People lose teeth due to different reasons like aging, trauma to the mouth, dental diseases, accidents etc. Many prefer to have replacement teeth that are permanent and provide dental support just like natural teeth.

There are many replacement teeth options available today. Depending on your oral and dental health, as well as general health, suitable options can be chosen.

Dentures provide support just like natural teeth and a boost of confidence to the wearer. Loss of teeth causes issues not only while consuming food but also affects the speech and confidence of a person. Many are conscious when they lose their teeth and are hesitant to mingle with others freely as they used to before.

There are many types of dentures – complete dentures, partial dentures, and permanent dentures.

Types of dentures

Dentures are complete or partial and act as a supporting mechanism for different oral functions. The supporting bases are made of acrylic and match the natural colour of the person’s teeth. Replacement teeth are then placed on this base. Dentures are usually made in the dental labs and are customised for each person. This will help in providing good support to the mouth and jaw muscles. Dentures are made of different materials like acrylic, porcelain, resin etc. These materials help to provide good strength and durability to the teeth.

Complete dentures

Complete dentures offer teeth replacement to the complete set of teeth in both jaws. This requires more effort and time as the full set of teeth is replaced. Usually plastic or porcelain is used as the base. The dentist will suggest bone grafting for this procedure if there is bone loss problems for the person.

Partial dentures

In the case of partial dentures, there is an only partial replacement of teeth. This is suitable for people who have lost some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. These dentures stay in place with support from neighbouring teeth. Usually clasps are placed on the natural teeth and they are used to provide the anchor for the replacement teeth.

Permanent dentures

For a more permanent option, there are permanent fixtures, these are placed on the dental implants. The dentures placed on the implants can be inserted and removed by the wearer. But the placing implants is a complex procedure, which requires dental surgery. Metal implants are placed in the jaws and the replacement teeth are placed on them. Dental crowns are placed to offer restoration to the teeth.

Dental crowns and bridges

Dental bridges help cover the gap when just one or a few teeth are missing. The bridge has several places in its structure where the replacement tooth can be placed. This helps in cases where the tooth are not lost in a single row but at different places in the jaw. Replacing the whole teeth is not required but support is provided in areas where it is damaged.

The procedure of placing dentures

The first thing to do is to make sure the oral and dental health are sufficient to accept the dentures and to rule out any other dental problems. This is done in the first dental consultation.  X-rays are used in this consultation to understand the nature of the bone structure. An impression is then taken of the jaws in which the replacement dentures need to be placed. This will help to ensure a correct fit is achieved when dentures are placed. The position of the gums and their shape is also captured as the base of the dentures usually rests on the gum tissues.

The mould for the jaws is important and so are the impressions of the teeth. This will help in having the correct measurements of the teeth as well. This will help in making the replacement teeth. The colour and the material with which the teeth are made can also be chosen. The measurements obtained are shared with the dental labs where the mould are made. After the moulds have been developed, there will be consultation with the dentist to check on the fit of the new dentures. This will help in getting an impression of how the dentures will feel while using and then make any adjustments if necessary.

While wearing dentures for the first time, there will be some adjustments needed as it would feel unnatural. By wearing them every day as per the instructions from the dentist, the comfortableness in wearing dentures will come in gradually. If there are any issues felt during the initial days, then it must be checked with the dentist.

Improving quality of life with dentures

Losing teeth brings down a person’s confidence because it affects drastically important areas of a person’s life. Food consumption pattern, speech, facial appearance etc. are all affected due to teeth loss. There have been great advancements in this field of dentistry and dentures are now available that are close to natural teeth as can be possible. Completing the procedure of getting dentures from the dentist is also not a lengthy process like before.

It is not just appearance and confidence that is boosted with dentures, the oral and dental health of a person is also supported. Dentures offer support to the remaining natural teeth by lessening the wear and tear that teeth face due to their different functions. Without the presence of replacement teeth, natural teeth might shift from their positions and move to the space that is available due to lost teeth. This will result in the teeth not being able to function properly.

To ensure dentures are not damaged, it is important to take care of them. Cleaning and brushing them just like natural teeth is important. This will help prevent plaque formation in the mouth. Plaque formation can result in tooth decay, gum infections and other dental concerns. Maintaining oral and dental health also includes regular dental consultations. When dental appliances are used, going for the check-ups will help the dentist to foresee any future issues that can come up and provide guidance on how to overcome them.