DENTURES & PARTIAL DENTURES AT VALLEY DENTAL
Dentures or partial dentures are popular because they allow people with missing or broken teeth to retain their oral health. From chewing to speaking; the structural stability dentures provide is necessary for normal speech and eating patterns. One advantage of dentures is that there are multiple options available, so you can find the one that works best for you.
FULL DENTURES
Full dentures support the tissues and the facial muscles in a similar way that natural teeth do. They serve as a direct replacement for teeth that are missing or too damaged to repair. There are two major types of dentures: immediate and conventional. Immediate dentures can be placed directly following the removal of teeth, while conventional dentures can only be installed after the mouth has fully healed. It should be noted that while dentists recommend taking action as soon as possible after extractions, they may still be able to fashion a set of full dentures regardless of when the teeth were lost.
A full denture plate is least 20 teeth with no natural teeth remaining. Please note that if you need teeth removed, it can take anywhere from 6 weeks – 2 months before the mouth can fully heal and for the bones/gums to adjust to the change.
PARTIAL DENTURES
Partial dentures are a good option if you have a combination of natural teeth that your dentist recommends keeping and teeth that need to be removed or are missing. Partial dentures have a plastic base the same color of your gums that is connected to the healthy teeth to ensure that the dentures stay in place, regardless of what you do. Much like full dentures, partial dentures provide support during daily activities.
DENTURES AND YOUR ORAL HEALTH
From shifting teeth to gum erosion, your oral health needs can change over time. If you’re missing even one tooth, the surrounding teeth will begin to shift into the open space. This can wreak havoc with your brushing and flossing routines too, particularly if you’re missing several of your pearly whites.
Finding the Right Option for You
While there are exceptions to every rule, dentists are likely to recommend partial dentures if you can save any of your teeth. Even if it’s just one tooth in either the upper and lower jaw, partial dentures are typically easier for people to adapt to in comparison to full dentures. Partials can also be changed whenever you need them to, meaning you can add new teeth if necessary.
The crux is that your teeth will need to be strong enough to handle the appliance. If you’ve had missing teeth for a while and they’ve been weakened due to the instability, then they may need to be removed so that you can be fitted for full dentures. At Valley Dental, we know that it can be easy to push your oral health to the side in favor of more pressing matters, but you should know that your oral health is very critical to your overall health. If you need an adjustment to your dentures or you’re looking for a new set, we’re here to give you the advice you need.
