Dentures are prosthetics used to replace some — or all — of your natural teeth. Sometimes teeth fall out due to health issues or advanced age, other times teeth are damaged by an accident and have to be removed. Whatever the reason, dentures can give you back your bite and your smile.
People have been using dentures for thousands of years: there’s even evidence of ancient cultures crafting them from animal teeth and gold wire! By the 19th century, dentists used porcelain and rubber to fashion these prosthetics. These days, we use high-tech acrylics that can perfectly match your existing teeth while offering the strength and support your mouth needs. There are partial dentures, which replace groups of lost teeth while supporting their remaining natural counterparts, and complete dentures that replace every tooth in the patient’s mouth. Regardless of how many teeth your dentures replace, they’ll be custom-built for your unique smile.
Are dentures right for you?
As we get older, it’s not unusual for us to lose a tooth or two. But when several teeth go, a partial denture may be an effective tooth replacement solution. This is because the added strain on the teeth around the missing ones raises the chance that more will be lost. With partial dentures and proper care, your remaining natural teeth will last much longer. Losing teeth and not replacing them can affect the way we look, bite and compromise other teeth. To avoid this, it is always a good idea to react quickly to tooth loss.
What to look for in dentures
Does it provide you with adequate strength to chew and enjoy the food you love? Is it stable in your mouth, or does it move around when you talk or chew? Is it comfortable, or does it press uncomfortably against your natural teeth or rub against your gums? A good denture should feel natural and allow you to experience everything your natural teeth allowed. It’s important to let your dentist know how your dentures fit, feel and work. If you’re thinking about dentures, or you feel your existing dentures could use an update, book an appointment and we’ll be glad to help you out!
