Dentures

Maintaining a high level of oral health and hygiene is important to your life. One important thing to keep in mind when it comes to healthy and strong teeth and gums, is that the definition of "good oral health" might change over time. This is especially true as we age and tend to have more issues with our teeth. Eventually, while the goal might once have been to avoid cavities in any teeth and to have a mouth full of natural teeth, the new goal will be to preserve remaining teeth as much as possible while looking at different replacement teeth options. One of the most common restorative options used to help replace missing natural teeth are dentures and partial dentures.

Dentures

When you lose all of your teeth, you might be worried that your quality of life will go down. That concern is natural; however, it does not have to be a reality. With complete dentures, you can quickly turn an empty mouth into one that is full of teeth! Complete dentures consist of replacement teeth placed onto an acrylic base that matches your gums. The dentures are then fitted to your existing gums. Note that most complete dentures are held in place using suction, and it might take time for you to grow accustomed to the feeling in your mouth.

Partials

When you lose teeth, you need to settle on a replacement option as quickly as possible. It is important to note that your options vary depending upon how many teeth you have lost as well as various other factors specific to your case. If you have a few teeth extracted, but still have viable natural teeth remaining, then one of your replacement teeth options is a partial denture. A partial is a dental device that consists of replacement teeth that are attached to an acrylic base colored to match your gums. This kind of denture is often removable, and sometimes snaps in place using a framework that attaches to teeth adjacent to the empty space left by extracted teeth.

Removable Bridge

Removable dental bridges are important devices that help restore your smile. Even more important than that, however, is the fact that removable bridges help maintain the overall structure of your mouth and jaw. When you lose a tooth, the tissue and bone that used to hold it in place can begin to break down. Not only can this cause issues where the rest of your natural teeth might begin to drift out of place, but the empty space can also cause you to put undue and excessive stress on your remaining teeth when eating or speaking. For this reason, it is advisable to have a replacement tooth placed as soon as possible. A removable bridge is a good option for a variety of individuals, and can help you maintain the function and form of your natural jaw and mouth.

A removable dental bridge consists of a replacement tooth that is anchored in place using a framework that attaches to your remaining natural teeth. Some removable bridges, for example, have two crowns that are permanently attached to the teeth on either side of where the missing tooth used to be. The replacement tooth is then inserted into the empty space and attached to the crowns, and can be unattached and removed as needed.

Because a removable bridge can be taken out of your mouth at will, it is important to remove it every day and clean it. You want to make sure that you get rid of any plaque or food remnants from the piece so that you do not have to worry about bacterial buildup in your mouth. This is especially important given that bacteria can lead to the erosion of your natural teeth as well as the replacement tooth and its framework. Keep your removable bridge clean! If properly cared for, a removable bridge can last for over a decade.