Many people who visit their dentist are told that they should
consider dentures. Or, some people bring up the idea to their
dentist when they have had a lot of problems, have lost teeth,
and are on the verge of losing more. For some people, even the
best dental care is not enough to save all of their teeth. If
you are in this situation you may be wondering if dentures are
the best thing for you to consider. If they are, should you
attempt to keep some of your teeth or should you get complete
dentures?
Finding the Solution For You
It can be hard to determine on your own if complete dentures
are the best option for you. Most dentists will try to keep all
of your natural teeth that they believe are viable because it's
simply better for you to have your natural teeth than to have
dentures. You should speak to your dentist about your concerns
and see what he or she thinks you should do where dentures are
concerned. You may be surprised by the way he or she feels about
your dental health as opposed to the way that you feel. Remember
that your dentist can only recommend what he or she would do;
you have to be the final decision maker.
Fortunately, there are several options available for you to
consider. Complete dentures are an option and this is where all
of the teeth in the mouth are pulled and you are fitted for a
complete set of top and bottom dentures. This is often the best
choice for those that have an advanced level of decay and tooth
loss and none or very few of the teeth can be saved. Remember,
complete dentures are not the only option for you to consider.
Even if you have some dental problems you may find that you
only need to wear a bridge to replace a couple teeth in your
mouth. A bridge works by linking to your natural teeth and then
giving you tooth surfaces to chew on where teeth have been lost.
Dentists have been prescribing bridges for their patients for
years.
Another option is dental implants. Ten years ago dental
implants were relatively rare and most people who needed to
replace teeth that were lost usually bought dentures. Dental
implants are actual teeth that are implanted into the jaw bone
so the tooth will look and function like a real tooth. This is
more expensive than dentures, but if you want the most natural
look and don't want to worry about the fit of dentures or
adhesives, this is the way to go.
As you can see, complete dentures aren't the only option. When
it comes to your teeth it doesn't have to be all or nothing.
This is why it is really helpful to talk to your dentist who
knows your dental history and can advise you what is the best
for you both in the short term as well as the long term.
Mike Vines, in association with DentureFriend, seeks to provide advise and support
for denture wearers.
