Dental Dentures: Rediscovering Your Smile
Dental Dentures
Are you facing challenges with missing teeth, which is hindering your confidence and ability to enjoy life to the fullest? Dentures might just be the perfect, affordable solution for you and offer long-term improvements that can significantly enhance your oral health and overall well-being.
Understanding Dental Dentures
Dental dentures, commonly known as false teeth, are removable replacements for missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissues. These prosthetic devices are custom-made to fit your mouth and surrounding teeth perfectly, restoring your smile and supporting the surrounding structures, such as the cheeks and lips. Dentures can be complete, replacing all lost teeth, in either the upper or lower jaw, or a partial denture, filling the gaps left by a few missing teeth.
Dentures are removable dental appliances designed to replace missing natural teeth and the surrounding tissues. They consist of artificial teeth, made from materials like acrylic, set into a gum-coloured base that then rests on top of your gums. The removable nature of dentures offers several benefits. They provide an accessible and non-invasive solution for individuals with missing teeth, as no surgical procedures are required for their placement. Dentures can be easily taken out for cleaning, allowing for better oral hygiene, and reducing the risk of gum disease and other oral health issues. Their removability enables adjustments and modifications as needed, (denture relines) ensuring a comfortable fit and optimal functionality. Patients can remove their dentures while sleeping, giving the gums time to rest, and promoting better oral health. With regular dental care, and maintenance, removable dentures can provide a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing solution for those seeking to restore their smile and regain their confidence.
The lifespan of dentures can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of the dentures, the materials used, the wearer’s oral hygiene habits, and the overall condition of the mouth. On average, well-maintained dentures will last around 5 – 7 years.
Benefits of Using Dentures for Missing Teeth
Improved Aesthetics: One of the most apparent benefits of dental dentures is their ability to restore the look of your smile and facial appearance. Missing teeth can cause facial muscles to sag, making you look older than you are. Dentures help in maintaining the natural shape of your face, giving you a rejuvenated and more youthful appearance.
Chewing and Speaking: Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew food properly, leading to digestive issues and often malnutrition. Dental dentures allow you to chew most food effectively, ensuring better digestion and overall health. They also aid in clear speech, preventing any speech impediments that can be caused by missing teeth.
Boosted Confidence and Self-Esteem: Regaining your smile can do wonders for your self-confidence. You will feel more at ease in social situations, less conscious about your appearance, and ready to take on new opportunities with a renewed sense of self-esteem.
Preservation of Oral Health: they prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty spaces, helping in maintaining the proper alignment of your teeth.
Affordability and Accessibility: Dental dentures are a cost-effective tooth replacement option, when compared to dental implants or bridges. The process of getting dentures is straightforward and less invasive, making them accessible to a wide range of individuals with a struggling with a missing tooth or teeth.
Long-Term Improvements with Dental Dentures
Enhanced Quality of Life: As you adapt to your new dentures, you will find that your overall quality of life improves significantly. Eating becomes easier, and you can enjoy a broader range of foods, leading to better nutrition. Your newfound confidence will positively impact your personal and professional relationships.
Customised and Comfortable Fit: Modern dentures are designed to fit your mouth perfectly, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. Aria uses advanced materials and techniques to create dentures that mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth, minimising any discomfort or irritation.
Lasting Solution: With proper care and maintenance, dentures can last for several years. Regular dental check-ups will ensure that your dentures are in good condition and that any adjustments or replacements are made when necessary.
Improved Oral Health Habits: Caring for dentures involves developing good oral hygiene habits, such as regular cleaning and brushing. These habits can positively impact your oral health even beyond the dentures, promoting healthy gums and overall oral well-being.
Types of Dental Dentures
Dental dentures come in various types, each catering to different degrees of tooth loss and specific patient needs. There are four types of dental dentures: partial dentures, single tooth denture, full dentures, and implant-supported dentures.
