Dentures are dental appliances fitted in the mouth as a replacement for missing teeth and the tissues surrounding the teeth.

Dentures are available in two types – complete and partial. The best option is suggested to the patient according to the condition of the teeth, after being observed closely by a dental professional. Complete dentures are suggested when a whole set of teeth is affected and has to be replaced. Partial dentures are suggested when one or two teeth are missing and have to be replaced.

Dentures require proper care and maintenance. They can last a very long time if they are taken care of properly. Let us try to understand how.

Clean dentures after eating

Dentures should be kept clean and hygienic especially after eating. They should be removed from the mouth after eating and should be rinsed with the help of running water. This will help to remove debris and food particles.

A gentle toothbrush should be used to clean the dentures and they should be placed on a clean surface. They should be brushed gently and in circular motions, along with checking to see that no food particles remain stuck in small nooks and crannies.

Also, make sure that the adhesive used to place the dentures in the mouth is also cleaned off regularly. Else, the adhesive can dry up and form a sticky film that breeds bacteria. The patient can also go the extra mile and soak the dentures overnight for better cleaning.

They should be brushed twice daily by removing them from the teeth. Keeping them clean like this helps them to last long and also helps prevents bacterial build-up.  

Regular dental check-ups

Patients are recommended to get their teeth checked at least a few times a year. The dentist will look into any existing problems of the mouth and will suggest appropriate treatment.

The teeth may also be cleansed professionally during such dent visits. Such regular dental check-ups ensure that the mouth is not hosting a build-up of bacteria and the oral health of the patient is up to the mark.

The dentist will also examine the dentures to see if they are working properly. The patient can let the dentist know if he wants some changes or is facing issues in using dental dentures. 

Clean the mouth after removing dentures

Dentures are supposed to be cleansed after wearing them. When the patient decides to remove the dentures for cleaning or sleeping, the mouth must be thoroughly cleansed. This can help prevent bacterial build-up in the mouth. The dentures must be cleansed as well.

The patient is advised to be gentle with the gums and the surrounding tissues. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and antibacterial toothpaste will help in gently cleaning the mouth. If the patient is uncomfortable using a toothbrush, sterile gauze can also be used to clean the mouth. It should be wrapped around the finger and should be rubbed against the wall of the roof of the mouth the surface of the gums. The tongue should also be cleaned to prevent microbial growth.

Doing this will ensure that they are placed in a clean mouth and will help them last longer.

Rinse dentures before wearing

The dentures are supposed to be removed at night time daily. They are usually soaked in a denture cleansing solution overnight. This denture-soaking solution contains harsh chemicals intended for the purpose of cleaning the hard surface of dental dentures. If it makes contact with the skin, it can cause irritation, pain, and even burns. It can also cause some patients to vomit.

Therefore, it is essential to clean the dentures before putting them back into the mouth. Keep them under running water and rub gently with the hands. The patient should ensure that there is no denture-cleaning solution left on the surface of the dentures. They should be completely clean and dry before putting them back into the mouth.  Doing so will ensure that they are sterile and will not cause any irritation to the gums.

Be gentle with dentures

Dentures are made up of resin and porcelain material. This means they are durable and can last for a long time if they are taken care of properly. They should be gently placed in the mouth with minimum pressure. Applying more pressure to them while wearing them can cause them to bend or twist, and can disrupt the structure. Also, during cleaning use a gentle hand. Applying pressure to the false teeth while cleaning can cause them to change shape and can affect chewing and biting.

During removal and putting back the dentures, the patient should ensure that they are in proper condition and the structure is intact. While wearing them, the patient should ensure that he is not eating any foods with hard surfaces or sharp edges. Biting into such surfaces can damage the structure of the dental denture and they may need to be replaced.

Being gentle with them ensures that they last a long time and remain in a good state.

Use the right denture products

The patient should be careful while using different products to keep the denture clean and hygienic. The toothbrush must be gentle with soft bristles. The denture cleaning solution should also be very mild and should not be highly concentrated, because if it makes contact with the tissues of the mouth even accidentally, it can result in pain and irritation to the patient.

Also, while soaking the dental dentures, the patient should ensure that they are not kept in the solution for a long time and they are removed after a few hours. After an overnight soaking, remove the dentures from the solution in the morning. Don’t just leave them in the solution.

If the patient uses a mouthwash, he must ensure that it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like peroxides as they could bleach the surface of the dentures and can affect their longevity.

With proper care, dentures can last you a very long time. Keep the above tips in mind if you wear dentures.

Dental dentures are replacements for missing teeth and are available in two types, complete dentures and partial dentures. Complete dentures are placed after all the teeth are removed because of medical purposes or have fallen off naturally on their own. They cover the whole surface of the gums.

