Dentures, also known as false teeth, are most commonly associated with ageing but that’s not the only reason you might one day need dentures. Our teeth do age with us, and often the easiest solution to teeth that have aged is to replace them completely with dentures.
Why do people get dentures?
Aside from ageing teeth, there are other reasons you might need dentures, like tooth decay, gum disease or a mouth injury.
Dentures are a replacement for lost teeth, and they are a reasonably priced way to get a natural-looking smile if you have lost teeth or if you have to have teeth removed.
If I get dentures, will people notice?
Dentures do take some getting used to – they can initially affect your speech, the way you eat and your smile, but once you are used to them they will feel natural and you may not even notice you are wearing them.
It helps that dentures can be completely customised to your face and the size and colour of your teeth.
What are the benefits of dentures?
While ideally, you avoid losing your teeth if the worst happens and you do need to replace teeth, there are solutions – and dentures are great because:
- Dentures can be fit to match your face shape and the shape of your old or existing teeth
- They are a cost-effective solution
- They appear natural and enhance your appearance
- Dentures function in a similar way to your teeth, so you can eat and smile as you usually would
What are the different kinds of dentures?
There are various types of dentures, depending on your needs.
These are the types of dentures:
- Full set of dentures: if all of your teeth have been removed then you will get a full set of dentures to replace them
- Partial set of dentures: these will replace the teeth that you have lost, and leave your existing teeth in place.
- Acrylic dentures: There are a few options for the kind of material you get your dentures made from – full dentures are usually acrylic.
- Denture relines: as you age, your mouth and face shape change and so you will need to have your dentures re-fitted every 5 to 10 years so that they feel comfortable as your mouth adjusts with age.
No matter what kind of dentures you get, everyone who gets dentures will eventually have to get denture relines, as the shape of our faces continues to shift our entire lives.
