Dentures are removable false teeth that fit over your gums to fill in for missing teeth and eliminate problems caused by missing teeth such as eating and speaking. Gaps left by missing teeth can cause your other teeth to shift into the space or grow at an odd angle, causing pain and discomfort. Dentures are usually made of acrylic, nylon or sometimes, metal, and are custom made to fit the shape of your mouth and surrounding teeth. There are two types of dentures you can have; partial and full dentures, and below you’ll find more information about dentures and what to expect. At North Auburn Dentistry, California, we understand the importance of good oral hygiene and can help keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Partial dentures
Partial dentures are commonly used when one or a few teeth are missing from your mouth. As mentioned above, gaps left by missing teeth can cause problems with eating, speaking, teeth shifting, and self confidence issues, and partial dentures can eliminate these problems.
Full dentures
Full dentures are used for people that have a set of missing teeth on the upper or lower jaw and it’s not unusual for some people to have complete dentures in their mouth. Much like partial dentures, they solve an array of problems that missing teeth can cause.
How they’re fitted
Here’s some information on how both types of dentures are fitted to the mouth.
Partial
Partial dentures will clip to existing teeth using a metal clasp, and your dentist will measure your mouth and order your partial dentures. These can be easily unclipped and removed for cleaning or sleeping. Quite often, crowns are put on the teeth either side of the gap and joined together by a false tooth that’s put in the gap.
Full
Your dentist will take measurements and impressions (moulds) of your mouth once your teeth are removed (if not already) and then order your dentures to fit snugly over your gums. If your dentures fit properly, you shouldn’t need to use an adhesive to keep them in place. However, if your gums have reduced in size, this could be due to weight loss or aging, you may find your dentures are loose and you may need to use an adhesive until you’re able to get a new set.
Cleaning process
Cleaning your dentures is just as important as cleaning your teeth, and you should clean them as often as you would your teeth (morning and night) to remove bacteria and food particles that cause bad breath, staining of the teeth, and tooth decay. This is easily done by brushing your dentures with soap and water to remove food particles, and then soaking them in fizzy denture-cleaning tablets to remove bacteria. You can also brush them as you would your teeth, but be careful not to brush too hard.
Dentures are a wonderful way of filling in for missing teeth and boosting confidence. If you have any queries, get in touch with North Auburn Dentistry today.