There are also immediate dentures that are attached to the mouth right after teeth are removed or have fallen off. However, the gums have to heal after tooth removal, so a change in shape and size is expected. In such cases, the immediate dentures may not be very beneficial as they will be misaligned due to changes in the shape of gum tissue. That is why immediate dentures are used as a temporary fix for missing teeth until conventional dentures are being prepared.

Partial dentures are placed in the mouth when there are still one or two teeth left. They consist of replacement teeth fixed with an artificial gum-like base with metal frames that help hold the denture in place. A fixed bridge and crowns are used to cover up the natural remaining teeth from damage and link all the teeth to one another. Removable partial dentures are also available in the form of precision partial dentures.

Here is how the patient should take care of dentures and properly wear them:

1. Avoid sharp objects

Sharp objects like toothpicks, scrapers, etc. are used by many people to scrape off remaining food particles from the teeth and dentures. Regular scraping can cause scratching of the dentures and can damage them. Using toothpicks and scrapers can also damage the gum tissue. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you avoid putting any sharp or hard objects into your mouth while wearing dentures.

2. Avoid certain foods

Foods with hard shells like popcorn, nuts or frozen chocolates, etc. should be avoided since chewing them creates pressure on the dentures and they may become brittle. Popcorn and other foods can also get stuck in between the dentures and can quickly allow bacterial growth.

Certain beverages like coffee and tea should also be avoided. When consumed in excess, these beverages can permanently stain both the natural teeth and dentures. However, moderate consumption has no harmful effects. Crunchy foods like crisps and crackers should also not be eaten in excess. They can get stuck in-between dentures and teeth and can cause pain.

3. Brush dentures daily

Just like natural teeth, dentures also require thorough cleaning. The patient can clean the dentures with the help of normal brushing with denture cleaning solutions and a toothbrush. However, the dentures must be bushed very gently or they may be damaged. Brushing dentures once a day is recommended for maintaining them. It is advised to take them out of the mouth and place them on a tabletop and brush them gently for 4-5 minutes. Rub the area gently so that any remaining food particles are also removed.

Also, if the patient removes the dentures before bedtime, they are advised to wash the dentures with clean water before wearing them again.

4. Remove them before bed

It is recommended to remove the dentures before bedtime and soak them in a specialized denture cleaning solution. If the solution is not available, warm water can also be used.

If not before bedtime, they must be removed for 6 hours for any other time of the day. This is recommended to ensure the mouth doesn’t feel sore due to wearing them. Also, removing them for a few hours ensures that the mouth and gum tissue can heal and recover on its own. And as stated previously, it is extremely important to wash the dentures with water before wearing them. Because, if the dentures are soaked in a dental cleaning solution, chances are that the patient may consume it unintentionally. Intake of such products can cause irritation, inflammation, and even burns. To avoid such painful conditions, dentures must be rinsed thoroughly before wearing.

5. Regular dental visits

Although very commonly suggested, very few patients take dental visits seriously. It is recommended to visit the dentist once or twice a year. It not only ensures dental and oral health but also ensures that the dentures remain in usable conditions. As the dentist will check and examine the ventures for any signs of damage and will also inform the patient if the set of dentures has expired and it is time to change them with a new one.

Also, the patient can always let the dentist know for any discomfort or irritation caused by dentures and can ask for advice on how to maintain and care for dentures. The dentist may also recommend the patient products for taking care of these dentures.

6. Do not use bleaching agents

Bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide can damage dentures as well as teeth. It is usually used in whitening treatments available in the market for at-home whitening. Using such products can weaken the dentures and can alter their colour. Also, some bleaching products contain chlorine which can corrode the metal parts present in the dentures.

Usually, if the whitening agent is very mild, the denture will not respond to it, but if it is in concentrated form, it may potentially damage them.

7. Avoid hot water

It is very common for patients to use hot water for cleaning dentures. It is a misconception that hot water can clean dentures better than normal water. It may clean the dentures but it may melt them or warp them causing their structure to be destroyed and making them unsuitable for usage. Dentures may also shrink and decrease in size when placed in high-temperature liquids. Since their structure is derived from acrylic material, placing them in boiling water will permanently damage them. Sometimes the damage could be so severe that the dentures may be needed to be replaced by a new set. A better alternative for cleaning and sterilizing dentures may be a deep-cleaning denture solution. The patient will observe a new sheen to the dentures once it is used regularly.

Partial dentures are removable dentures that are used to replace more than one tooth in the lower and upper jaw. Partial dentures are not just cosmetic devices. They can also drastically improve the way you chew and speak.

