Oral dentures are prosthetic devices that are specifically used to mimic and replace missing teeth. The dentures are usually supported by the surrounding soft tissue in the mouth. Traditional dentures can be totally or partially removable. Other dentures are bonded totally or partially to other teeth or are clipped to teeth still in tact. Even though dentures go by different names there are generally two different types called mandibular arch or maxillary arch dentures.
Well, what causes tooth loss in the first place that would warrant the use of dentures? Many patients who use dentures are elderly patients. They may have lost their teeth due to periodontitis and advanced tooth decay. Other elderly may have lost their teeth due to different types of trauma to the mouth or because of extensive malnutrition problems.
There are certainly both positive and negative things when it comes to dentures. Dentures can most certainly help the wearer chew food when they were previously unable to do so. Dentures can also enhance and provide an aesthetic appeal by providing the appearance of natural looking teeth. Dentures can also provide facial support for the mouth and cheeks and they can lift the nose and the chin.
Some primary downsides to dentures are that because removable dentures are not attached to the jaw or gum line, the jaw bone tends to recede with time. In normally functioning mouths, teeth and the jaw "communicate" with each other while they are attached to each other - essentially living in a conjoined relationship. Once the teeth are removed, the jaw line tends to recede and the face takes on a sunken look.
Dentures are nothing new and have been around for hundreds of years. In fact, the first set of dentures was made of ivory and bone and date back as far as the 1400's. These types of dentures were very uncomfortable to wear and usually were fastened in the mouth in a very crude way using string or thread. Porcelain dentures didn't come into the dental world until the 1700's and were still terrible rudimentary by today's standards.
If someone is considering a dentist for dentures, make sure they see someone who is experienced in fitting them. Dentures are affordable when compared to other forms of treatment, such as dental implants but as with many things, you get what you pay for. Make sure whenever you seek any kind of treatment for your mouth, you weigh the pros and cons.
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