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A denture is a removable
replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues
and help to restore your function and easthetics. .
That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak
better than you could without teeth. When you lose all
of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look
older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your
face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble
your natural teeth so that your appearance does not
change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your
smile.
Two types of dentures are
available -- complete and partial dentures. Complete
dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while
partial dentures are used when some natural teeth
remain.
Complete dentures can be
either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the
teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to
heal.
Unlike conventional
dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can
be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a
result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth
during the healing period.
A removable partial denture usually consists of
replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored
plastic base. Partial dentures are used when one or more
natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Not only
does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by
missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing
position.
New dentures may feel
awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to
them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of
your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is
not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness.
Even if you wear full
dentures, you still have to practice good dental
hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth
every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you
insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your
tissues and help remove plaque.
The main goal of treatment
is to control the infection. The number and types of
treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the gum
disease. Any type of treatment requires that the patient
keep up good daily home care.
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