Dentures are the go-to option for people who have lost most of their teeth to old age, dental disease, or accidents. They are artificial teeth made of dental-grade ceramic and gum-colored acrylic attached to a gum-like base that help patients requiring partial or full-mouth restorations.
Dr. Richard Lee, DDS, and Dr. Michael Chan, DDS, our award-winning dentists at Balentine Plaza Dental Care, offer advanced dental treatments and procedures to prolong your oral health and restore your oral functionality.
In this blog, we’re looking into a few of the things you should know about dentures.
There Are Two Types of Dentures
There are two different types of dentures available on the market – partial and full-mouth dentures. Partial dentures are used when the patient needs to replace one or several teeth in a row, whereas full-mouth dentures can replace a whole set of teeth.
Denture Hygiene Is Important When Wearing Dentures
Besides maintaining your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your remaining teeth, you will also need to clean your dentures regularly. In addition, you should keep them in water or special denture solutions when they are not in use.
Cleaning them regularly helps protect the dentures from microbial buildup and the buildup of food residue that can cause infections in your mouth. Cleaning them daily also ensures they look good as new for years.
Dentures Can Be Repaired
Dentures usually last around 7-10 years. During this time, if any of the parts come undone or get chipped or cracked, you can bring them in to be repaired. However, if the damage is extensive, you may need to have them replaced.
In any case, you should avoid fixing them at home and make sure to visit our dentists at Balentine Plaza Dental Care to have them repaired.
Eating and Talking Takes Some Getting Used To
After you get your full or partial dentures, eating and talking with them may feel slightly uncomfortable at first. That’s because your oral muscles take time to get accustomed to the replacement teeth. The same goes for speech.
However, it usually does not take patients long to get used to their dentures and return to normal.
You May Feel Some Discomfort
You may feel slight discomfort or slight pain when you start using dentures because your mouth must accept the prosthetic and your gums must adapt to the new teeth.
To know more about dentures and determine if it’s the right choice for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee, DDS, or Dr. Chan, DDS, at Balentine Plaza Dental Care. Contact us at (510) 656-4400 for an appointment or visit our office at 5866 Mowry School Road, Newark, CA 94560.