Let me start off by saying, there is nothing better than the teeth that the good Lord gave you.  It is vitally important to your overall health to do everything you can to keep all the teeth you have.  Dentists are trained to save teeth for a good reason – we know that dentures won’t ever be as efficient as your natural teeth.  All that said, dentures are already a reality for some and may be in the future for others so I thought it important to share some thoughts.

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and their adjacent tissues.  They are made of acrylic resin and are sometimes used in combination with various metals.  Fortunately, modern dentistry can provide natural looking dentures to restore the look of a smile.

How do dentures stay in place?

Every denture moves to some degree unless it has a tooth or implant to anchor to.  The degree of stability depends on the shape of the palate and lower ridge, the amount of bone that remains and the quality of the denture itself.  Full dentures stay in place by suction.  Think of two pieces of glass.  If you place one on top of the other, they are easy to pull apart, but put a little water between them and they create a suction that makes separation difficult.  Full dentures function in a similar way.  Unfortunately though, one of our “pieces of glass” is movable tissue that limits the stability.  Typically, upper dentures are more retentive than the lower because in most patients there is a nice big palate to stick it to.  The lower arch, on the other hand, has a small ridge of bone and a nice big tongue that is constantly moving, trying to knock the denture out of place.  If given a choice, try to save a few teeth in each arch to anchor to or consider implants for denture stability. 

Will dentures function and feel like my natural teeth?

Dentures are by no means a panacea and many studies have shown that 70-80% of full denture wearers are not satisfied with their results.  Fortunately though, if made properly they can function as a fairly good substitute.  A quality denture takes time and precision to be designed properly.  New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them.  Accurately fitting dentures allow the wearer to eat a variety of foods, but some accommodations must be made when wearing artificial teeth.  Rarely will you be able to eat anything you want without some adaptation.  It will take some time and practice to learn what you can and cannot do.  Unlike people with all of their teeth, denture wearers must learn to chew food on both sides of their mouth at the same time to help prevent the dentures from tipping.  Because the acrylic covers a majority of the tissues, there is often a decrease in the ability to feel the temperature of food and drinks.  Many patients note a difference in the way food tastes and frequently don’t enjoy eating as much.  Speaking, like chewing, will also take some practice.  Pronouncing certain words may be difficult at first, but within a few weeks the musculature will adapt and allow you to speak normally.

Aren’t all dentures the same?

No!  Just like anything else in this world – there are good ones and there are bad.  An excellent, well-fitting, natural looking denture takes time and precision.  There is a huge variety in the quality of teeth that are available, the design and material of the denture bases and the process by which they are made.  Even subtle differences can impact the appearance, fit, function and ultimate satisfaction that a person has.  Dentures can have either a positive or negative influence on the wearer’s quality of life.

Next week I will go into more details about the looks, care and long-term expectations of a set of dentures.