A denture is a custom-made, removable appliance that replaces missing teeth, restoring function, appearance, and comfort. It can improve chewing, speech, and facial aesthetics while preventing sagging from tooth loss. Modern dentures are functional and natural-looking.
Newer techniques for fabricating dentures digitally allow for the best fit available today.
Here’s a list of things to consider for complete dentures:
- Reduced Chewing Efficiency: Dentures don’t provide the same chewing power as natural teeth or dental implants.
- Bone Loss: Without natural teeth or implants to stimulate the jawbone, bone resorption occurs, leading to facial structure and fit changes over time.
- Discomfort and Fit Issues: Dentures can cause irritation and sore spots and may require frequent adjustments as the mouth changes shape.
- Stability Challenges: Complete dentures can shift, slip, or feel unstable, especially in the lower jaw.
- Speech Difficulties: They may initially affect pronunciation and require practice to speak clearly.
- Dietary Limitations: Certain foods, like sticky or hard items, can be difficult or uncomfortable.
- Maintenance: Dentures require regular cleaning and care, including removing them nightly and soaking them in a cleaning solution.
- Durability: They are prone to wear, chipping, or cracking, requiring periodic repair or replacement.
- Adjustment Period: Patients may need time to adapt to wearing dentures, which can feel unnatural at first.
- Aesthetic Limitations: While modern dentures look natural, they may not perfectly replicate the appearance of natural teeth.
- Cost of Replacement: Although less expensive than implants, dentures must be replaced or relined over time, incurring ongoing costs.
- Gag Reflex Sensitivity: Some patients find the palate coverage of upper dentures triggers a gag reflex.
Dependency on Adhesives: Stability may require denture adhesives, which can be inconvenient for some.