Choosing to get dentures requires consideration and preparation since they impact your oral health. Asking your dentist the right questions ahead of time helps you know what to expect from affordable dentures online. Discussing aftercare, lifestyle changes, and proper cleaning prepares you to adapt to life with dentures. Read on for key questions to ask before leaping into dentures:
What Types Of Dentures Are There?
The first step is to decide between partial and full dentures. Partial dentures replace just a few missing teeth and attach to your remaining natural teeth with clasps. Full dentures replace all teeth in both your upper and your lower jaw. Based on your current oral health, your dentist can advise if you need full or partial dentures. Some people start with partials and then transition to full dentures over time as more teeth are extracted.
What Material Should Dentures Be?
Dentures can be crafted from acrylic resins or porcelain materials. Acrylic resin dentures have a plastic-like base that is easy to adjust as your mouth changes, while porcelain dentures have a ceramic base that mimics the look and feel of natural tooth enamel. Once settled on the material, you can get affordable dentures online.
Permanent or Temporary Dentures?
Immediate and temporary dentures are short-term options inserted right after tooth extractions. Since you wear them as gums heal, they require frequent relining to adjust the fit as your jawbone shrinks. Permanent dentures can be fitted once your gums have healed a few months after extractions and they usually fit and function better long-term.
How Do I Get A Good Fit?
Proper denture fit prevents slipping and rubbing, which can lead to sores. After initial measurements, you can use an at-home impression kit to get the right shape for custom-fit dentures. A fitting trial will be sent to you for multiple try-ins and adjustments before the dentures are finalized since well-fitting dentures should be snug but comfortable. Achieving an optimal fit may take a few attempts.
Can Dentures Go With Dental Implants?
Dental implants fuse or screw into your jawbone, providing secure anchor points for snap-in dentures or implant-supported dentures. Two or more implants retain lower jaw dentures well, while upper dentures require at least four implants to stabilize them. Implants provide stronger denture retention and stability that improve chewing ability.
How Do I Clean Dentures?
Brush dentures with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner. Avoid stiff-bristled brushes that can scratch the acrylic resin or porcelain. Remove and rinse dentures after each meal and soak them in an alkaline peroxide-based solution to help control odors and remove plaque. Continue seeing your dentist for regular examinations and to monitor gum and mouth tissue health every few months. Watch for any signs of irritation signaling ill-fitting dentures.
What Diet Changes Can I Expect?
Sticky foods may pull dentures loose, and hard or crunchy foods require some adjustment. While transitioning, focus on soft, nutritious foods, such as eggs, nut butter, bananas, yogurt, and soups. Dental adhesive creams may give dentures a better hold for the times you want to eat complex foods like steak or popcorn.
Will Dentures Impact Speaking?
Replacing some or all teeth alters the structure of your mouth, temporarily impacting speech. Certain letters may sound different at first, but practicing speaking with new dentures can help you retrain your tongue and cheek muscles. Reading aloud is one way to strengthen newly learned speech patterns.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
With dedicated care, dentures may last several years before needing replacement. As your mouth ages and loses bone, even well-cared-for dentures may need remaking for proper fitting. People with thinner jawbones may need new dentures every few years. Staying diligent with dental visits allows any resorption to be discovered before the looseness damages your gums.
Get Affordable Dentures Online Today
Asking the right questions before getting dentures prepares you for the process. Once you’re informed of the denture options available, you can move forward to get affordable dentures online. Find the ideal dentures to match your oral needs, whether partial, full, or implant-supported. Take the first step today and start your denture journey today.