the jawbone. Attaching these dentures to dental implants can improve their stability and retention.
Partial dentures replace some but not all teeth. They adhere to the remaining teeth, as well as the gums and bone where the teeth are missing. Dental implants can also be used to restore and stabilize partial dentures.
Dentures can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand ringgit. Partial dentures are usually less expensive than full dentures. Factors like the amount of time it takes to construct them and the dental materials used affect the final cost. If the procedure is more complex, you may need to return for several appointments, which could up the price tag.
Normal wear and changes to your mouth as you age may both require your dentist to make adjustments to your dentures. Depending on the denture materials, count on replacing them every five to eight years, with acrylic resin dentures outlasting their plastic counterparts. If they only need partial reconstruction (relining or rebasing), your dentist will remake the gum portion of the structural base but keep the denture teeth.
The appliances of today are nothing like in the past. If you still associate dentures with large, oversized teeth that make it hard to speak clearly, there’s good news. The look and feel of dentures have changed dramatically as a result of advances in materials, fitting processes, and manufacturing techniques. These days, they are more comfortable, convenient, and reliable. And, yes, they look much more like real teeth, too.
Most people want a bright smile, and denture wearers are no exception. When it comes to dentures, you need to follow certain steps to get the job done safely. Regular toothpaste can be too abrasive on some appliances and bleach may, if used too often, remove the overall color of the dentures. Make sure to use products made for denture cleaning and whitening and use them only after gently scrubbing your dentures with a toothbrush or stiff nail brush, using soap and water.
