Partial Dentures Parker, CO
You can suffer tooth loss for a variety of reasons. Common causes include gum disease, significant areas of tooth decay, and facial trauma. Sometimes the teeth fall out on their own, and other times they need to be extracted. Regardless of how you lose your teeth, the effects are the same, and they impact every part of your life. At Parker Dental Implant and Specialty Center, we provide several options for missing teeth. If you have lost several consecutive teeth, one of the options available to you is removable partial dentures.
Effects of Tooth Loss
Losing several teeth significantly affects your life. One of the most obvious effects is what happens to your smile. When the quality of your smile diminishes, your confidence may plummet. Basic functions, like eating and speaking, become more challenging. Eventually, the teeth adjacent to the empty space may begin to shift out of alignment, altering your bite. Your risks for tooth damage, tooth decay, and gum disease, as well as issues like bruxism and TMJ disorder, are also much higher.
What Are Removable Partial Dentures?
One way to replace several missing teeth in a row is through the use of removable partial dentures. This type of restoration consists of replacement teeth that are set into a base, which rests directly on your gums to help support it. Today, the teeth are typically made from acrylic resin or porcelain, and the base is typically made from acrylic. Removable partial dentures also have clasps to attach to your healthy teeth, which provides your restoration with additional support. Your partial denture is made from an impression of your mouth, which is taken after all unhealthy teeth have been removed. The impression is used to design and fabricate your custom denture.
How Do I Get Acclimated to My New Dentures?
While your partial denture is made from an impression of your mouth, it can take some time to get used to the new object in your mouth. There are a few things that you can do to help make this process easier. Stick to a diet of mainly soft foods in the beginning. Make sure that you chew evenly on both sides of the mouth, which helps to distribute pressure evenly. As you get used to eating with your new denture, you can start reintroducing more of your favorite foods.
You may also notice that your speech is a little strange when you first get your denture. The best way to deal with this is to practice. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to speak normally.
Do Removable Partial Dentures Require Special Care?
There is some special care involved with a removable partial denture. It needs to be taken out every night to be properly and thoroughly cleaned. Before removing your denture, lay a towel down on the counter or fill the sink with water. Brush your denture with a soft-bristled toothbrush and denture paste. After brushing, soak your denture in water or denture cleaning solution. Make sure that the water is not too hot, as hot water can cause it to warp.
After cleaning your denture, it is important that you take care of the rest of your mouth. Brush and floss your healthy teeth and carefully brush your gums. Use an antibacterial mouthwash to help eliminate any lingering bacteria and food particles. Your dentures should be left out overnight while you sleep, so make sure that you store your soaking dentures out of reach of small children and pets.
Removable partial dentures provide you with an effective solution for several consecutive missing teeth. For more information, and to learn about your tooth replacement options, call Parker Dental Implant and Specialty Center at (720) 522-2000 today.