Top 5 Things To Know About Dentures

Denturists are the experts on dentures! They know everything there is to know about their manufacture, adjustment, and maintenance and can advise you on the type that best suits your situation. They are also there to ensure proper follow-up of your dental care and make any necessary adjustments along the way. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some things you should know about dentures.

1. Types of dental prostheses

Removable partial denture: It is used to replace one or more teeth. The teeth are made of acrylic, and their structure is an alloy of chrome and cobalt. The denture is held in place by clasps that attach to your natural teeth so you can remove them at any time to clean it or sleep.

Removable full dentures are used when all the upper or lower teeth need to be replaced. It stays in place thanks to a suction effect with the gums and the palate. Complete dentures are made of acrylic resin teeth and pink acrylic to mimic the gums.

2. Maintenance

Plaque and tartar can build up on your artificial teeth and cause stains and gum problems. In addition, plaque can spread to your natural teeth, which can cause other types of oral-dental problems. Your dentures must be cleaned every day as thoroughly as your natural teeth. Here are some maintenance tips:

• Remove your dentures, clean your gums with a soft toothbrush, and then massage them with a damp cloth.
• Soak your dentures overnight in warm water. The use of a denture cleaner is at your discretion. Do not use a denture cleaner if you have a partial denture, as the metal alloy may tarnish.
• If you do not wear your denture during the day, keep it in warm water to prevent it from drying.
• Check your dentures regularly to make sure they are not cracked. If it is, take it to your dental center for repair.

3. What materials are used?

Fixed prostheses can be metallic, ceramic-metallic, or all-ceramic. Today, metal is often used for teeth that are not visible (Nickel-Chromium alloy, titanium, Chrome-Cobalt…). In fact, advances in dentistry have made it possible to give the prosthesis a much more aesthetic appearance by using ceramics (on the entire prosthesis or only on the visible part). This material reproduces the natural color of the tooth. Resin is mainly used for temporary restoration. There are also ceramic-filled composite resins that are permanently installed.

4. Which teeth for your dentures?

The teeth that make up your dentures can be made of porcelain or acrylic. Porcelain teeth are stronger, but they can damage real teeth and cause vibrations that can lead to gingivitis. In addition, they are attached with a metal rod that is sometimes less effective than the chemical process used to attach acrylic teeth.

Dentures are attached with metal clasps, which are less aesthetic than resin clasps but much stronger. The other option is an attachment, which is a system where the denture is attached via a tray or a snap. This technique is more expensive but more practical.

5. At what age can I get dentures?

In general, dentists wait until the end of bone growth to fit a permanent denture, around 18. In some cases, such as in the case of agenesis (absence of a permanent tooth under the baby tooth), a temporary fixed prosthesis (crown) will be placed until the bone growth is completed and a permanent prosthesis can be placed.

Contrary to popular belief, dental prostheses are not reserved for the elderly! A cavity that has damaged a tooth too much and that we had to devitalize, a broken tooth, dental agenesis. There are many reasons to replace or restore a tooth, even in adulthood. Except in exceptional cases, it is true that young adults rarely wear removable dental prostheses (dentures).

Looking for help?

For all your general dentistry needs, don’t hesitate to contact the specialists at Dandenong Denture Clinic! They provide a wide range of dental care, including checkups, exams, cleaning, and teeth whitening for perfect oral health. There are a couple of rules that you need to follow in order to keep and have healthy oral health, and the dentist at Dandenong Denture Clinic will help you out with this. So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call for all your dentistry needs.