It is a fact that teeth keep on shifting whenever a gap is created (because of tooth loss). Partial dentures play a crucial role in maintaining the placement of such shifting teeth in your mouth. Also, you do not need to wear partial dentures all day. It is generally recommended that you remove dentures at night and clean them. 

Why should you choose partial dentures over bridges? 

Bridges act as another efficient teeth replacement alternative to partial dentures. They have striking similarities because partial dentures and bridges help replace several missing teeth. The differences are that partial dentures can replace teeth on either side of your mouth, but in the case of bridges, they can replace teeth on any one side of your mouth. Also, partial dentures are temporary and can be easily removed, but in the case of bridges, they tend to be permanently glued to your gums.

Need for partial dentures

Partial dentures will be helpful to you only if you have lost several teeth on either side of your jaw. You might have experienced the loss of a tooth due to any injury or tooth extraction; partial dentures can do wonders for you. However, since you have already lost several of your precious teeth, you must care for your remaining ones. If you fail to do so, the rest of your teeth will also have to be extracted, and you would need complete dentures instead of partial ones.

Types of partial dentures

Anterior partial dentures

The partial dentures, which efficiently replace the frontal portion of your teeth, are the anterior partial dentures. They are easily visible while you eat or speak. These partial dentures make you look charming when you smile. Also, these help you bite through your food.

Posterior partial dentures

The partial dentures, which efficiently replace the backward portion of your teeth, are the posterior partial dentures. They are not that easily visible. These partial dentures help you eat, chew your food, and speak well. They also prevent a sunken-cheeked look.

Factors to consider in partial dentures

Location

The location of the partial denture or where it should be placed in your mouth is important. If you want partial dentures for cosmetic purposes, you should opt for anterior partial dentures. But if you need partial dentures to help you speak and chew, your dentist will recommend posterior dentures.

Number of teeth on the dentures

Consider how many teeth replacements you need, and accordingly, you need to choose a partial denture. If you feel that you should go for a complete denture instead of a partial one, that is also possible. But before that, the dentist may have to extract your teeth, even the healthy ones.

Durability

If you take proper care of your dentures, they can work efficiently for five years. Dentists generally recommend partial dentures after they have extracted your decayed tooth because the dentists want your gum to heal properly. The healing of gums takes approximately six months. After this period, either you can stick to partial dentures or shift to permanent dentures, depending on what you feel most comfortable with.

Why should you choose partial dentures over bridges? 

Bridges act as another efficient teeth replacement alternative to partial dentures. They have striking similarities because partial dentures. Bridges help replace several missing teeth. The differences are that partial dentures can replace teeth on either side of your mouth, but in the case of bridges, they can replace teeth only on any one side of your mouth. Also, partial dentures are temporary and can be easily removable, but in the case of bridges, they tend to be permanently fixed.

Materials used to create partial dentures

Metal

Cobalt, Titanium, and Chromium are the metals that are generally used to make partial dentures. Cobalt and chromium are very safe for the human gum, but titanium is sometimes seen to react and cause inflammation in your gums. 

Polymers and plastic

Plastic partial dentures are gaining popularity slowly. This is because they are lighter than their metal counterpart and economical. Apart from these advantages, partial plastic dentures are more appealing aesthetically since they have no exposed metal ends. Also, they are easy to wear and can be repaired without much difficulty.

What are flexible dentures?

These are a type of plastic dentures that are made of thermoplastic. The unique feature of these flexible dentures is their ultra-lightweight and flexibility. Also, they are fragile, and you might not even feel that you are wearing dentures. But these flexible dentures have certain disadvantages as well. Due to their thin feature, they are not durable. Also, they are not easy to repair either. In addition to this, unlike other partial dentures that can be worn directly, these particular dentures need to be warmed in water for about a minute, and then only can they be worn. 

How are partial dentures fitted in your mouth? 

Partial dentures are generally fitted in your mouth via precision attachments or clasps. Clasps are generally made of metal and usually encircle between your tooth and the partial dentures. Precision attachments are attached to the existing dental implants. These attachments are customized for your specific dental needs. In general, the precision attachment will cost you more than clasps.

What is the cost of partial dentures? 

Partial Dentures vary significantly in their cost. Therefore, this depends on various factors.

Material used: Flexible partial dentures and metal dentures cost more than plastic dentures.

The number of teeth replaced: The amount increases with each tooth’s addition to the replacement list.

Location of the partial dentures: Anterior partial dentures cost more than posterior partial dentures.

Method of fitting of partial dentures: Precision attachment costs more than clasps

Conclusion

Partial dentures are an excellent idea to cover up with missing teeth that you have lost due to unavoidable circumstances. But, it is necessary to have some healthy teeth. Otherwise, installing partial dentures is not possible. Furthermore, even after installing these dentures, you need to manage your oral hygiene.