Replace Missing Teeth
If you have to have several teeth removed, or are missing several teeth, you obviously want to have a solution in place for replacing your missing teeth. Thankfully, there are several options available to you to give you back your smile. When missing several or all of your teeth, you may be a candidate for dentures. There are several things to keep in mind when making the decision to get dentures.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are removable artificial teeth that can come in two forms, partials or completes. As the names imply, partial dentures cover only a segment of missing teeth when there are still other natural teeth present in the mouth. Alternatively, complete dentures cover the entire mouth when natural teeth are not present in your mouth. When getting a set of dentures, your dentist will take measurements and molds of your teeth and gums to create a comfortable and efficient set of dentures.
Benefits of Dentures
An alternative to missing teeth, dentures provide several benefits to patients with missing teeth.
- Dentures can increase your self-esteem.
- Improved your appearance and smile.
- Dentures support your facial muscles.
- Support from dentures can improve your speech.
- Dentures allow patients to eat food they wouldn’t otherwise be able to eat without teeth.
- Today’s dentures are designed to be functional and comfortable.
- Dentures are easily removed, which allows you to quickly and thoroughly clean them.
- Most dental insurance benefit plans cover dentures.
- Dentures Boost Confidence
- Losing many teeth can cause the facial muscles to sink or sag, which will make you look older. Thankfully, dentures help facial muscles stay in place and will make your face look just as it did before tooth loss.
Eating With Dentures
As for what you can eat and drink, there are no real limitations to what you can consume with dentures. There is an adjustment period to get used to wearing and using them, but most people adjust in a short period of time and are able to eat just as they used to before getting dentures. To start out, we recommend eating foods that are easier to chew as you get used to your dentures. With time, you can learn to chew harder, more difficult foods.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
Dentures that are not permanent will not last forever. However, with proper care of your dentures, they can last you for a long time by using these best practices.
The following is a daily routine for proper care of dentures:
- Remove your dentures.
- Brush your dentures with a non-abrasive denture toothpaste.
- Rinse dentures thoroughly after eating to remove food particles.
- Use a soft bristle denture brush and gently clean all surfaces to avoid damaging the plastic.
- Store your dentures each night in water or a mild denture cleaner.
- Rinse off any denture cleaner before placing the dentures back in your mouth.
- Most importantly, do not use regular toothpaste, hot water, or bleach-based products.
Gently treating your dentures can prevent unnecessary damage, such as chipping and discoloration. We have provided you with a video that includes illustrations detailing the process of thoroughly cleaning dentures. Additionally, you can download a one-page video transcript with illustrations to reference at home.
Home Maintenance for Dentures
How To Properly Clean Dentures
Alternatives to Dentures
Dentures are not the only option to replace missing teeth. Dental implants and bridges are excellent options as well. Your Vancouver dentist will present all the options available to you. Some other alternatives to dentures, such as implants require a solid bone structure. For example, the post for the implant is placed into your jaw bone for the implant tooth be placed. The implant post stimulates your jaw bone the same as your natural teeth to prevent bone loss.
Another option may be a dental bridge. A dental bridge will require healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth to support the bridge. Teeth replacement options do not reduce or eliminate the need for excellent oral hygiene.
Cascade Dental offers affordable dentures in Vancouver, WA. Contact us today to request an appointment. We will have you smiling again in no time!