Partial Denture
Partial dentures are a good option for individuals who have lost only a few teeth but still have some healthy natural teeth remaining. They are designed to fill the gaps left by missing teeth, preventing the remaining healthy teeth from shifting and maintaining proper dental alignment.
Advantages of Partial Dentures:
Natural Appearance: Partial dentures are custom-made to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth, providing you with a natural appearance.
Improved Chewing: By replacing missing teeth, partial dentures restore the ability to chew foods efficiently, improving your digestion and overall health.
Preservation of Remaining Teeth: By preventing adjacent teeth from shifting, partial dentures help maintain the structural integrity of your natural teeth and overall long-term oral health.
Cost-Effective: Partial dentures are more affordable than other artificial tooth or replacement tooth options like dental implants.
Single-Tooth Denture (a Flipper)
A single-tooth partial denture, commonly called a flipper denture, is a removable prosthesis designed to replace a single missing tooth. It consists of a gum-coloured acrylic base that sits on the gums and holds a prosthetic tooth in place. The prosthetic tooth is typically made of acrylic and matches the colour and shape of the missing natural tooth.
When is a Single-Tooth Denture Used?
Single-tooth dentures are not typically the first choice for replacing a missing tooth, but they may be considered in the following scenarios:
Temporary Replacement: If a patient is waiting for a more permanent solution, such as a dental implant or dental bridge, a single-tooth denture can be used as a temporary solution to maintain the patient’s aesthetics and some function.
Financial Constraints: In cases where the cost of dental implants or bridges is prohibitive, a single-tooth denture may be a more affordable short-term solution.
Medical Reasons: If a patient’s oral health condition prevents them from undergoing dental implant surgery or other extensive treatments, a single-tooth denture may be considered a viable option.
Advantages of Single-Tooth Dentures
Quick and Non-Invasive: The process of getting a single-tooth full denture for just one tooth only, is quick and non-invasive compared to a single dental implant or dental bridge, which require surgery or altering adjacent teeth.
Cost-Effective: Single-tooth dentures are more affordable than dental implants or dental bridges now, making them accessible to patients with budget constraints.
Reversible: As a removable prosthesis, single-tooth dentures can be easily taken out and placed back in the mouth as needed. If being used as a temporary replacement, does not impede, or change the patient’s treatment situation.
Full Dental Dentures
Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are used when all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaw are missing or are problem teeth that need to be replaced. They provide an entire set of artificial teeth and are held in place by suction against the gums and sometimes with the help of denture adhesives.
Advantages of Full Dentures
Comprehensive Tooth Replacement: Full dentures offer a complete set of teeth, restoring both aesthetics and functionality. A full set of quality custom made Aria dentures can give you a very natural looking smile.
Restored Facial Appearance: By supporting facial muscles and preventing sagging, full dentures provide a more youthful and pleasing facial appearance.
Affordability: Compared to other options like dental implants, full dentures are a more budget-friendly solution for complete tooth loss.
How much do Full Dentures Cost?
At Aria for a custom designed, full upper or low denture starts from $3850. Our state-of-the-art digital dental laboratory has revolutionised the process of crafting new high-quality dentures, in-house. Using innovative technology and expertise, Aria offers a seamless and efficient experience for our patients. Our skilled dental professionals will conduct a comprehensive examination and take precise digital impressions of your mouth. These digital impressions eliminate the need for messy traditional moulds, ensuring a more comfortable experience and highly accurate fit. Using our CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) systems will use the digital data to create a 3D model of your denture design. This precise virtual model allows for fine-tuning and customisation to achieve the most natural and aesthetic result possible. Once the design is finalised, our advanced milling machines will fabricate your denture using high-quality materials, ensuring excellent durability and aesthetics. Throughout the whole denture making process, our Aria team will maintain close communication with you, ensuring that your preferences and needs are met. With our digital dental laboratory, you can enjoy a streamlined and personalised denture creation process, resulting in a perfect fit and a beautiful smile you will love.
