Dentures Dentures, also known as false teeth, are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth; they are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complete denture). However, there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental implants (fixed prosthodontics). There are two main categories of dentures, the distinction being whether they are used to replace missing teeth on the mandibular arch or on the maxillary arch. Causes of tooth loss Patients can become entirely edentulous (without teeth) for many reasons, the most prevalent being removal because of dental disease typically relating to oral flora control, i.e., periodontal disease and tooth decay. Other reasons include tooth developmental defects caused by severe malnutrition, genetic defects such as dentin genesis imperfecta, trauma, or drug use. Advantages Dentures can help patients through: Mastication, as chewing ability is improved by replacing edentulous areas with denture teeth. Aesthetics, because the presence of teeth gives a natural appearance to the face, and wearing a denture to replace missing teeth provides support for the lips and cheeks and corrects the collapsed appearance that results from the loss of teeth. Pronunciation, because replacing missing teeth, especially the anterior, enables patients to speak better. There is especially improvement in pronouncing words containing sibilants or fricatives. Self-esteem, because improved looks and speech boost confidence in the ability to interact socially. Problems with complete dentures Problems with dentures may arise because patients are not used to having something in their mouth that is not food. The brain senses the appliance and interprets it as food, sending messages to the salivary glands to produce more saliva and to secrete it at a higher rate. This usually only happens in the first 12 to 24 hours, after which the salivary glands return to their normal output. New dentures can also be the cause of sore spots as they compress the denture bearing soft tissues (mucosa). A few denture adjustments in the days following insertion of the dentures can take care of this problem. Gagging is another problem encountered by a minority of patients. At times, this may be due to a denture that is too loose, too thick or extended too far posteriorly onto the soft palate. At times, gagging may also be attributed to psychological denial of the denture. Psychological gagging is the most difficult to treat since it is out of the dentists control. In such cases, an implant-supported palate less denture may have to be constructed. Sometimes there could be a gingivitis infection under the completed dentures, caused by the accumulation of dental plaque. One of the most common problems for wearers of new upper complete denture is a loss of taste sensations. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 19:18:54 +0000
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