Dentures
General Dentistry
Dentures are a removable set of teeth connected to the gums which replace the missing teeth.
Missing teeth could be a very challenging time. We have to remember that digestion begins at the mouth so teeth are the machines that begin to break down the food in our digestive system. Therefore not having teeth affects the way we swallow and how exactly we swallow our food.
When we lose teeth not only do we tend to lose the bone that supports the tooth (which could later affect the possibility of obtaining implants) but also our face begins to sink in due to the lack of support the teeth were providing.
However, science has advanced so much that many challenges people had a long time ago can now be either prevented or better restored.
If you need dentures, know there are many people in the same situation. Let’s discuss the most asked questions about dentures.
Do I Need Dentures?
One of the most asked questions by people especially if they have not seen a dentist for a long time. If this is your case, the most honest and short answer is ‘maybe’. There’s a possibility that you may have to have some teeth extracted but that does not mean that you might need dentures. You can also benefit from a root canal which will save your tooth (or teeth) and eliminate the need for dentures. If you are already missing lots of teeth or have severe decay beyond repair then you might be looking at the potential of needing dentures.
Should I have dentures or fix my teeth?
It is really up to you which road to take. However, we would point out several considerations you might want to know before making this decision:
- Please note that as mentioned above, our digestion starts in the mouth. If you can’t chew well, you can’t eat well. Dentures will certainly help you but will never be like your own teeth.
- When you take a tooth out, you will lose bone in the area. The jaw bone is made to support your teeth and when teeth are gone there’s no need for that bone to regenerate or continue to be there so it will disintegrate, leaving behind a sunken area.
- If you want to continue a healthy lifestyle, you might want to consider keeping your teeth. Your age does not matter, many older people still have many teeth left and prefer to keep them than getting a denture which will be hard to get used to.
Which brings us to our next question…
Will my dentures stay stable?
Again, this will depend on the timeframe that has passed between your teeth being removed and you got your denture. If you are preparing to have your denture rather quickly after removing your teeth there is a big possibility that the denture will feel snug and steady for some time. After some time, however, people tend to use adhesives to keep the dentures in place. Again, remember you will still lose bone in the area because there are no teeth to support so most likely they will move even more with time.
Is there a way I can keep my denture stable or can I stop using dentures?
Yes!, Now you have an option that did not exist before this option is called “Implant dentures”. With Implant based dentures you have the opportunity to have a full denture fixed by dental implants. This, in terms, means they will be steady and you will not lose the bone where the implants are located.
Will I get used to my dentures?
Many people get used to their dentures at least for some time. If you tend to gag easily, you might have a harder time getting used to dentures but is not impossible. Some people decide to do “Implant Dentures” because it minimizes greatly the gagging reflex since it stays steady and firm.
How long does it take to get a denture?
How do I know if I can have “Implant based dentures”?
To know if you can have Implant based dentures you will need to visit a dentist that is certified in implant placements. Here at Dental Designs, we use a 3D Scan Imaging system to check the structure of the bone and its density to know if the patient is a candidate for implants.
