Dentures
Silver Spring, MD
 Receding gums, old age, accidents, and numerous other scenarios can result in tooth loss. Old age, in particular, can aggravate periodontal diseases, which can result in all your natural teeth falling out. The absence of teeth can cause speech issues, result in sagging muscles, ruin the aesthetic appeal of your smile, besides making chewing difficult and sometimes impossible. At Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, we can help replace missing teeth and provide functional solutions for all your dental health issues. Dentures are one solution that we offer patients with multiple missing teeth.
What are Dentures?
A denture is a set of artificial teeth and the tissue around it that replaces missing teeth and surrounding gum tissue. It is a removable appliance, allowing you to remove them when sleeping for optimal comfort. You can opt for complete or partial dentures depending upon how many teeth you are missing. Your dentist may recommend you leave some teeth to preserve the bone. If you have a healthy partial set of teeth, they will suggest you get partial dentures to replace the few that have fallen out. If you have no teeth at all, you will need a full set of teeth. A dentist may also recommend you get a full set of teeth if you have only one or two remaining teeth that are not benefiting the dental structure in any way.
Types of Dentures
There are two main types of dentures: conventional and Immediate.
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Conventional dentures have a longer process. Here the dentist will first extract the remaining teeth and then let the gums heal before placing the new dentures. With conventional dentures, the patient has to spend some time without teeth as the gums heal.
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Immediate dentures are an ideal option for those who don’t want to be without teeth during the healing period. Here, the dentist will take the measurements and prosthetics during the initial meeting and has the dentures ready before they take out the teeth. With immediate dentures, the dentist will place the dentures the day they remove your teeth. |
Though conventional dentures take longer, they are a better option. Your gums shrink when they are done healing, and thus immediate dentures may come loose or will be uncomfortable tight during the healing period.
Dentures Care and Maintenance
Dentures are to be cared for, much like normal teeth. However, they are removable appliances and have some extra maintenance steps that you need to pay attention to.
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Brush them regularly- brushing helps remove debris from your dentures and prevents them from staining. When brushing your mouth, make sure you brush your gums, roof of the mouth, cheeks, and tongue to prevent bad breath and bacteria formation.
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Use a non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid damaging artificial gum tissue.
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Immerse your dentures in water when not in use to prevent them from drying out.
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Ask your dentist for recommended adhesives as you may need to use them once in a while to ensure your dentures don’t fall off, especially when taking part in vigorous physical activities. |
At Metropolitan Dental Specialty Group, we offer both conventional and immediate dentures for our clients. Reach out to us for a consultation or visit our website for more information about our services.
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