Complete dentures and partial dentures are the two most common kinds of dentures, both of which restore missing teeth to give you back enjoyment of eating a wide range of your favorite nutritious foods and regain full confidence in talking, smiling, and even laughing out loud.
Partial Dentures – Also called “removable dentures,” partial dentures are used when a few adjacent teeth are missing or when nearby teeth aren’t able to support a bridge. The denture, made up of one or more artificial teeth, fits snugly, secured by clasps that attach to your existing teeth. After meals and at night, partial dentures are easily removed for cleaning.
Immediate Dentures – Should you require tooth extraction prior to being fitted for dentures, immediate dentures are used while your gums heal. You’re able to wear them immediately and throughout the healing process until your mouth is ready to be fitted for complete dentures.
Full Dentures – Also called “complete dentures,” you likely visualize these when you hear the word dentures. Used when all of your natural teeth are missing, the denture supports a full arch of replacement teeth. For cleaning, they’re removable as they’re secured by suction.
Benefits Of Wearing Dentures
- Control over your diet – When you are missing teeth, either just one or all, it can impact what foods you’re physically able to eat. Imagine chewing nuts without molars. Try biting into a juicy apple with no front teeth. With dentures, you can eat your favorite foods.
- Better nutrition – When you don’t have to worry about how to chew your food, your selection of foods become broader and with that, you naturally in ingest a wider range of nutrients, vitamins, miderals, fiber, and more!
- Social confidence – It’s true! People with dentures gain wonderful confidence to smile naturally and laugh out loud when their moved to do so. Dentures allow you to remove that damper on your expressions!
- Return of facial structure – When people are missing teeth, you’ll notice a common characteristic in appearance. Dentures help fill out the cheeks, maintaining a healthful look (which of course also comes from increased confidence).
- Evens out the workload – Dentures support your remaining natural teeth by helping with the work of eating and speaking. When you’re missing teeth, pressure is unevenly distributed, making more work for the teeth you do have, possibly putting them at risk.
How To Care For Your Dentures
To keep them clean, free from stains, and looking just like your natural teeth, your complete or partial dentures do require thorough, regular, and proper care. Cleaning also prevents plaque buildup which can cause tartar deposits, bad breath, decay of remaining teeth, gum disease, and more.
Denture Cleaning Routine:
- Remove and rinse dentures after eating. Rinse with water to remove food particles. Handle them carefully to ensure you don’t bend or damage the plastic or the clasps when cleaning.
- Brush your dentures with a denture brush or soft-bristle toothbrush using a denture cleaner or mild soap. Regular toothpaste is too abrasive, so avoid using it on your dentures. With a light touch, be sure to get under the clasps. Rinse with clear water.
- Before placing dentures back in your mouth, clean your mouth to remove plaque (that builds up on all surfaces) and massage your gums. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your gums, tongue, cheeks, palate, and any teeth that you may have. Floss between your natural teeth too.
- Overnight, remove and gently clean your dentures as above, then soak them in warm water. When your dentures are made, we’ll talk with you about if and when to use an over-night denture cleanser. Tip: Whenever you are not wearing your denture, always soak them in water to prevent the plastic from drying out or warping.
- In the morning, rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if using a denture-soaking solution.
As careful as you may be with your dentures, damage may happen – broken clasps, cracks, etc. – and they will need to be repaired. Just call us at (817) 277-1188.
Dentures will also need what we call “relines.” Because your gums and bones are always changing, your dentures will need to be adjusted to ensure they always fit properly for optimal function and aesthetics. As your dentist in Arlington, we’ll help you determine the best schedule for your smile. We’ll also schedule a professional dentures exam and professional cleaning.
And remember, even if you wear complete dentures, you always need to come for your regular six-month (minimum) exam and hygiene visit so that we can continue to monitor for signs of disease, tooth decay, oral cancer, or infection.
Because dentures restore your smile and your confidence, we hope you’ll talk to us about your needs, because at Golden Rule Dental Care, we can help!