Are Dentures For You?

Individuals who have lost many of their teeth may wonder if dentures are the answer to their problems. There are multiple reasons why people lose their teeth including being involved in accidents or suffering injuries. They may also have lost them due to untreated dental decay or gum disease. Once a majority of one's teeth have been lost or are ready to fall out, it may be advantageous to go to a oral health care practitioner for replacements. Here are some things to think about:

-Life without teeth: Some individuals decide to just go without their pearly whites for the remainder of their lives. This may be because they fear dentists or because they can't afford to have replacements made. Some people just accept the fact that they've lost theirs and make lifestyle alterations. Unfortunately some of the alterations they make may not be in their best interests. They may hesitate to smile, speak up or laugh in public. They may avoid foods that require chewing or tearing. Neither of these tactics do much good for maintaining the quality of one's life.

-Nutrition without the ability to chew or tear foods: Many of the healthiest foods for human bodies are those that require tearing, grinding and pulverizing with incisors, bicuspids or molars. Fresh vegetables and fruits must be bitten into and chewed up. Lean proteins such as grilled chicken or turkey require the tearing and pulverizing action offered by one's choppers. Not only do the teeth make foods small enough to swallow, they also grind everything up so that digestion is possible. If everything eaten is processed or of a consistency that it can be swallowed without chewing, this severely crimps one's dietary intake possibilities.

-Speaking difficulties: Individuals who go without their pearly whites will not be able to enunciate certain sounds or pronounce some words properly. This hampers one's ability to communicate effectively with others.

-With dentures: Individuals who decide to opt for dentures will be able to chew with ease and speak clearly, too. Initially, patients must get used to their new dental apparatus and will have to adapt to the way it feels in their mouths. They will have to start slowly with eating small bites and with pronouncing certain sounds and words. But eventually they will get the hang of it and be able to enjoy meals and converse with others easily.

-Alternatives: There are alternatives to dentures such as partial bridges or dental implants. Partial bridges would be replacements for certain regions in their mouths rather than a full set of dentures. Dental implants are devices which offer a permanent solution to tooth replacement. With implants, a titanium screw is placed into the jawbone. The jawbone grows over the screw and a false tooth is attached. This process is achieved over a series of months.

If individuals are considering dentures as an answer to their missing teeth, they should consult with a dentist to find out how the procedure would work for them. Living with replacement oral structures can be a way of improving one's quality of life.