If you are missing teeth, one of the options you have to replace those missing teeth is to get a denture. A denture is an appliance, also called a prosthesis, which replaces missing teeth. The apparatus is designed to replace the look of natural teeth, as well as surrounding gum tissue, so that it looks as natural as possible. Removable dentures can be taken out of the mouth, and are usually at the very least taken out each night during sleep. Permanent dentures are another option and are permanently affixed in the mouth using dental implants.
There are two primary types of dentures – full dentures, which replace all the teeth on the upper or lower portion of the mouth in one piece, or partial dentures, which only replace a few teeth. Partial dentures function more like a dental bridge, since they are attached to existing teeth in some way so that they remain in place. On the other hand, full dentures cover the entire expanse of the gum area so there are no teeth to attach the appliance to. Therefore, these dentures must be held in place with a temporary denture adhesive that keeps the apparatus in contact with the gums, unless they are permanently attached using dental implants.
When most people think of dentures, they think of removable appliances that look rather false in the mouth and can be uncomfortable or can even slip or fall out when eating certain foods. The good news is that advances in dentistry have resulted in dentures that are more natural-looking and more comfortable, so even if you are wearing a full denture, it is a more pleasant experience than the dentures you may remember your grandparents wearing.
Although dentures are more natural looking today than in years past, many people are still left wondering whether they should opt for dentures if they are missing teeth. There are a number of things to consider before making that decision. One option that should really be looked into as an alternative to dentures is dental implants. Implants also serve to replace missing teeth, but do so in a very different way.
In contrast to dentures, which rest on top of the gum area, dental implants involve a titanium post being surgically implanted into the jaw bone to serve as a base for a replacement tooth or teeth to rest. Each titanium post can hold a single replacement tooth, or crown, or you can attach a set of multiple teeth (a denture) to a few implants secured in the mouth to hold them permanently in place.
This procedure offers the benefit of keeping teeth permanently and more securely anchored in the mouth as compared to removable dentures, which can be more comfortable and look more natural. The other benefit of dental implants is that the insertion of the post leads to bone growth and therefore impedes any bone loss in the area. This is a huge benefit since people that are long term denture wearers often suffer from increasing bone loss in the jaw area over time.
Although dental implants offer a number of benefits over removable dentures, they are also more expensive, require a surgical procedure and take longer to complete. These drawbacks are the reason that everyone hasn’t simply given up on removable dentures as a viable dental replacement option to instead opt for dental implants. In fact, dentures are still the more widely chosen option for replacement teeth, although dental implant procedures continue to gain ground in the realm of tooth replacement options, and more and more people are opting for dental implant supported dentures, which combines the best of both worlds – dental implants to hold the replacement teeth in place, with a denture taking the place of individual crowns on every post so that fewer dental implants are needed to replace all teeth.
As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when determining whether dentures are a good option for you. In some cases, the benefits of dental implants over dentures far outweigh any drawbacks, such as increased cost or the invasiveness of the procedure. However, there are still millions of people worldwide that opt for dentures and have not made the switch to dental implants, so if you choose to do so, you are certainly in good company.
For more information about dentures or to schedule an appointment to discuss whether dentures or dental implants are the best option for you to consider, contact Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
