Dental prosthesis are intraoral prosthesis used to restore and reconstruct defects inside the mouth, such as missing teeth, missing parts of the teeth as well as missing soft or hard tissue and underlying structures of the jaw and mouth palate.
The dental specialty that focuses on dental prostheses is known as Prosthodontics.
What are the benefits of dentures
Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore the facial geometry and smile. Replacing missing teeth will help improve patient’s appearance, facial expression, confidence and smile. Without dentures’ support facial muscles tend to sag, changing the expression of the face and making the patient look older. Dentures can help chew, eat and speak much more comfortably if you are experiencing teeth loss.
If a patient has lost all natural teeth from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit their overall health and appearance. Dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth.
When a patient loses all of his or her teeth, facial muscles can sag, making one look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.
Most common types of dentures (dental prosthetics):
Immediate dentures
Patients don’t have to experience the utter discomfort be without teeth during the whole healing period. A removable denture is inserted the same day that remaining teeth are removed. However there may need to have the denture re-lined or re-made after the jaw has healed.
Conventional dentures
Fully removable denture is used when the remaining teeth are removed and all tissues have healed – a process that may take several months.
Overdentures
Sometimes some of the teeth can be saved to preserve the jawbone & provide support and stability for the denture. An overdenture fits over some of the remaining natural teeth. This remaining teeth should be previously prepared for carrying the denture by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function in specific cases.
Your new dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you get used to them. They may feel loose while the cheek and tongue muscles adapt and learn to keep them in place. Patients can experience minor irritation or soreness, as well as temporary increase of saliva flow. As you become accustomed to the dentures, these problems should stop.
Follow-up appointments with a dentist are needed after a denture is inserted to check and adjust the fit. If irritation or soreness persists, be sure to consult a dentist.
Good oral and dental hygiene
Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque. Like teeth, dentures should be brushed daily to remove food particles and plaque. Brushing also helps keep the teeth from staining.
Rinse your dentures before brushing. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive cleanser. Gently brush all the surfaces of the dentures. When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly. This can help greatly reduce the risk of oral irritation as well as bad breath.
When you’re not wearing your dentures, put them in a safe place covered in water to keep them from warping.
Occasionally, denture users may use adhesives.
Adhesives come in many forms:
• creams
• powders
• pads
• wafers
• strips
• liquids
Read the instructions and use the adhesive products exactly as directed. Your dentist can recommend appropriate cleansers and adhesives.
If you have any questions about your dentures, or if they stop fitting well or become damaged, contact your dentist. Be sure to schedule regular dental checkups, too. The dentist will examine your mouth to see if your dentures continue to fit properly.
Some more important oral care tips for patients with dentures:
• Don't let dentures dry out – place them in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in plain water when you're not wearing them/overnight.
• Don’t use hot water – it can cause dentures to warp.
• Always brush your dentures – brushing daily will help remove food and plaque and thus prevent dentures from becoming stained.
• Take care of oral hygiene – brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert dentures. This stimulates circulation in your tissues and helps remove plaque.
• Consult your dentist if dentures break, chip, crack or become loose.
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