dentures

For millions of Americans with missing teeth, dentures offer an opportunity to lead a normal, healthy life. Although nothing can look, feel and function just like your own natural teeth, a well-made denture can restore your much deserved comfort and beautiful smile. Nowadays, several types of dentures are available. Which one is best for you depends on the number of missing teeth, their location in the mouth, and the condition of the remaining teeth:

• Complete dentures replacing all the teeth in one jaw
• Partial dentures replace several teeth and are stabilized by the remaining teeth with metal components (traditional design) or 'fexible" partial dentures with natural , gum-colored clasps; they are much better looking and provide you with greater comfort.
• Implant supported dentures

The Pros and Cons of Dentures

Advantages: Dentures definitely provide a great smile with a very natural appearance. They're made of very durable materials and last very long when properly taken care of. Typically dentures last from five to ten years. They also correct several problems, from speech to chewing, for many patients.

Disadvantages: There's no doubt that dentures take a little getting used to. There is maintenance involved, and initial speech issues to overcome (these are temporary and last only a couple of days). Mouth irritation or sores may occur, but are usually caused by poor dental hygiene, and not removing your dentures when needed. It is common that your mouth change over the life of your dentures, so even though they last long, they may need to be replaced to achieve a better fit before they are worn out. With a denture a person typically chews at only 15-23% efficiency compared to a person chewing with their natural teeth. In the case of a full upper denture, the upper palate is covered which can reduce taste of foods you're chewing.