Why Do People Get Dentures?

A missing tooth can do more than spoil a smile—it can impact everything from eating to your confidence. So, why do people get dentures? People get dentures for a variety of reasons, from improving oral health to enhancing their quality of life. Let’s dive into the reasons behind this popular tooth replacement option and explore all the facts you need to know about dentures.

Common Reasons for Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is a common issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It can happen for various reasons, and understanding these causes can help in preventing future dental problems. So, why do people get dentures? The main reasons for needing dentures often stem from one or more of the following factors.

Periodontal Diseases

• Gum Disease (Periodontitis): Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. This chronic infection affects your gums and the bone that supports your teeth, often resulting in loose teeth that eventually fall out. Periodontal disease can develop from poor oral hygiene, neglecting regular dental visits, or untreated cavities that progress to gum issues.
• Advanced Gum Disease: Neglecting dental care and allowing gum disease to progress to an advanced stage can cause severe damage to the bone and tissue that support your teeth. Advanced gum disease doesn’t just affect the gums; it ultimately leads to total tooth loss, making dentures a necessary solution.

Severe Tooth Decay

• Neglected Cavities: Severe tooth decay is another major reason why people get dentures. Tooth decay often starts as a simple cavity that, when left untreated, can extend deeper into the tooth structure, causing severe pain and eventually destroying the entire tooth. When decay has progressed too far for fillings, crowns, or root canals, the only option left is extraction and replacement with dentures.
• Chronic Tooth Decay: Some individuals experience chronic tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene, unhealthy eating habits, or medical conditions affecting oral health. These recurring dental issues often result in multiple extractions, which leads to a need for dentures as a solution to maintain a healthy smile and proper oral function.

Injuries and Trauma

• Sports Injury: Injuries are another common reason why people get dentures. For instance, sports injuries like a misplaced basketball, a tackle during football, or a bicycle accident could mean a cracked or missing tooth. Trauma can often necessitate extraction, leading to the need for a denture.
• Tooth Injury from Accidents: Traumatic incidents, such as car accidents or falls, can cause significant tooth damage or immediate tooth loss. These injuries may require the extraction of damaged teeth and ultimately the use of dentures to restore oral health and appearance.

Medical Conditions Affecting Oral Health

• Chronic Illnesses: Medical conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and osteoporosis, can contribute to poor oral health, gum disease, and bone loss. All of these conditions can make adult tooth loss more likely, which explains why people get dentures to replace lost teeth and regain their oral function.
• Cancer Treatment: Individuals undergoing cancer treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy, may experience weakened teeth, severe tooth decay, and increased susceptibility to gum disease. Dentures can be a long-term oral function solution for such individuals who lose teeth as a result of their treatment.

Types of Dentures

Understanding the different types of dentures available can help you make an informed decision if you’re facing tooth loss. There are several types of dentures, each serving specific needs, which explains why people get dentures based on their unique situations.

Full Dentures

• Complete Replacement: Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are used when all the natural teeth are missing from either the upper or lower arch. These dentures replace an entire set of teeth and restore the appearance and functionality of your mouth.
• Traditional Dentures: Traditional full dentures are typically removable and rest directly on your gums, providing a viable option to restore proper oral function. Full dentures are ideal for those experiencing complete tooth loss.

Partial Dentures

• For Missing Few Teeth: Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth are still intact. These dentures replace the missing teeth while the remaining healthy teeth provide support, maintaining a stable fit.
• Cast Metal Partial Dentures: Cast metal partial dentures are known for their durability and stability. They are designed to attach to your natural teeth using clasps, providing a stable foundation for partial tooth replacement.

Immediate Dentures

• Same-Day Solution: Immediate dentures are placed right after tooth extraction, making them an ideal solution for those who do not want to be without teeth during the healing process. Immediate dentures provide an instant fix but may require multiple adjustments as your gums heal and shrink.
• Temporary Use: Immediate dentures are often a temporary solution until a more permanent denture can be created. They help the patient transition comfortably while their mouth heals from tooth extractions.

Implant-Retained Dentures

• Secured by Dental Implants: Implant-retained dentures are a more advanced type of denture that uses dental implants placed in the jawbone to support the dentures. This provides more stability compared to traditional removable dentures and is especially beneficial for lower dentures that tend to move.
• Suitable for Lower Jaw: Implant-retained dentures are particularly helpful for individuals who struggle with keeping their lower dentures in place. The dental implants offer secure retention, preventing movement and discomfort.

Implant-Supported Dentures

• More Stability: Implant-supported dentures use multiple dental implants to anchor the entire denture securely in place, offering a fixed and comfortable fit. This type of denture is not removable by the patient, making it a more permanent solution for tooth replacement.
• Preserve Jawbone Structure: One of the reasons why people get dentures of this type is to preserve jawbone structure. Implant-supported dentures help prevent jawbone loss by replacing the tooth roots, maintaining facial structure, and preventing the sagging appearance associated with tooth loss.

