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Are you missing a tooth or multiple teeth? If so, dentures may be a solution for restoring your smile and bite. Complete dentures are used to replace missing teeth for people who have no remaining teeth. Dentures can also be used for people who have lost just a few teeth. In this case, the appliance is called a partial denture or an over-denture. Tooth loss may result from periodontal disease, tooth decay, or traumatic injury. It is very important to replace missing teeth. If you do not replace your missing teeth, there can be a shift in remaining teeth, an inability to bite and chew properly, as well as a sagging facial appearance, which makes one appear older than they really are. The dentures of today are designed to be comfortable and functional, greatly improving your smile. Types of Dentures If you have lost most or all of your teeth, complete dentures can replace all of your missing teeth. Complete or full dentures are made when all of your natural teeth are missing. You can have a full denture on your upper or lower jaw, or even both. Complete dentures are made when gums are restored to a healthy condition and sufficient time has passed for healing. Gums will naturally shrink through the healing process of tooth loss, which normally takes from 6 to 12 months and during this period immediate dentures may require adjustments to accommodate the changes in the gums and underlying structure. This can include soft and hard relining procedures that are made to the immediate denture. Also known as conventional or immediate, complete dentures can be placed immediately after the removal of the remaining teeth. Immediate dentures can be worn right away, without the healing period. When gums shrink, immediate dentures may require rebasing or relining to fit properly and can be made once the tissues have healed. The healing process may take at least 6-8 weeks. An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants. The natural teeth must be prepared to provide stability and support for the denture. Partial dentures are often a solution when several, but not all, teeth are missing. These dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework. Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. Adapting to your new Smile with Dentures For the first couple weeks, your new denture may feel awkward or bulky, but your mouth requires an adjustment period. Eventually, your mouth will become accustomed to wearing dentures. Inserting and removing the denture will require some practice, as well. Your denture should easily fit into place. Remember to never force your partial denture into position by biting down because this could bend or break the clasps. Upon initial wear, dentures may cause eating and speaking to be difficult. Start out by eating soft foods that are cut into small pieces. Chew on both sides of your mouth to keep even pressure on the denture and avoid sticky or hard foods, including gum. If you are missing multiple teeth, or even all of your teeth, contact your Gilbert dentist today to see if dentures are an appropriate solution to restoring your smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading dentist in Gilbert, AZ, Dr. Morteza Zamani. With a strong interest in the advancement of dental research, Dr. Zamani completed five years of research and has advanced training in multiple areas of dentistry to provide the best in quality dental health care, including implants in Gilbert.
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