|
Have you lost some or all of your teeth due to gum disease, tooth decay or injury? Dentures can help you maintain speech and the ability to chew properly by restoring your missing teeth. With advancements in dentistry, dentures are not just for the elderly. They can provide support for the lips and cheeks, preventing the face from sagging and maintaining a more youthful appearance. Dentures are removable prosthesis or appliances that are designed to replace either all of your teeth or some of your teeth that are missing. Replacing your missing teeth as soon as they are lost is the best way to prevent serious health problems caused by tooth loss. Delaying the restoration process will only limit the possibility for a successful tooth replacement in the future. Conventional Dentures A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, and sometimes in combination with various metals. Complete dentures are used to replace all of your teeth, while partial dentures fill in the spaces that were created by missing teeth to prevent remaining teeth from changing position. Complete dentures are called conventional or immediate according to when they are made and inserted into the mouth. Immediate dentures are inserted immediately after the removal of remaining teeth, while conventional dentures are made once the tissues are healed, which may take approximately six to eight weeks. An advantage of immediate dentures over complete is that the wearer doesn't have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums can shrink over time, especially during the period of healing in the first six months after the removal of teeth. When gums shrink, immediate dentures may require rebasing or relining to fit properly. Implant Retained Dentures Having a loose or ill-fitting denture can create a whole set of new problems. These can include cosmetic issues and problems with chewing food or simply speaking. If you are missing several or all of your teeth, dental implants can be used to stabilize or support a denture. No longer will you need to worry about your dentures slipping or messy adhesives. An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to dental implants while a regular denture rests on the gums and is not supported by implants. When a person does not have any teeth in their jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants, an implant supported denture can be used. Typically, implant supported dentures are created for the lower jaw because regular dentures tend to be less stable when used on the lower jaw. Usually, a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is quite stable on its own and doesn't need the extra support offered by implants. However, you can receive an implant-supported denture in both the upper and lower jaw. If you are missing a tooth or multiple teeth, contact your Mobile, AL dentist for further consultation. Dentures are not for everyone, but your dentist will be able to properly assess your teeth and generate a proper treatment plan for restoring your smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading Mobile dentist, Dr. Nicholas Southall. Maintaining up-to-date education, Dr. Southall provides services such as Mobile dentures, implants, bonding, and teeth whitening, among other services.
|
