For a lot of people, they will eventually need dentures, even if they’ve been taking care of their teeth regularly. It isn’t always obvious when dentures are going to be needed. However, it’s easy to know that it’s time by understanding the signs that it’s time you should consider them and listening to the recommendations from your dentist that they give you during checkups and consultations. Learning the options that you have will help you with knowing what you should expect and make the right decisions.
When is It Time for Dentures?
Using a toothpaste that has fluoride in it and brushing after you eat and daily flossing can help with the prevention of tooth loss and decay and help with delaying the need for you to get dentures. But as time goes by, there may be some signs suggesting that dentures are needed. Below are some symptoms to look for.
- Very severe toothaches. This means your tooth is decayed to the point that the decay is touching nerves and your tooth might not be able to be saved.
- Gum inflammation which comes with symptoms of gum bleeding, swelling, tenderness or redness.
- Loose or shifting teeth, which indicates loss of bone
- Missing teeth, which means there is additional pressure on your remaining teeth
- Difficulty eating chewy or hard foods, which causes indigestion and mouth pain.
Your Options for Dentures
After you have decided that you want to get full conventional or traditional dentures, your dentist is going to extract the remaining teeth first and then will provide you with dentures weeks to months later, once the gum tissue’s healed. The traditional dentures can be removed, and they’re affixed to the mouth using something sticky. Based on your jawbone and teeth health, the dentist might recommend other kinds of dentures, like those listed below.
- Partial Dentures – These also can be removed but they’re made for replacing multiple teeth surrounded by natural teeth that are healthy. They’re attached using precision attachments or metal clasps to natural teeth.
- Immediate Dentures – These mean that you don’t have to go toothless for long, and that’s what happens when you get the conventional dentures. Your dentist makes a model out of your jaw and mouth during the dental visit, and the removable denture’s are made that day so that you can use it while healing.
- Dental Implants/Overdentures – These are the options that are better for filling in the teeth that are missing without removing all your other teeth so you can get full dentures. The overdentures are made for fitting over natural teeth once they’re prepared by the dentist for implantation.
- Mini Implants – These are made out of titanium screws and they’re able to be used for securing the dentures in the jawbone where teeth are missing or extracted. They will give better stability for the complete removable dentures rather than adhesives and they’re a lot more convenient.
These are some of the ways you’ll know that you need dentures and some of the options that you have when you choose to get dentures. Talk to your dentist and see which one is best for you.