A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissues. There are 2 main types of dentures.
These are:
-Complete Dentures: These are used when all the natural teeth are gone.
-Partial Dentures: These are used when some natural teeth remain.
Dentures can generally be created in 2 situations. They can be:
-Conventional Dentures - This is made when teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed.
It could take up to a few months for the gum tissue to heal completely. During this time you will be missing teeth.
-Immediate Dentures - Prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth.
After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time
without teeth. You will, however, need to have follow up visits to refit your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape
as your mouth heals. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.
Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don't have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.
Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. After removal, you should brush them to remove plaque and food particles, then place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don't drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.