Dentures

Missing teeth may affect the patient both socially and medically. And complete teeth loss not only affects your self-confidence, but also has a dramatic impact on the quality of your life.
A long time without teeth leads to bone loss making the fitting of dentures difficult or impossible.
- When teeth are removed, over time the bone slowly, yet progressively diminishes. In fact the upper and lower jaw bones become smaller or shrink. This process, called resorption, occurs with faster rate if all the teeth in the jaw are missed, if left untreated, the loss of jaw bone can progress so far that a denture will no longer stay in place no matter how much adhesive material is used.
Missing some of your teeth may increase pressure on the remaining teeth, making them do more work, resulting in decreased teeth life span and further tooth loss.
Missing some or all of the teeth may also limits your choice of foods and therefore your nutrition and general health will be negatively affected.
For years the best cost-effective solutions for missing teeth were removable partial or full dentures.

1) TYPES OF DENTURES

Partial Dentures

Artificial replacement of several missing teeth attached to the existing natural teeth with clasps and hooks. These attachments can cause undue stress on the existing natural teeth and promote tooth decay.

Full Dentures

Artificial replacement of the whole teeth utilizing soft tissues and bone for its support and retention. It is common for complete or full dentures to cause pain, gum irritation, difficulties during eating and speaking and anxiety lest the denture might slip or fall.

2) ADVANTAGES

Restore the function of mastication.
Restore the normal appearance of the face.
Correct the speech defects resulting from loss of natural teeth.
Maintain the health of the jaw joints.
Prevent movement and tilting of the remaining existing teeth (partial denture).
Neither surgery is needed nor anaesthesia so it suits patient with critical medical status.
The size of the adjacent teeth is not reduced as in the bridge work.
Simpler than implants or bridges and less expensive.

3) DISADVANTAGES

Transfer a lot of pressure to the supporting soft tissues and bone causing continuous inflammation, ulceration and rapid bone loss.
Necessitate covering the roof of the mouth thus decrease the ability to taste food.
Require frequent repair, relining and cleaning.
Do not restore the maximum chewing and biting capacity.
Teeth are made of non precious material (plastics).
Old unclean dentures may produce bad odor.
Should be removed every day during night time and soaked in a cleaning solution.
The clasps and hooks of partial dentures
- Promote for teeth decay as they are not easy to clean
- Transfer destructive forces on the supporting teeth
Unstable, with continuous unsecured feeling that it will fall out when eating, laughing or sneezing (Complete dentures).
Require the use of denture adhesives (Complete dentures).

4) TIPS FOR ADJUSTING YOUR NEW DENTURE

Eat soft foods at first to get used to eating with the denture in place.
Practice reading and speaking out loud until your tongue gets used to the denture.
Be prepared for extra saliva for the first few weeks until your mouth adjusts to the new appliance.
Clean your dentures with a special denture brush and denture cleaner.
Don’t wear the denture during sleeping but soak it in antiseptic solution at night time.
See your dentist if your denture needs adjusting, never attempt to adjust your denture on your own.