Permanent dentures are not only for elderly people

Permanent dentures replace natural teeth lost due to injury or poor oral conditions. It restores a person’s aesthetics, chewing and speaking functions. It also maintains the health of oral tissues and other remaining teeth. Therefore, permanent dentures are not restricted for elderly people only. However, younger patients prefer dental implants because it can stop the continual bone loss and shrinkage of jawbone. Also, dental implants are very much like natural teeth and one can be sure that your dental implants would not move or loosen.

Getting permanent dentures is affordable and easy

Permanent dentures cost much cheaper than dental implants and may only take a few dental visits. On your first dental visit, your dentist would assess the health of your oral tissues. If it is satisfactory, the dentist would continue by taking impressions of your mouth with a dough-like material which would set over time to a rubbery consistency. Your dentist will register your jaw positions by asking you to bite on a wax mould on your next visit. Also, tooth colour and size will be selected during your second dental visit. The next dental visit is important and it is recommended to bring along a relative or a friend as the “try-in” stage is a stage where you are asked to try a waxed model of your dentures and major adjustments can only be made at this stage like positioning of teeth. The fourth dental visit is to fit your new dentures in your mouth.  A dental visit after a few days of wearing your dentures may be needed to relieve pressure points that may cause sore spots.

You need to get used to your permanent dentures

Though dentures are replacements for missing teeth and may look so natural that others cannot differentiate the difference, you can. This is because they do not exactly feel the same like your natural teeth and thus, you may need time to get used to it (about 2-6 weeks). Even if you have been wearing dentures for some time, you would still need to get used to the feeling of new dentures alike getting a new pair of shoes. You may experience a bulky or loose feeling, excessive saliva flow, lost of eating sensations, difficulty pronouncing some words and soreness but with practice and time, you will get accustomed to your dentures.

Permanent dentures do not last a life time!

You should have your dentures checked yearly especially when your dentures click, whistle, slip and your dentures cause you to have on-going pain, sore spots and chewing problems. Though your new dentures are made to fit firmly in your jaw, generally, people lose 1/3mm of bone height per year. Thus, dentists recommend you to refit your dentures or to make a new set of dentures every 5 to 7 years. Do not try to adjust or repair your dentures on your own as you might cause more damage to it.

Permanent dentures are not meant to be in your mouth 24-7

You need to remove your dentures daily (at least 6 hours) to allow your oral tissues to rest and for saliva to cleanse your oral cavity unlike dental implants. Before soaking your dentures in water (avoid using hot water), clean your dentures with a soft bristled brush to avoid scratching your dentures and use a cleaning paste. Do it over a folded towel or a basin full of water to avoid breakage of dentures if you accidentally drop them. After gently scrubbing all surfaces of your dentures, rinse it thoroughly. Soaking your dentures prevents it from drying out. Remember to change the water daily and to clean the container.