Guide On Choosing Natural Looking Dentures
Having a big gap in your smile can draw unnecessary attention every time you open your mouth. Unfortunately, tooth loss is a big dental problem, affecting many adults and children globally. The good news is that you do not have to spend the rest of your life with a gap in your mouth. Instead, you can consider one of the many tooth replacement treatment protocols in dentistry, like dentures.
What Are Dentures?
They are artificial teeth that replace natural ones in restorative dentistry. Dentures typically replace teeth and surrounding soft tissues. A typical denture features several false teeth bound to a gum-like plastic base.
Unlike other tooth replacement restorations, dentures are ideal for replacing multiple missing teeth. Therefore, dentures are not right for you if you have lost only one or two natural teeth.
What Causes Tooth Loss?
Tooth loss is as devastating for children as it is for adults. Various factors can contribute to losing your natural teeth prematurely, including the following:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Advanced gum disease –otherwise known as periodontitis
- Dental injuries or trauma
- Aging
- Underlying health problems
- Poor oral habits – like opening lids with your teeth
- Nutritional deficiencies
Aside from these factors, a dentist can recommend a tooth extraction procedure for one or more of your natural teeth in the circumstances such as:
- Impacted teeth – are teeth that erupt in the wrong direction so that they are partially or whole stuck under the gums.
- Advanced tooth decay
- Severe toothaches
- A crowded mouth – when your jawbone is not large enough to house all your teeth
Types of Dentures Available in Dentistry?
In the denture world, a dentist near you can recommend different categories depending on your needs and preferences:
- Full dentures – also called complete dentures. They feature all teeth in a human mouth. Full dentures are ideal for toothless patients. Ideally, if you have a few remaining teeth, your dentist must extract them before placing the complete denture.
- Partials – are alternatives to full dentures. They replace only the teeth you have lost. Technically, you must be missing at least four teeth in a row to qualify for partial dentures. Their primary benefit is that you will not need a tooth extraction before getting partials.
- Immediate dentures – are pre-made artificial teeth readily available for instant tooth replacement treatments. Immediate dentures ensure you never spend a single day without teeth.
- Custom-fitted dentures – are artificial teeth tailored to your oral cavity. These dentures take time to prepare, usually after a dentist takes impressions of your mouth. You may need to wear temporary dentures for a few weeks before your customized denture is ready for use.
- Implant-supported dentures – are dentures that require dental implants to stay in place. Dental implants in your jawbone provide steady and secure support for dentures, offering a permanent solution to tooth loss.
- Snap-in or precision dentures – are dentures that have attachments to help them stay in place, ‘snapping’ on your existing natural teeth or dental implants. These dentures are removable yet more solid than the standard removable dentures.
How to Choose the Best Natural-looking Dentures
When replacing your teeth with dentures in Fort Atkinson, choose the best type for your smile. Some of the factors that can help you determine the best dentures are:
- Permanence – do you prefer a permanent tooth replacement solution? If your answer is yes, you liaise with our dental team at Rock River Dental to begin your implantation procedure before getting dentures. Permanent dentures are ultimately more life-like than their counterparts.
- Removability – dentures near you do not always have to be removable. Some people are opposed to dentures slipping off mid-conversation, which can cause an embarrassing scene. However, you may still want the flexibility of removing and wearing your false teeth whenever.
- The number of lost teeth – the number of teeth you have lost will dictate the type of denture you get. Partial dentures are better if they affix to your teeth instead of being removable.
- Proper fit – when dentures fit well, they look like natural teeth. Therefore, always opt for customized dentures, whether partial or complete ones, because they fit snugly.