Benefits of Wearing Dentures

Improved Chewing Ability

• Eat Your Favorite Foods: One of the main reasons why people get dentures is to restore their ability to eat their favorite foods. Dentures allow you to chew a wide variety of foods that might otherwise be off-limits, especially those chewy foods you love.
• Restore Oral Function: Dentures restore proper tooth function, allowing you to chew food particles effectively. This helps maintain good nutrition and allows you to enjoy a balanced diet of nutritious foods.

Support for Remaining Teeth

• Prevent Shifting: Partial dentures help keep your remaining natural teeth in place, preventing them from shifting out of alignment. Dentures are designed to provide support for remaining teeth, ensuring that they maintain their proper alignment and position.
• Support Jaw Structure: Dentures also provide support to the jaw structure, helping prevent further bone loss that often occurs after the loss of natural teeth. They help maintain the shape of the jaw and keep the facial structure intact.

Prevention of Jawbone Deterioration

• Avoid Bone Loss: Another key reason why people get dentures, particularly implant-retained dentures, is to prevent jawbone loss. When teeth are lost, the bone that supported them begins to deteriorate. Dental implants placed in the jawbone help stimulate the bone and prevent further bone loss.
• Preserve Facial Appearance: Dentures help keep your facial structure intact, preventing the sunken or sagging appearance that often follows tooth loss. The presence of artificial tooth roots in implant-supported dentures helps maintain jawbone density and facial aesthetics.

Restoration of Appearance

• Confident Smile: Dentures play an important role in restoring the appearance of teeth, giving you back that bright, confident smile. They are designed to look like natural teeth, ensuring that your smile appears natural and beautiful.
• Boosted Self-Esteem: A complete set of teeth can have a significant impact on your overall confidence and quality of life. For many, dentures mean the ability to smile, speak, and interact with others without feeling self-conscious.

Challenges Faced Without Dentures

Oral Health Issues

• Increased Dental Problems: When you lose teeth and do not replace them with dentures, it can lead to various oral health issues. Missing teeth create empty spaces where food particles can become lodged, leading to cavities and gum disease. These dental issues can worsen over time, resulting in even more tooth loss.
• Negative Consequences: Without dentures, the bone and gums where teeth are missing are more susceptible to deterioration. Bone loss occurs more rapidly without the presence of tooth roots or dental implants to stimulate bone growth. This can lead to further dental problems and difficulty maintaining good oral health.

Difficulty Eating and Speaking

• Trouble Chewing: Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew your food properly, limiting your diet to soft or easy-to-chew foods. This can negatively impact your nutrition and overall health. Dentures allow for a more varied diet, making it easier to chew harder foods.
• Speech Problems: Teeth play an important role in speech, and missing teeth can make speaking clearly difficult. Gaps in your teeth can affect your pronunciation and make it harder to communicate effectively, which may impact your confidence in social situations. Dentures help restore proper speech patterns.

Psychological Impact

• Lower Self-Esteem: Missing teeth can significantly impact a person’s self-esteem. Many individuals who have lost teeth feel self-conscious about their appearance and avoid smiling or speaking in public. This can lead to social isolation and a negative outlook on life.
• Reduced Quality of Life: Many people find themselves avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed about their smile when they have missing teeth. Dentures can help restore confidence and allow individuals to live their lives without feeling self-conscious.

The Denture Acquisition Process

Getting dentures involves several steps, from the initial consultation to the fitting process and ongoing maintenance. Understanding this process can help you know what to expect and ensure that you get the best results possible.

Initial Consultations

• Dental Appointment: Your journey to getting dentures starts with a consultation with a dental professional. During this appointment, your dentist will evaluate your dental condition and discuss the options available to you, including the types of dentures that would best meet your needs.
• Assessing Oral Health: The dentist will assess your oral health to determine if you are a candidate for dentures or if you need alternative treatments. They may also discuss the benefits of different types of dentures, such as implant-supported dentures, and whether they are suitable for your condition.

Fitting Appointments

• Denture Try-In Appointment: A try-in appointment is conducted to ensure that the dentures fit properly and comfortably before the final set is made. The dentist will use a wax model of the denture to check the fit and make adjustments as needed.
• Customization of Dentures: Each set of dentures is custom-designed to fit your mouth comfortably. The dentist will take impressions of your gums and jaw to create a mold that ensures a perfect fit, making the dentures look natural and feel right.

Ongoing Care and Maintenance

• Proper Care: Proper care is crucial for the longevity of your dentures. This includes regular brushing with a denture brush and using a denture cleaning solution to keep them clean. Denture wearers should avoid using regular toothpaste, as it can be too abrasive for dentures.
• Regular Visits: Regular visits to the dentist are necessary to ensure that your dentures remain well-fitted and your gums stay healthy. Over time, your gums and bone structure may change, requiring adjustments to your dentures for a comfortable fit.

Conclusion

Why do people get dentures? Getting dentures is often a solution to regain control over your oral health, chewing function, and overall appearance. Dentures are not just replacement teeth—they’re a means to improve your quality of life and confidence. Whether you’re dealing with gum disease, tooth decay, or an injury, dentures offer a reliable way to restore your smile and maintain good oral health.

Also Read: Does Removing Wisdom Teeth Change Your Face?