Why Do People Get Dentures?

People usually get dentures to enhance their smiles and replace missing teeth. Missing teeth make it difficult to eat and speak. The facial muscles begin to lose elasticity in the areas where teeth are missing, causing the face to sag. Dentures fill out the face and brighten the smile. They also help in the chewing of food that a person used to enjoy but may have had to avoid because of missing teeth.

Causes

• People get dentures most often to replace missing permanent teeth. Others may get dentures as a result of losing teeth to injuries to the face or mouth. Natural teeth are rooted in bone beneath the gum. Dentures cannot offer the same strength, but are a good substitute. They generally improve the confidence level of people who had missing teeth in obvious places, such as at the front of the mouth. Dentures can assist people in eating and relieve pain associated with missing or decayed teeth. Periodontal (gum) disease is a leading cause of tooth loss.

Effects

• Missing teeth can cause health problems and self-esteem issues, and affect the facial muscles. When people have missing or decayed teeth, eating can be difficult or painful, causing their health to decline from a lack of nutrition. In advanced periodontal disease, the teeth can begin to shift in the mouth, eventually falling out. Periodontal disease and cavities are infections that affect not only the mouth but also other areas of the body. People often choose dentures as a permanent solution to these problems.

Types

• Several types of complete dentures are available. According to the American Dental Association, the conventional denture is inserted after all teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed. This can take several months. The immediate denture is inserted as soon as the teeth have been removed. Numerous adjustments are required with this type of denture while the jawbone heals and tissue shrinks. However, the patient does not have to go without teeth for a time.

Options

• Other options are the partial denture and the overdenture. Your dentist may recommend that you keep your healthy teeth, but fill in the gaps. This can be accomplished with a partial denture. A partial denture is designed to fit around the remaining healthy teeth. An overdenture is used when few healthy teeth remain--such as two on top and two on the bottom. The denture is designed to fit over those teeth for greater stability.

Considerations

• Whether a person chooses a complete denture, partial denture or overdenture, regular followup with a dentist is important. Complete dentures remove the possibility of cavities, but checkups can detect certain cancers or other infections of the mouth. When a partial denture or overdenture is present, the remaining teeth must be checked for cavities or disease. As with complete dentures, a proper oral screening for cancer and infection is necessary. See Reference 3, the DENTURES link under Frequently Asked Questions).