The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons states that 69 percent of men and women between the ages of 35 to 44 have lost at least one tooth to accident, gum disease, or tooth decay. They estimate 1 out of 4 adults will lose all teeth by the age of 74.
Losing permanent teeth to gum disease can’t be ignored. It makes it hard to chew foods and smile. People who are missing teeth also feel embarrassed and try to hide their teeth. Removable dentures become one option for men and women who have lost their permanent teeth.
What You Need to Know About Dentures
There are complete and partial dentures. The kind you’d need depends on if you have healthy teeth remaining. The bottom line is that you have false teeth that are fit over your gums and secured with denture glue for the day.
It can take time to get used to how the acrylic dentures feel in your mouth. It can be more challenging to speak and chew your foods. Because they are fake teeth, they will not be sensitive to hot or cold foods. You also won’t feel when you’re eating a foreign object like a rock or bone fragment.
Dentures require regular cleaning. You should remove and rinse them after eating, and rinse your mouth at the same time. At the end of the day, you need to use a soft toothbrush to scrub your dentures of food and plaque, and place them in a solution designed for soaking dentures overnight. It is vital for the dentures to remain moist, so this is an important step. The next morning, you must rinse them before putting them back into your mouth.
The acrylic plate of a denture is glued to the gums or roof of the mouth. If the glue doesn’t hold for the entire day, you might find your dentures slipping when you talk or eat. As the full replacement dentures rub on the gums, it can lead to irritation and even sores.
You might think that one set of dentures will last you a lifetime. That’s not true. With dentures, the bone that supported your teeth’s roots can deteriorate. As your gumline changes over the years, you will need to have your dentist either adjust the fit or order a brand new set of dentures. If the dentures crack or break, you’ll need to have a new set made. Over the years, the price of a number of sets of dentures can really add up.
Why Choose Implants?
Implants also involve false teeth, but these teeth are secured to the bone. They cannot shift or slip while you’re talking and eating. The anchor for the implants goes into the bone and bonds with the bone, keeping it from deteriorating. Once in place, they feel and look just like your real teeth.
Dental implants do cost more. However, if you calculate the cost of an implant versus the need to have dentures replaced periodically, implants may come out being the more economical option.
Implants are easily cared for. Unlike dentures that require lengthy cleaning routines, implants are brushed and flossed along with the rest of your teeth. With proper care, your implants will last a lifetime. There are Same-Day implants that use four fixed anchors to connect a small row of teeth at once. These are an excellent alternative to dentures.
The American Dental Association has a comprehensive video on dentures. Watch the video and then call Miami periodontal specialists Dr. Gallardo to weigh the pros and cons of dentures and dental implants. Gallardo Periodontics and Implant Dentistry offers free consultations that you can schedule online or by calling (305) 447-1447.
