
Restorative dentistry provides patients with an excellent way toimprove not only their physical appearance but also the ability to talk properly, chew and function normally once again. If your teeth have decayed beyond repair, you’ve started to lose bone mass,or you simply have never experienced a healthy smile, then you might want to consider dentures. Dentures help to replace your missing teeth, fix your aesthetic problems and functions just like natural teeth. On average, dentures will last for five years but can even last longer if you provide them with proper cleaning and maintenance. If you are one of the millions of people who wear dentures, there some information you need to know about denture cleaning to avoid haphazard care as dentures don’t come cheap. This article is going to discuss more onthe Dos and Don’ts associated with keeping your dentures clean. Contents What are Dentures? Types of Dentures The Do’s and Don’ts of Denture Cleaning Denture Cleaning: The Don’ts Bottom Line What are Dentures? To start with, it is important first to know exactly what dentures are. Dentures are removable appliances that are used to replace missing teeth and restore your smile. If you’ve all or some of your teeth missing whether, from gum disease, tooth decay or injury to the tooth, replacing missing teeth using dentures will benefit your dental health and appearance. The factor that makes dentures different from all the other teeth restorative options is that dentures are not permanently attached to the jawbone. The primary reason for this is because dentures are meant to replace multiple teeth at the same time. When you lose all of your teeth, your facial muscle can sag making you look older than you are. Dentures can help in filling out the appearance of your profile and face. They can be custom made to resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance will not change that much. Types of Dentures Dentures can be either complete or partial. Complete dentures are primarily used to replace all your teeth on either the top or bottom gum line, whereas partial dentures are used when there are some of your natural teeth remaining. Irrespective of what type of dentures you may need, they will be custom-made to fit your mouth and matched to your existing natural teeth. Complete Dentures Complete dentures can either be conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures are made after teeth removal, and the gum tissues have started to heal. They are ready for placement in the mouth around 8-12 week after the teeth have been removed. Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are always made in advance and can be placed immediately the teeth are removed. In this case, the wearer doesn’t have to be without teeth as the gum tissues heal. However, the gums and bones tend to shrink over time especially during the healing process following teeth removal. Therefore, one of the disadvantages of immediate dentures compared to conventional dentures is that they need regular adjustments to fit appropriately during the healing period. Immediate dentures should only be considered as a temporary solution until conventional dentures are made for you. With proper maintenance and care, complete dentures can last for more than 5-10 years. Partial Denture A removable partial denture is mostly used when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support structures like dental bridges or when more than one tooth is missing. Partial dentures are fixed on the gum line that they will sit on. They are fastened to the nearby teeth to prevent them from falling or shifting out of place. However, partial dentures are not permanently fixed; they can be easily taken out at any time while sleeping and cleaning. Fixed Dentures Other types of teeth replacements are fixed surgically such as dental implants, overdentures and dental bridges. Dental bridges and implants tend to be more expensive than removable dentures. There are four main types of fixed dentures: – Fixed BridgeA fixed bridge is used for replacing missing teeth by cementing a false tooth to the remaining natural teeth on each side. – Dental Implants A dental implant resembles the root of your tooth. Dental implants are surgically placed into your jawbone and fused with your tooth for a natural fit. The implant is later loaded with a prosthetic either immediately after surgery or within six months. – Implant-Supported Fixed Dentures A crown is fused to the dental implant that is surgically inserted into your jawbone. Screws are then used to place it in place. – Implant-Supported Removable Dentures Dental implants in the jaw are used to attach a denture. This offers support while still allows you to remove your denture when necessary. The Do’s and Don’ts of Denture Cleaning Not only does good denture care protect your investment in a tooth replacement option, but it also helps your mouth and the remaining teeth to stay healthy. If dentures are not properly well taken care of, it can lead to some serious oral health concerns and uncomfortable fit. Furthermore, when you fail to provide proper care to them, plaque particles can collect and lead to chronic gum disease, bad breath and loss of any remaining teeth. There some common do’s and don’ts of denture care that can either prolong the life of your dentures or bring some complications. Denture Cleaning: The Do’s Here are some of the easy things you can do to make sure that your dentures remain strong and as clean as possible. – Handle Them With Great Care The chances are that your dentures didn’t come cheap. And since they are fragile and can easily break, you’ll want to be extra careful with them. Clean your dentures over a bowl of water or folded towel just in case they drop. Don’t use a hard brush or strong cleaners while cleaning them. Such things can cause damage to your dentures. Also, never leave them where pets and young children can reach them. – Rinse Your Dentures After Every Meal Food particles