Tooth loss can be daunting. It not only impacts your masticatory function but also has a debilitating effect on your smile. If not replaced on time, missing teeth can negatively impact your adjacent teeth and the underlying jawbone. To overcome these challenges, dentures play a significant role.
Complete dentures offered by our family dentist in Greenbelt are of high quality and can replace all missing teeth and safeguard the integrity of your oral cavity.
Complete dentures explained
Complete or full dentures are dental appliances that replace an entire arch of missing teeth. A complete denture is placed over your gums and relies on your palate or lower jawbone ridge for support. The denture consists of artificial teeth and a gum-colored base.
Complete dentures are removable appliances that can be taken out at night to give your gums rest.
Benefits of complete dentures
Complete dentures can offer the following benefits:
- Enhanced masticatory function
- Improved smile and appearance
- Improved speech
- Prevents bone resorption
- Minimizes the sunken look due to missing teeth
- Provides better nutrition due to improved chewing
- Enhances your self-esteem
- Cost-effective teeth replacement
The process involved in the placement of complete dentures
Fabricating complete dentures involves several steps:
- First, your dentist will record impressions of your upper and lower jaw. Your dentist may require two impressions-preliminary and final.
- The impressions are sent to the lab for making a replica or mold of your mouth to create your custom denture.
- Your dental technician will use wax blocks to fabricate the gums that mimic your natural gums for teeth placement.
- The base of your new denture will be created using nylon, acrylic, or resin.
- Finally, artificial teeth will be added and ensured that the upper and lower teeth fit together correctly.
- Once the dentures are fabricated, they will be polished to give a natural-looking shine and sent to the dentist for placement.
Taking care of your dentures
Proper care and maintenance of your dentures help keep them in good condition. Follow the below-mentioned guidelines to ensure they last as long as possible:
- Remove your dentures at the end of the day
- Clean your dentures gently using a denture brush and paste
- Soak your dentures overnight in a denture solution
- Ensure to brush your gums, inner cheeks, and the roof of your mouth twice a day to remove plaque and debris. This may lodge into the denture and affect their longevity.
Final note
Tooth loss is serious and can negatively impact your routine activities like eating and speaking. Replacing missing teeth is key for long-term oral health. Dentures can greatly improve your oral form, function, and aesthetics, thereby enhancing your quality of life.
