Most people assume that dentures are something exclusive for the elderly. In reality, dentures are recommended for anyone who has lost or damaged some of their teeth. The denture will serve as an artificial replacement for your missing teeth and fill in the gaps in your gums.
Dentures are categorized into two types: complete and partial dentures. A complete denture is designed to replace all of your teeth, so only those who have had all their teeth extracted need to wear a complete denture. On the other hand, a partial denture is designed to replace one or more of your missing teeth. You can either place them on the upper or lower part of your jaw, depending on which teeth are missing. Whether you require a complete or partial denture, both options equally play a significant role in your oral health.
How To Identify Good Dentures?
Although dentures are designed to improve your dental health, each set’s performance greatly depends on their quality. Cheap and low-quality dentures may not fit in your mouth properly or, worse, compromise your overall dental health. Furthermore, finding out too late that you’ve chosen a low-quality denture can be costlier for you in the long run. That said, you’d want to get the best set of dentures if you want to make the most value out of it.
Determining the quality of your dentures goes beyond its appearance. There are still other factors you’ll need to consider to determine if a denture is good for you or not. For your guide, here are three ways you can identify a good set of dentures.
- Ask your denturist about the materials used to create a denture
It’s common for denture clinics to offer different types of dentures, which means they may differ in terms of the materials they use. To ensure you pick the best denture clinic, ask them about what they use for making their dentures. The denture’s base material will likely be made of acrylic resin or porcelain.
- Acrylic Resin
Acrylic resin, commonly called plastic, is the most in-demand material for dentures because they’re more comfortable and easier to adjust after some time. Dentures made from acrylic resin are also cheap, which is why people on a budget prefer them over porcelain.
On the downside, acrylic resin dentures tend to wear out faster, and the base may get warped or even break after some time. Dentists would only recommend acrylic dentures to patients who need partial dentures or those who need a full-set ASAP. Acrylic dentures can last for about four to five years, but proper cleaning and maintenance goes a long way in extending their expected service life.
- Porcelain
Porcelain dentures may be costlier than acrylic, but they’re known to be more durable and robust. The ceramic material can also give your denture a more natural appearance, so you may want this option if you’re looking for a very convincing set of dentures, which rarely require replacement
High quality comes at a high price. It’s rare for dentists to recommend partial dentures made of porcelain because partial dentures are likely to get replaced. Porcelain dentures are usually complete denture sets, which are designed to last unchanged for decades.
Regardless of which option you choose, you have to be particular about the quality of the material being used to make your dentures. Ask your denturist about the expected lifespan of your new dentures, and don’t forget to do some online research before finalizing things.
- Know the technology used to fit and customize your denture
Dentures may differ based on how they’re processed and the time invested during creation. If possible, ask your dentist which technology they use to fit and form their dentures. Dentures created using computer-aided technology are known to be more accurate with fitting the base. Meanwhile, dentures made through traditional reverse-image methods may not always be accurate, causing some patients to go through denture adjustment multiple times.
Remember, a good denture should fit in your mouth like a glove. Otherwise, an ill-fitting denture can cause inflamed or irritated gums and create space between your dentures and your gums. Wearing poorly fitting dentures can also cause gum wounds, which could risk infection. So, to ensure you get a good set of dentures, opt for a denture clinic that uses more precise technology.
- Check the color and shape of the denture
One of the reasons people get dentures is to restore their smile and look great despite missing a few teeth. Thus, your denturist must ensure that your denture has the appropriate size, color, shape, and lip support that will perfectly fit your mouth and enhance your appearance. A good denture should appear just like your natural teeth. If people can tell you’re wearing dentures just by looking at you, you might need to revisit your denturist.
A good denturist will work closely with you throughout the process of creating your denture. If this is your first denture, they’ll need to measure the remaining natural teeth and use that as a reference when creating your denture’s teeth size and shape. If you’re already wearing dentures, your denturist will extract a tooth from your current denture.
If there’s no reference available (e.g., no natural teeth left which means a complete denture is necessary), they’ll need to measure the shape of your face and assess how the top and bottom gum arches look like. Using these metrics will help shape and size a proper set of denture teeth that will perfectly fit your face.
For the color of your dentures, your denturist must use shades that will flawlessly match the current color of your natural teeth. Some of the common denture tooth shades used are natural (A2), natural white (A1), natural dark (A3) or Hollywood white (B1). Of all shades, natural white (A1) is the most common choice. Meanwhile, suppose you’re a smoker and your natural teeth are darker, natural dark (A3) may be a better pick for your dentures.
Conclusion
Wearing bad dentures can adversely affect your overall health. Knowing how to identify good and high-quality dentures will be good for your dental health and help you save money and time in the long run.
References:
