Are you self-conscious about smiling?

Whether it is due to trauma to the teeth or an underlying dental health issue, losing one or more of your permanent front teeth can be a devastating thing. This is because the gaps left behind by the missing teeth will affect your dental appearance and smile, lowering your confidence and self-esteem. 

Fortunately, your dentist can provide you with dentures to restore your smile and confidence. But are these false teeth created the same? Do they require special care and maintenance? Is everyone eligible to benefit from treatment with such teeth? Do they last forever?

Read along to find out the answers to these questions and more.

What Are Dentures?   

Dentures are essentially dental appliances that are made to serve as artificial replacements for lost natural teeth. These false teeth are made to look exactly the same as the remaining natural teeth so as to give the patient a fuller dental appearance. In the process, dentures help to restore a patient's smile and confidence.

What Types of Dentures Are Available?

Dentures can either be partial or complete, depending on the number of teeth you need to be replaced. Partial dentures are designed for people who are missing one or a few teeth only in their mouth while complete dentures are ideal for people without any natural teeth at all.

Dentures can also be classified as fixed or removable depending on how they have been installed. While fixed dentures are screwed into the jaws of the patient, removable ones are simply snapped into the mouth. Removable dentures can be taken out of the mouth at any time while fixed dentures can only be removed at the dental clinic.

Who Is Eligible to Benefit from Treatment With Dentures?

While dentures can help to give people who are missing one or more natural teeth a brand-new smile, they are not suitable for everyone. For you to be a good candidate for dentures, you should have enough healthy gum tissue and jawbone.

If you are not sure about your eligibility for dentures, consult your dentist beforehand. 

Do Dentures Require Special Care and Maintenance?

Yes, dentures require some adjustment to your daily oral care routine to keep looking nice and last long. To start with, you will have to ditch the regular toothpaste for a non-abrasive denture toothpaste. You may also need to invest in a soft-bristle denture brush to avoid damaging the appliance when brushing.

If your dentures are removable, make sure you soak them in a denture cleanser solution or some tepid water. This should help to keep them from warping when you're not wearing them.

How Long Do Dentures Last?

Dentures don't last forever. Like other dental appliances, they are bound to give out at some point, and when this happens, they may require a replacement. Proper care of dentures can, however, increase their durability considerably. 

Have any questions or concerns about denture treatment? Feel free to consult your dentist.