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Full and Partial Dentures Cedar Park, TX
According to a recent report published by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research approximately five percent of the adult population between the ages of twenty to mid-sixties in the country suffers from loss of teeth. Now you may be thinking that ‘that’s not going to be me’ or ‘I take very good care of my teeth’ think again; though you take regular care of your teeth at home by brushing them twice and flossing every day, it is not enough. Visiting your dentist for regular checkups is a must for everyone if you do not want to become a part of those unfortunate five percent of the populace since one of the most common reasons for tooth loss seems to be untreated decay caused by neglect; although the second most common reason seems to be mishaps and accidents.Dentures – The Time Tested Resolution
Removable replacement for missing teeth or dentures have been around for quite some time, before all the technical advancement took place and permanent replacement technology or implants was even an option. There are two types of dentures available, Full or Complete Dentures and Partial Dentures.Full or Complete Denture: Full dentures are used as a replacement when the complete set of natural teeth and the surrounding tissues on either of the jaws have had to be replaced due to decay, or have suffered irreparable damage in an accident or mishap; so severe is the damage that the dentist has no other option but to remove all the teeth.
The teeth part of full dentures are made out of white plastic and the supporting lower half or the base is made of gum colored plastic. There are again two types of full dentures
Immediate Dentures
These are created even before the teeth are removed, and fitted immediately after the removal procedure is complete, so that the patient does not have to wait during the healing period to start using their artificial teeth.Conventional Dentures
These are created after the teeth are removed and the adjacent tissues and the gums have healed, which usually takes about eight to twelve weeks.
The only disadvantage of using immediate dentures is that the bones and gum tissues may shrink during the healing period, which would mean that the patient would have to get it adjusted and refitted during the healing period.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used for those who have not lost their entire set of teeth and just need to replace a few adjacent ones. The base is created out of gum colored plastic and the teeth of white colored plastic; however, they are attached to a metal frame that may look like wire or clasp to hold them in place. Partial dentures help the remaining set of teeth to be in the same situation and not change position.Safety and Care of Dentures
| • | Dentures should not be worn to bed while sleeping. The time spent at night without the dentures, helps to give the gum tissue an opportunity to breathe after being covered by plastic for a long time. It is a fact that people who take off their dentures are less likely to get them relined frequently. |
| • | Immediate dentures should be worn without any interval till the next day as they help reduce the risk of post surgery swelling. After which they should be treated the same way as the conventional dentures. |
| • | When removed while sleeping, dentures should be kept in water, otherwise the acrylic on the base will get dry and the dentures will become brittle and uncomfortable. Also, dry dentures are prone to cracks and fractures. |
| • | Wearing dentures may alter and affect the speech of the wearer. The tongue, cheek and lips of the wearer will need time to adjust to the new and unfamiliar pattern within and it may cause words to slur or the wearer may mumble in the beginning. This is a temporary issue and with more practice and time will get resolved. |
| • | If sore spots appear after the initial placement, the dentist should be seen immediately to realign and correct the denture. |
| • | While placing a partial denture it is important to use hands. Partial dentures should not be bitten down into place, fiddled and played with by using the tongue or other teeth, since they are attached to metal wires. It may cause injury to an internal and hard to reach area of the mouth. The acrylic base may also break or crack, and the wire may get warped and twisted. |
| • | If the clasps supporting the base of a partial denture seem to become loose, do not attempt to tighten them by yourself. Only a trained dentist should attempt to do it as it a delicate procedure and if the clasp breaks during tightening, they are irreparable. |
| • | Partial dentures should not be left out of the mouth for long periods other than while you are sleeping. The surrounding teeth may change position and this shift will make it difficult to put the dentures back in. |
Maintenance of Dentures
Cleaning and maintenance is an important part of making sure that the dentures last a long time. Clean dentures will also ensure that your oral health remains up to the mark.| • | Add denture cleanser to the water when soaking the denture overnight, such as effervescent tablet. |
| • | Clean the dentures every day by using a soft toothbrush and either denture cream or toothpaste. |
| • | Doing both the above mentioned rituals would ensure that the dentures remain in excellent condition. |
| • | Keep a towel at the bottom of the sink while brushing the dentures, as it will minimize the chances of damage if the dentures slip and fall inside. |
| • | Do not boil the dentures or use running hot water to wash for a long time. |
| • | Do not use caustic substance such as bleach to clean the dentures as they will melt and dissolve. |
For more information on dentures, please contact our office at (512) 643-6060.
