Do you have vivid memories of your parents or grandparents having to pull out their teeth every evening and leave them in a glass of water overnight? Gross, right? Maybe, but the fact is they certainly aren’t the only people who have needed dentures over the years, and now that you’re approaching the senior years yourself you’re beginning to realise that you might one day need to go down the same route.
Dentures have a long history. For hundreds of years they’ve been the primary way in which we’ve handled the toll that time takes on our teeth. In the 21st century, denture technology is better than ever, but no longer are they the only option for people wishing to recover and replace their teeth.
Whether through poor oral hygiene, unfortunate genetics, accident or simply the passage of time, eventually most of us will suffer the loss of at least some teeth. Now that you’ve reached the age where dental replacements are becoming a concern, what are some of the options out there to consider?
This is a bit of a coverall term as there are different types of dentures. Partial dentures are used when a patient has only lost a few teeth, while complete denture sets are used for people who have lost all their teeth. When a complete set of dentures is used, usually a dentist will decide that whatever remaining teeth the patient has left are unsalvageable, and will remove them for the fitment of a complete set of false teeth.
Advantages
Dentures have a few advantages over other form of replacement teeth.
Disadvantages
Despite their advantages, there are some drawbacks to dentures.
Bridges are an excellent alternative to partial dentures for people who only have to replace a few teeth. Applying a bridge involves attaching a false tooth facade to adjacent teeth, known as abutments. The abutment teeth are slightly shaved down and are then capped. The false tooth or teeth are securely attached to these crowns, and the abutment teeth provide the support for it to act as a fully functional tooth.
Advantages
The advantages of bridges are numerous.
Disadvantages
Bridges have a lot of positives, but they aren’t without their difficulties.
Dental implants are without a doubt the most effective, functional and aesthetically pleasing replacement for a natural tooth. A dental implant involves inserting a titanium “root” into the jaw in place of the missing tooth, then capping this with a false crown. Dental implants are a relatively new technology, but they have opened up a whole new world of tooth replacement for patients. However, due to some of the requirement of their installation, they may not be as suitable for older patients as some other solutions.
Advantages
Dental implants have many advantages, and are without doubt the best solution for tooth replacement.
Disadvantages
Dental implants aren’t without their drawbacks which could put them out of reach for some people.
There are lots of options for people to replace their aging and deteriorating teeth with an alternative that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The first step towards finding out which option is right for you is talking to your dentist. They can help you work out what situation your teeth, gums and jaws are in, and whether you’re suitable for each option. Make an appointment today and take a step along the road to a better smile.