What are dentures?
Dentures are artificial replacements for missing teeth in your mouth. Dentures can be complete dentures ( for replacing all the missing teeth in your mouth ). Partial dentures ( replace one, two or more missing teeth ), but you can still have some of your natural teeth present in your mouth. Partial dentures can be fixed, removable or implant dentures.
Are dentures better than bad teeth?
Repairing bad teeth can seem like a lengthy and costly affair. Restoring a failing tooth with RCT, crown and a filling can be frustrating. However, replacing a natural tooth with a denture is a wishful thinking. Dentures are not teeth. They are not a one-time investment of time and money. Denture care needs commitment and coping with the challenges associated with it.
How do dentures work?
Dentures are artificial teeth and gums created by your dentist to replace lost or removed natural teeth. Dentures can be partial ( when they replace a few missing teeth ) or complete ( when all the teeth are replaced ). The ‘gums’ portion of the denture will rest on the gumline. The retention of the complete denture is generally by suction to the underlying gums or tooth supported in partial dentures. Implant supported dentures provide much better retention. Whatever the type of denture, they are all custom made to fit your mouth and visually match your natural teeth.
Can I get dentures that look like real teeth?
Denture making is a art. The fabrication of a denture is a fine blend of science, art and expertise. The teeth and the denture base material that are used to make the entire denture system thus play a significant role in the final outcome. Some teeth look artificial, while some have a vey life like feel to it. The best denture systems can give a vey natural teeth appearance to your denture. Talk to your dentist/ prosthodontist about these options.
Can I live a normal life with dentures?
YES………Dentures are a replacement for your lost natural teeth. You have wear them through the day and remove it at night. Dentures help you to chew food well, help in proper speech and give a younger appearance. Properly worn and cared for, dentures become a part of your daily routine. Wearing of dentures, especially in the elderly, helps in improving their general health.
Can my dentures break?
Yes………your dentures can break!!!! Dentures are made of a special plastic material called ‘acrylic’. These materials have good strengths and can bear the chewing forces in your mouth. Since acrylic materials are porous, they imbibe bacteria and liquids from its surroundings. This can make your denture weak with time. At anytime, if you drop your dentures, it will break.
Do dentists use extracted teeth in making my dentures?
NO…….Your extracted teeth are discarded. Denture is fabricated in the dental lab by the technicians. They use acrylic teeth ( artificial teeth manufactured ), which is a special plastic material. These teeth are available in a variety of shades, sizes and qualities. Your dentist will select the teeth set as per the requirement of each patient.
Should I remove my teeth set at night?
If you have a removable denture (either full denture or partial denture), then you have to remove it at night before sleeping. This is important, as it gives your gums some rest and rejuvenate. After removing your dentures from the mouth don’t forget to keep it in a bowl of water. This keeps your denture moist and helps in keeping the shape of the dentures intact.
How can I clean my dentures?
The teeth set that you can remove is easier to clean. Use a mild soap and a soft denture cleaning brush to clean your dentures. Wash your dentures with normal tap water before using. Denture cleaning tablets that you can add to the bowl of water is available commercially. If you have any specific doubts about denture cleaning, talk to your dentist.
How can I avoid damaging my dentures?
A well cared for denture will serve its purpose. There are a few things you should remember in denture care. Since dentures are made of acrylic, they can distort when subjected to high temperatures. So, exposing your dentures to sunlight or putting them in boiling or hot water is a No-No. Also avoid using harsh chemicals to clean them. And as said earlier, dentures are breakable. So avoid dropping them.
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