Dentures can be made to replace one tooth, several teeth, or all your natural teeth. Dentures are often the preferred option for those who are missing many of their natural teeth or when dental implant supported porcelain crowns are not an option.
Complete dentures are typically made from rigid materials, but partial denture wearers today have the option of wearing flexible partial dentures. The advantage of flexible dentures is that they are more comfortable to wear and adapt easier to the shape of your mouth. The gum portion of the denture is translucent, allowing for a more natural looking smile. You may be wondering how dentures work.
How Do Complete Dentures Work?
The upper denture is molded to cover the entire roof of your mouth. The middle portion of a lower denture is left open to leave room for your tongue. Ofen, upper dentures have enough natural suction to hold them firmly in place. Lower dentures typically do not develop suction, but the tongue and cheek muscles can be developed to help hold them in place. Sometimes, the bony structures or ridges which support dentures are not sufficient enough to provide adequate support for your dentures. If you need to use excessive adhesive to hold your dentures securely, this could indicate that your dentures do not fit properly. If you need to improve how well your dentures hold temporarily, you should only need a maximum of four pea-sized beads of adhesive.
Your mouth will change over the years. Dentures that no longer fit well can be relined, which simply means the part of the dentures that fit against your gum tissue can be replaced to match the current shape of your mouth. If relines do not help your dentures to fit better, you may consider having dental implants placed to secure your dentures. Depending on the thickness and health of the remaining bone, you consider this option.
How Do Partial Dentures Work?
Partial dentures are ideal if you still have most of your natural teeth. A removable partial denture typically has the replacement teeth attached to a hard or flexible gum-colored plastic base. The partial not only fills in the space of the missing teeth, but the partial will keep the rest of your teeth from moving out of their proper position. Your dentures are molded to fit around your remaining teeth. They are typically secured to adjacent teeth with clasps.
Adjusting to Life with Dentures
When you first get your new dentures, you may have a hard time pronouncing a few words. This is normal. Your speech will become more natural with time as your mouth learns to navigate around the new appliances.
Eating with your new dentures may take a bit a practice, but it will not be too long before they feel more natural. You may want to start with softer foods cut into smaller pieces. If your dentures slip when you smile, laugh or cough, you can easily reposition them by biting down on the dentures and swallowing.
Overall, please keep your expectations of life with dentures realistic. Dentures do not function or feel the same as healthy, natural teeth. If you accept this fact from the start and learn how to adapt to how dentures work, you will have less frustration as you learn to wear your dentures.
