Dentures
When
there are no longer any teeth present, or no teeth that can be saved, it
is necessary to make a denture. Many people find dentures a satisfactory
means of replacing their missing teeth. Others find them intolerable. Historically,
the denture only functions at about 30 to 35 % of the efficiency of natural
teeth.
A complete upper dentures is held in place because the design of the denture
creats a vacuum in the roof of the mouth. Lower dentures are held in by
gravity and a person must learn to use them and keep them in place. It
takes some training and patience to adapt to a comple set of dentures.
It is usually recommended that complete dentures be taken out while
you sleep. This allows the gums, which have been covered by the dentures,
to "breathe", rest, and stay healthy. Many people feel that since
they have no teeth, it is not necessary to have dental examinations. True,
examination of the teeth are no longer needed, but the soft tissue, ridges
and underlying bone should be checked on an annual basis. Changes in the
fit of dentures can cause supporting bone to be lost. The denture must
be "refitted" or relined to avoid accelerated loss of the underlying bone
when the denture becomes loose. The structure of the mouth should also
be examined yearly for cancer and other disease.
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