As you may already know, dentures are a dental treatment option for missing teeth. Your dentist may also present you with options like dental implants, dental bridges and denture implants. Here's what you need to know about these dental treatment options to understand dentures better:
Dentures
These are the artificial teeth you see many old individuals wearing once they lose their teeth due to old age. They comprise of artificial teeth attached to a plastic base that is in the shape and colour of your gums. You have the freedom to remove the dentures when you want, but your dentist may recommend you remove them when sleeping and when you need to clean them.
You may come across partial or full dentures. Partial dentures are for those individuals who have lost some of their teeth, hence the name partial. The artificial teeth are attached at the position where you have lost a tooth. On the other hand, full dentures are for those who have lost all their teeth because they have a full set of artificial teeth.
Dental Implants
These require dental surgery, meaning they might not be suitable for everyone. That is why a dentist carries out a lot of tests before suggesting dental implants as a treatment option. The surgery involves the placement of dental implants in your jawbone to act as artificial roots for your artificial dental crowns.
Dental implants are loved because they are the closest in resembling natural teeth. You should, however, note that they are expensive and you need to be ready for a lengthy treatment and healing period.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge comprises a pontic (a fake tooth that fits in a gap in your mouth) that is positioned between two dental crowns. The pontic and dental crowns are fused to form a set of three.
What happens is that part of the enamel of the two natural teeth that are adjacent to the gap is stripped off. This is done to create room for the dental crowns attached to the pontic; the pontic then sits in the gap. This is mostly done when you have one missing tooth.
Denture Implants
These resemble standard dentures, but instead of being removable, they are installed permanently with the help of dental implants. This means you require dental surgery to place dental implants that will support the dentures.
Please note that denture implants require high levels of cleanliness. Remember, to effectively clean standard dentures, you need to take them out of your mouth. In the case of denture implants, you can't take them out, which is why your dentist may require you to visit them regularly for monitoring.
For more information on dentures and other dental treatments, reach out to a local dentist.
