Life With Dentures — It’s Not as Bad as You Think 

The first dentures were crafted from animal teeth as far back as 2500 BC. Later, Egyptians and others fashioned dentures using wire, bones, and human and animal teeth.

We’ve come a long way since that time. These days, we craft dentures from strong acrylic resin, plastic polymer, or porcelain. Our dedicated team at Smile Bright Dental in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida, gives you plenty of reasons to smile with long-lasting full or partial dentures.

Types of dentures

There are several kinds of dentures to choose from, including:

Conventional dentures

With this type of denture, your dentist extracts all your teeth and places a full, removable denture in your mouth once your gums heal. 

Immediate dentures

An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after your teeth are extracted. Your gums are allowed to heal under the denture.

We then take measurements of your mouth, make a model of your jaw, and reline your dentures, as needed, once your mouth heals. Denture relining improves the fit of your dentures by adding material to the inner surface of your denture base to compensate for changes in the shape of your gums and jawbone. 

Overdentures

If we can preserve some of your teeth and jawbone, we may recommend an overdenture to cover your remaining teeth. Rather than fitting directly on your gums, an overdenture sits on your remaining teeth or dental implants for support.

Denture myths debunked

Believe it or not, President George Washington never wore wooden teeth. Although wood was used in dentures, gold, ivory, lead, and human teeth were far more common.

There are other myths about dentures that no longer apply, including:

You must change your diet with dentures

Although you need to primarily eat soft foods at first, you may return to most of your favorites as time goes on. 

They’re painful to wear

Dentures may cause discomfort during the early stages. Our team takes precise measurements to ensure proper fit. If you still feel uncomfortable after a few weeks, we can make adjustments.

It’s harder to speak

On the contrary, replacing missing teeth with dentures reduces many speech problems by filling in gaps from lost teeth that may have caused issues.

They’re only for the elderly

While aging teeth and gums account for the majority of denture wear, many younger people lose teeth from gum disease, extensive decay, or sporting injuries. Full or partial dentures offer a viable solution for adults of all ages.

Our team makes sure your dentures look natural for years to come.

Taking care of your dentures

Like regular teeth, artificial teeth require care. We recommend you:

• Remove your dentures every night
• Soak your dentures overnight in a denture solution
• Rinse your dentures before brushing
• Clean your dentures gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive cleanser
• Placing your dentures in water to keep them from warping

We also suggest brushing your tongue and gums twice a day to keep them free from plaque and other debris.

Adjusting to dentures 

Most patients acclimate to dentures over time. Various issues come into play to determine whether they’re right for you in the first place, including:

• The number of teeth you’re missing
• How long those teeth have been missing 
• The density and strength of your jawbone
• How your upper and lower jaws connect

Your personal preferences remain the most important consideration. 

Living your best life

Our knowledgeable team at Smile Bright Dental can improve your smile through a variety of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental solutions, including dentures. We’ll gladly discuss dentures along with other options, such as implants, to keep you smiling.

To learn more about full or partial dentures, discuss other dental concerns, or schedule an exam or cleaning, give us a call today or request an appointment online at any time.