Dentures, and How to Care For Them
Dentures
Dentures are removable devices that act as replacements for missing teeth. If you’ve lost all or part of your teeth, either from tooth decay, gum disease or injury, using dentures to replace them will improve your appearance, health, and restoring your smile. Dentures make it easy to speak and eat properly, which would be near impossible without teeth. In addition to that, when you lose all your teeth, the facial muscles and skin begin to sag, making you look older. Everett dentures can help avoid this by filling up the missing gap, thereby improving your appearance and facial profile. They closely resemble your natural teeth, and after the procedure, your facial appearance will not change much.
Types of Dentures
There are several types of dentures available, all differing in how they function. Conventional dentures are fully removable pieces, made and placed in the mouth after removing the remaining teeth and the tissues have healed. Healing can take up to several months. Immediate dentures are installed on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. During a preliminary visit, the dentist takes measurements of your jaw to help him or her create a model. You may need to come back for the dentures to be relined after the jaw has healed. Overdentures are placed over a small number of remaining teeth to preserve the jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture.
Post-Procedure
Until you become accustomed to them, new dentures will feel awkward for the first couple of weeks. The dentures will feel loose and the cheek muscles and tongue will have to learn to hold them in place. It’s normal to feel some minor irritations and soreness, and you may find that saliva flow increases temporarily. However, these problems will go away as the mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures.
The denture fit will be checked and adjusted during follow-up appointments with the dentist. Consult the dentist if any problems manifest or soreness and irritation persist. Wearing a full denture does not exempt you from practicing good dental hygiene. Regularly brush your gums, roof of the mouth, and tongue with a soft-bristled brush, before inserting the dentures. This will help stimulate circulation in the oral tissues and remove plaque.
Dental Care
Brushing helps keep the teeth from staining. Ensure you rinse the dentures before brushing to wash away any food particles and debris. Use a non-abrasive cleaner and gently brush the denture surfaces to prevent scratching. When brushing, thoroughly clean all parts of the mouth including the gums, cheeks, roof, and tongue to remove plaque, and help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath. When you’re not wearing the dentures, keep them covered in water, in a safe place to prevent them from warping.
You may occasionally use adhesives, which come in many forms such as creams, strips, liquids, powders, pads or wafers, among others. If you decide to use adhesives, read all the instructions carefully and use them as directed. The dentist can recommend appropriate adhesives and cleansers. For any product, you choose, ensure that it has the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which shows that the product has been evaluated for effectiveness and safety. Contact your dentist if the dentures get damaged or stop fitting well. Ensure to schedule regular dental checkups to give the dentist enough time to examine your mouth.