Dentures: Types, Advantages, and Health Complications,

Whether the cause is old age, tooth decay or trauma, losing teeth is an experience most of us may go through in life. Losing your natural teeth is definitely something that should be avoided at all costs and this why modern dentistry does all it can to preserve your teeth. Various treatments and dental appliances work to that effect but in certain cases, natural teeth can’t be saved. This is when dentures come into the picture and help replace missing teeth. Dentures are removable dental appliances that can help make up for missing or damaged teeth. 

Depending on the need, dentures can either replace all the teeth or just a few that are missing. As such, there are different types of dentures available to you, and making dentures that are right for you is the responsibility of your dentist. Having missing or damaged teeth can greatly dampen oral health and affect hygiene too. Moreover, having missing teeth also increases the risk of oral infection and compromises gum health. Dentures help you avoid this entirely and can even improve your quality of life in the long-term. To help you better understand dentures, here’s all you need to know.

What Are Dentures?

Artificial teeth, known as dentures, are made of synthetic materials to replace missing natural teeth. Tooth loss can be caused by tooth decay, gum illness, face injuries, or ageing

By completing your facial profile, dentures are meant to enhance your appearance. Furthermore, they assist in regular speaking, chewing, and eating conveniently

Some dentures are utilized to substitute a few missing teeth. Others completely replace the gums, surrounding tissues, and teeth

Types Of Dentures

Dentures come in a wide range of varieties. They are available in permanent and detachable configurations. Your oral health and lifestyle will determine the best type for you.

Immediate Dentures

• After every one of your teeth has been pulled, you should wait a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks before getting regular dentures. This provides adequate time for your mouth to heal
• Detachable immediate dentures are implanted immediately once your natural teeth are removed
• While they are handy, immediate dentures are more complicated since they are not moulded to the gums. They demand more maintenance and don't appear as natural
• Those with sensitive teeth and gums should use these temporary dentures. To make the transition to a permanent denture easier, this denture can be used for a few weeks first

Pros

• Following tooth extraction, it provides a temporary solution for speaking and eating
• Reduces the time you spend without teeth by letting you have them while the mouth is recovering
• Assists in the healing of extraction areas by reducing swelling and bleeding

Cons

• Not a long-term fix
• Not as natural-looking as permanent dentures
• Susceptible to breakage and bacterial growth
• Need numerous adjustments, eventually relining or replacement

All-On-4 Implant Dentures

Those who require a full set of dentures can consider All-On-4 implant dentures. They use four dental implants to replace every missing tooth in the lower and upper jaws. You cannot extract the denture independently, but your dentist can.

Pros

• Longer lasting than typical complete dentures
• More natural-looking than dentures supported by implants
• Dentists can insert temporary prostheses on the same day as the implant procedure

Cons

• Only dentists can remove them
• Limitations on a diet are necessary for the initial three months before the final prosthetic is implanted
• More expensive than regular dentures

Economy Dentures

• Doctors advise against using economy dentures as they can damage your mouth and promote bad oral hygiene
• Economical dentures are ready-made, affordable, and generic. They are not designed specifically for one's mouth. Denture glue is also needed To hold the dentures in place

Pros

• Cheaper than alternative denture types
• Easily accessible

Cons

• Not natural-looking
• Less secure because denture adhesive is required

There are 4 types of dentures, and each serve a unique purpose. Here is a quick overview. 

1. Implant-supported dentures: These are dentures that are anchored to the jawbone by dental implants.
2. Overdentures: These are temporary and used immediately after a tooth has been extracted. Overdentures should be thought of as a stop-gap solution until the jaw and gum have completely healed and are ready for permanent dentures. 
3. Full dentures: These are also known as complete dentures and are used to replace all natural teeth.
4. Partial dentures: These rest on the gum line, are removable, and are used to replace any missing teeth on the jawbones. 

Advantages Of Dentures

• Dentures provide a variety of benefits to people who require them
• Making speech easy and clearer
• Increasing nutrition by making it easier to swallow and chew on a wide range of foods
• Replacing damaged teeth
• Avoiding facial collapse—the drooping of facial skin that happens as the muscles and jawbones deteriorate due to missing teeth
• Keeping correct head and neck biomechanics

Why Are Dentures Needed?

The biggest factor driving people to get dentures is tooth loss. The following are some of the main reasons for tooth loss:

• Chronic gum disease (most common)
• Poor dental hygiene
• Tooth removal
• Serious dental decay
• Jaw or facial injury
• Certain genetic disorders
• Infection

Also, you run the risk of losing your teeth if you:

• Are over the age of 35
• Are male
• Use tobacco or smoke cigarettes
• Have rheumatoid arthritis
• Have heart problems or diabetes
• Avoid having your teeth examined and cleaned by professionals (every 3 to 6 months)
• Neglect dental care at home (brushing twice daily, rinsing with mouthwash and flossing)
• Moreover, having sufficient jawbone structure and adequate gum tissue is crucial. To stay intact in place for an extended period of time, false teeth require enough support from natural tissue

Reasons To Wear Dentures

Firstly, and most importantly, dentures replace missing or damaged teeth. If left unchecked, these teeth can cause oral problems and even infections. 

