Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Dentures are among the oldest forms of dental restoration in human history. They are a welcome option for people who have missing teeth. You may have missing teeth due to gum disease, decay, or trauma, making speaking or eating difficult. You can replace your teeth with dentures and improve the quality of your life significantly. Not only will you eat and speak better, but your self-esteem will improve significantly. 

Although dentures are a great way to replace missing teeth, not all people qualify for them. Read on to learn more about them and what makes a good candidate.

 

How Do Dentures Work?

Dentures are dental appliances that dentists create to replace missing teeth. They are customized to fit a person's mouth perfectly. The dentist will usually take an impression of your mouth and remaining teeth. They then fashion dentures to fit in your mouth exactly.

There are two main types of dentures:

Full Dentures

Full dentures require that any remaining teeth you have are removed. You may spend time without teeth as your tissues heal from the extractions. You will get a full denture after your mouth is completely healed.

Partial Dentures

Partials will take advantage of your remaining teeth to secure the dentures. The denture relies on a metal framework attached to your natural teeth for stability. Sometimes, they may use crowns on your natural teeth as anchors for the dentures.

Benefits of Dentures

There are several benefits of dentures for patients with missing teeth. They are:

 

• Improve facial appearance through a restored smile

• Boost self-esteem and self-confidence

• Improve speech

• Support for facial muscles lost from losing teeth

• Easy to clean thoroughly

• Increase the types of foods that a patient can eat
  
   

How Long Do They Last?

Dentures are often temporary and need replacing after a few years, usually depending on wear. However, dentures can last long if you take good care of them. You must establish a daily routine to clean and care for them.

A routine would look like this: Remove your denture every evening after meals and brush them with a non-abrasive toothbrush. Then rinse well to remove all remaining food particles and use a soft brush on the other surfaces. Afterward, store them in a denture cleaner or water when you are done cleaning them. Before putting them back in your mouth, wash any denture cleaner off with water. 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?

There are three main types of patients who qualify for dentures. They are:

 

All Teeth Missing

Some patients may end up without teeth due to a specific cause like advanced gum disease or decay. These patients are perfect for full dentures for the top and bottom arches. The dentist would have to take impressions of their mouth to build a good fit for them.

Multiple Teeth Missing

If you are missing multiple teeth, you may qualify for partial dentures. The dentist will take impressions of the mouth and design the dentures to fill in the gaps between the teeth. The dentures will look very normal and natural as the framework is hidden.

Chipped or Broken and Missing Teeth

Patients with severely damaged teeth may also qualify for dentures. Depending on the dentist's recommendation, they may get either full or partial dentures.

To find out if you’re a good candidate for dentures, schedule an appointment with Reaves Dental at our office in New Hartford, New York. Call (315) 736-0139 today!