Dentures are an amazing low-cost method to replace missing teeth in your mouth. They are most commonly made out of a lightweight acrylic material and can be taken in and out of your mouth. Dentures are designed to perfectly fit the shape of your mouth and replace missing teeth and other soft tissues.
There are several types of dentures and your dentist will advise you as to what the best option is for you.
Complete Dentures can be made for either the top or bottom jaw. They are used when there are no more natural teeth remaining in your mouth. Complete dentures sit on top of your existing gum and replace your teeth and soft tissues. This allows you to speak, chew and smile confidently.
Metal Partial Dentures are used when you still have some of your natural teeth remaining within your mouth. The metal framework sits against your gums and clasps onto existing teeth to provide excellent support and stability. With the metal hidden, acrylic teeth and gums are placed to match your smile and replace missing teeth and gum.
Plastic Partial Dentures are also used when patients have a combination of missing and natural teeth. Plastic dentures provide amazing aesthetics however are not as strong as metal dentures. They still sit against your gums and clasp onto your natural teeth allowing you to chew and smile with confidence.
After losing a tooth whether it be due to infection or trauma. We highly recommend that it be replaced as soon as possible. When a tooth is lost, the natural balance of the mouth is compromised, and this can lead to undue strain and stress on the remaining teeth and bone.
When a tooth is lost you may notice:
To prevent these negative consequences, and to enhance your chewing and aesthetics we recommended replacing all missing teeth.
Number of teeth being replaced
Material being used
Amount of clasping and support required
Dentures are very simple to use and to maintain. At night whilst sleeping, we recommend that dentures whether they be complete or partial, be removed. This allows the soft tissues within your mouth to rest and breathe and prevents a bacterial or fungal build up.
Twice a day, along with your regular oral hygiene routine your dentures should be washed with water and a soft brush. They should be kept in a clean area in a slightly moist environment.
You can also occasionally use a denture soaking solution to give your dentures an extra clean.
A butterfly denture is a great option to replace teeth when you have only lost 1 or 2 teeth. Butterfly dentures are minimalistic and only clasp onto the adjacent teeth. This means that they don’t feel thick or bulky in the mouth.