Here are the reasons to wear dentures:

• Improve your smile
• Help you chew 
• Maintain the structure of the mouth
• Protect vulnerable gums from injury due to missing teeth

Where Can You Get Dentures Made?

When it comes to making dentures, the most important thing to note is that making dentures at home isn’t advisable. This shouldn’t be attempted at any cost and professional treatment is the only recommended option. The best option is to get dentures made at the dentist, prosthodontist, or a dental prosthetist. 

Here, the specialist will take measurements of your mouth, and the procedure may involve several visits before the dentures are ready for use. Jaw measurements and impressions are also taken during the process to account for all the important factors pertaining to the jaws. Following which, models will be made, and you’ll be required to test these models in order to improve the shape and fit. Once finalised, the final dentures will be prepared.

Here, you have two options: conventional and immediate dentures. With the former, the dentures are made 8 to 12 weeks after tooth extraction, giving ample time for the gum and jaw to heal. On the other hand, with the latter, the dentures are prepared in advance and fitted as soon as tooth extraction happens. 

With immediate dentures, you don’t have to go through the waiting period with missing teeth. However, with immediate dentures, you may need to visit the dentist for adjustments more frequently as the gum and jaw begin to heal. 

Health Complications Of Dentures

While dentures are an excellent solution for missing or damaged natural teeth, this isn’t to say that they are free of problems. In many cases, there may be issues with the shape or fit that can cause trouble. 

Here’s a list of possible complications of dentures that you should be aware of:

• Bad breath
• Gum abscess
• Loose teeth
• Swelling
• Pain
• Ulcers
• Discomfort
• Bleeding gums
• Soreness in the corner of the mouth

How Can You Take Care Of Your Dentures?

Compared to actual teeth, denture components are more sensitive. Dentures can easily be damaged if dropped or handled carelessly. But with the right maintenance, dentures can survive for a very long period.

The accumulation of dental plaque on dentures can cause stomatitis (inflammation of the soft tissue lining inside the mouth), bone loss, and bad breath.

Another potential risk for an improperly maintained denture is an oral thrush fungal infection.

Proper denture care can help prevent these conditions:

• Brush the dentures gently using a soft denture brush and microbead-free liquid soap (not toothpaste) at night to remove plaque
• Using a small washcloth, hold removable dentures over the sink while brushing. If they fall, this washcloth serves as a cushion. Dentures can break if it falls into the sink, the floor, or on the counter
• Soak them overnight in a specialized denture cleaner. Brush them again in the morning and wear them all day long
• You could also soak them in water and white vinegar overnight to eliminate or stop calculus from forming. Acid erosion from full-strength vinegar can harm the teeth's surface

Repair or Replacement Of Dentures

Dentures need to be repaired or replaced when:

• The dentures have a tooth missing, are chipped, cracked, damaged, or have lost their shape
• Your dentures taste and smell bad
• While wearing dentures, you cannot properly chew or speak
• You experience pain or discomfort because of the dentures
• Your dentures do not fit properly in your mouth or are loose
• More than ten years have passed since you last had dentures changed

Best Practices For Cleaning Your Dentures

Just as with natural teeth, cleaning your dentures should also be a priority in order to maintain good oral health. Here’s how you can go about it. 

1. Remove the dentures from your mouth
2. Brush the surfaces clean, removing food particles and plaque build-up 
3. Use a denture paste and a denture brush to clean it
4. Avoid holding the edges firmly as they can snap
5. Never wear your dentures overnight 
6. Once cleaned, store the dentures in cold water or in a dry container 

Knowing all you can about dentures, their types, the process that goes behind the making of dentures, and how to care for them helps you prepare for them if they are recommended to you by your dentist. For a careful professional recommendation, use the Bajaj Finserv Health App to find the best dentist for yourself or a family member. 

With this app, you can easily find dentists in your area, thanks to the smart search feature, and book appointments completely online too. This eliminates the need to make special trips to clinics and can save you a lot of time as well. Moreover, this app is loaded with telemedicine provisions that make access to quality healthcare easier than ever. You can use it to consult specialists virtually, over video, whenever a physical visit isn’t possible. You can also use the app to safely store your health records and digitally send them over doctors, as needed. This makes remote care more accessible and effective. Such healthcare benefits and perks are available to you at your fingertips. All you have to do is download the app for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play today!