An Overview of Dentures
There are few dental procedures that have more baggage than dentures. From grandpa taking out his full set of teeth to startle the kids to their association with old age, dentures get a bad rap.
But, the truth is that dentures have come a long way from the early days of carved wood or bone, or even grandpa’s ill-fitting set of false teeth. Today, dentures can be as life-changing as any other prosthetic, allowing the recipient to continue to eat, talk and smile as they always have.
And, as the most cost-effective solution for the loss of a person’s adult teeth, they are the most popular solution. As such, most people will consider dentures at some point in their life.
So, in an effort to get rid of all that cultural baggage, we’re going to give you a quick overview of what dentures are and how they can change lives for the better.
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable dental appliances that have false or prosthetic teeth attached. Though we often think of dentures as a full top or bottom appliance, they can include everything from just a few teeth to a whole mouthful.
Typically, dentures come in four types:
Complete dentures – These are the full upper or lower appliances that replace all teeth in the jaw.
Partial dentures – Used to replace a couple or few teeth, these are typically held in place by fixtures that attach to the gums or teeth.
Immediate dentures – After teeth are pulled, the gums need time to heal. Immediate dentures are designed to be used during this healing process before more permanent solutions can be implemented.
Implant-retained dentures – These are dentures, either partial or complete, that are held in place by titanium posts installed into the gums.
The benefits of dentures
While dentures may not be the premium choice for tooth replacement anymore, they are still great at their job and offer three main benefits.
Aesthetic – Losing teeth can make you feel older than your years. With modern dentures, dentists can replace decaying or missing teeth with prosthetics that are indistinguishable from the real thing.
Functional – While it is possible to eat without teeth, it’s not ideal. And, without those teeth, your bite and mouth can shift in a variety of ways that can completely change how you talk. Dentures help ensure your bite and chewing ability remains largely unchanged despite lost teeth.
Price – The main reason most people get dentures today is they offer many of the same main benefits of other false teeth options, but at a much lower price.
Denture drawbacks
While dentures come with great benefits, they don’t always stack up well against newer, more expensive solutions. Drawbacks to dentures can include:
Discomfort from ill-fitting dentures
Sores from the denture rubbing against the gums
Difficulty eating some food (typically crunchy or sticky foods)
Inconvenient cleaning needs
However, those top three drawbacks can be mitigated by regularly talking to your dentist and making sure your dentures fit the way they’re supposed to.
Denture alternatives
Though dentures do a good job at replacing unhealthy teeth, they’re not the only option you have anymore. Depending on your needs and budget, other prosthetic teeth may meet your needs better. For more on denture alternatives, read our post covering all your options for false teeth.