Dental Implants: Implant Supported Dentures (Overdentures)
The next evolution on dentures, which are unsupported (other than suction or denture paste) is an implant-supported option, called an Overdenture. Implant-supported dentures combine the benefits of dental implants and removable dentures, offering a more secure and stable solution for those with significant tooth loss. In this approach, dental implants which are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone, serve as anchors for the dentures for a more secure bite and has next to no movement. The implants have special connectors which enable to denture to be clipped on and off.
Advantages of Implant-Supported Dentures
Enhanced Stability: The implants (titanium post) function as sturdy anchors, preventing dentures from slipping or shifting while speaking or eating.
Improved Chewing Efficiency: Implant-supported dentures function more like natural teeth, allowing for better chewing and eating comfort.
Preservation of Jawbone: The presence of implants stimulates the jawbone, preventing bone loss and maintaining facial structure.
Longevity: Implant-supported dentures are known for their durability and can last for many years with proper care. The implant and bridge can also be upgraded later, should you like to upgrade to a fixed dental implant solution later.
The next step up from an overdenture is a fixed implant-supported bridge option, such as an All on 4.
Choosing the Right Denture Type
Dental dentures have transformed the lives of countless individuals living with a missing tooth or teeth, offering aesthetic and functional benefits. Whether you require a removable partial denture, full dentures, or considering implant-supported dentures, these custom-made prosthetics can help you regain your smile, confidence, and overall oral health.
The choice between partial dentures, full dentures, or implant-supported dentures depends on various factors, including the extent of tooth loss, oral health condition, budget, and your preferences. You first step is to book a denture consultation with one of our Aria dentists or our dental prosthetist to determine the most suitable option for your needs. Aria Dental also offers complimentary dental implant consultation, if considering an overdenture or fixed implant option.
Cleaning Dentures
Once you have your dentures, cleaning it regularly is essential to maintain their hygiene, longevity, and your oral health. Here is a quick step-by-step guide on how to clean your dentures effectively or you can watch our video here:
Step 1: Rinse Dentures After Eating
After meals, remove your denture/s and rinse them under running water to remove any food particles and debris.
Step 2: Handle with Care
Handle your dentures carefully and avoid dropping them. It is a good idea to place a towel in the sink or fill it with water to cushion the dentures if they should accidentally fall.
Step 3: Use a Denture Brush
Gently brush your dentures using a soft-bristled denture brush specifically designed for dentures. Avoid using regular toothpaste as it may be too abrasive and can damage the denture surface. Instead, use mild soap or a denture cleaning paste recommended by your dentist or pharmacist.
Step 4: Clean Your Mouth
If you have partial dentures, make sure to clean the remaining natural teeth and the surrounding gums thoroughly. Brushing your tongue, palate, and cheeks is also essential for overall oral hygiene.
Step 5: Soak Dentures Overnight
Place your dentures in a denture tablet cleaning solution or in plain water overnight. This soaking helps to keep them moist and maintain their shape. Do not soak in hot water!
Step 6: Rinse Before Wearing
Before putting your full or partial denture back in your mouth in the morning, be sure to rinse them thoroughly under running water to remove any cleaning solution residue.
Step 7: Regular Dental Check-ups
Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist or oral health therapist to ensure that your dentures are fitting properly and to address any issues promptly.
Additional Tips:
- Avoid using hot or boiling water when cleaning as it can cause them to warp.
- Never use bleach or other harsh chemicals, as they can damage the denture material.
- If you notice any cracks, chips, or changes in fit, consult your dentist immediately.
- Do not wear them while sleeping unless your dentist advises otherwise.
By following these simple steps and maintaining good oral hygiene, you can ensure that your dentures stay clean, comfortable, and in excellent condition, allowing you to enjoy a confident smile and improved overall well-being. If you have any questions on cleaning, please contact our team.
