There are basically two types of denture. First is a removable partial denture which is used for one or few teeth. Second is the complete denture, this is when a person requires a full set of teeth.
A removable partial denture is dental appliance in which one or several teeth are replaced and it so helps in restoring the function of your jaw. It is made up with the replacement teeth that is attached to a pink or gum colored acrylic bases which is connected by a metal framework. This combination of acrylic and metal frame makes it strong enough to able to withstand the force of eating and it still looks like a natural tooth.
Complete denture also known as full denture. It is a type of removable appliance which is used by a person who has lost all his teeth and needs to be replaced. It is tissue supported prosthesis so it does require a well rounded ridge with adequate height and width.
Usually in a standard type of denture it takes a few weeks and 4-5 appointments to get your denture ready.
The steps in the process include: impression taking- An impression of your gums is taken and a bite registration is done to measure how you bite. Then a wax try-in is done along with measuring the jaw relation. After this step you also get to see your denture and try in them before they are finished and acrylised. In the last appointment the new denture is delivered to you.
As with any other dental appliance you wear denture also may feel quite odd, usually it feels a bit bigger in mouth. It may sometimes cause increase in saliva flow even they may alter the speech ability sometimes. In the initial period you should avoid hot and hard food items until the tissue where the denture rest becomes used to the new teeth. You should start eating by cutting food in small pieces, and wearing the denture regularly specially in the initial days to avoid any kind of problems in future. As the time goes by one will become habituated to the denture. This might also get u some sore in the mouth but you don’t need to worry as it will end within a few days.
Yes it is necessary for denture wearers to take off the denture at night and keep it in water or denture soaking liquid. Once you take out the denture at night the supporting tissue also get a chance to rest and repair. Also when you remove the denture you can also be exposed to the beneficial anti-bacterial agents present in your saliva.
It will be a bit difficult for any person having bone loss in the ridge where dentures are placed. It might not be very stable. But still you can have an acceptable fitting denture by doing some kind of modification in it.
A normal denture has an average life expectancy of 7-10 years. But it depends on various factors like it should be cleaned after every meal, should be stored in water every night. The fitting of the denture also get affected is there has been bone loss over the years, or any tooth shifted from its place due to missing adjacent tooth.
Rinse and brush your dentures daily but avoid using toothpaste.
Many commercial toothpaste can damage your denture due to the abrasives present that create scratches where food and plaque can build up and over the time it will affect the denture. Instead use a soft bristle brush and water to clean them after every meal.
For speech in initial days there might be some difficulty in pronunciation of various words but within few days the problem will resolve as you get comfortable and habituated with the denture.
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