Lower Dentures
Are you in need of lower dentures? Tooth loss occurs for a variety of different reasons, whether you have tooth decay and gum disease or you've simply suffered a horrible accident. Regardless of why you're experiencing tooth loss, it's important to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. Here are a few ways that lower dentures can benefit you.
Lower dentures provide both aesthetic and practical solutions to your tooth loss. Not only are they useful for covering unsightly gaps that missing teeth leave behind, but they're also great for correcting crooked bites and improving the quality of your chewing and speech. Another advantage to lower dentures is that they prevent your cheeks and lips from sinking in slightly, as they're prone to do when the tooth isn't there to support them.
Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend that you use removable or permanent dentures. Removable dentures are the more affordable of the two. The procedure for making them is also less painful on your part—after extracting any decaying teeth, your dentist will make you a temporary set to wear as your gums heal. Once this happens, you'll receive another fitting for a more permanent set. Permanent dentures, also known as dental implants, are when the dentist drills past the gums and into the jaw bone, where he or she attaches a titanium fixture that will keep your dentures firmly in place. While this is much more expensive and the recovery time is much longer, many patients prefer this over removable dentures. They require less maintenance than removable dentures, requiring replacement crowns at the most.
Caring for removable lower dentures isn't a difficult ordeal, fortunately. However, as most models are quite fragile, it's important to do your best to make sure they don't break. You can do this by keeping them in a special dentures case while you're not using them. Cleaning is another important part of denture care. Some prefer to soak their lower dentures in a cleaning solution overnight, while others clean them as a normal part of their morning hygiene. When soaking or polishing, avoid using anything but gentle soap and warm water, as anything stronger may discolor your dentures, requiring you to be fitted for a replacement set.
The only downside to removable lower dentures is that there are times when, for one reason or another, they will need to be refitted. If you find your dentures are uncomfortable, it's best to visit your dentist about it as soon as you can. Otherwise you run the risk of developing sores, infection, gum disease, and worse. Learn more today about how lower dentures can improve your smile.
