Complete Denture Care and Repair
So, you've got brand new false teeth? And you think you're set for life, right? Not exactly.
It's frustrating but true: from the day you first don your dentures, the tissue in your mouth begins to shrink. Your replacement teeth are already on their way to not fitting. The ridges that support the dentures seem to have a life of their own and they begin to recede, the result? Loose dentures. The upper denture moves up and back, and the lower denture settles down. This causes your chin to approach your nose at as much as 1/16th inch per year! On top of that, the bite often goes awry, moving the upper teeth back behind the lowers.
Your appearance changes over time, your cheeks sag a little, new wrinkles around the mouth appear. Diagonal lines run from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Does the image of Gabby Hayes come to mind?
The good news
Denture wearers who refuse to succumb to a premature look of age can take heart. After all, this transformation is not caused by cheap dentures, but old dentures. It's not magic: a new denture can be made. To put it simply, the base is extended to compensate for the shrinkage in the tissue; this moves the front teeth forward to their original position. And takes years off your appearance.
Presto, chango!
Even if your present false teeth are in perfect condition, the changes in your mouth date them. In fact, don't expect dentures to last more than 5 to 10 years and still give you a natural look. A fact of life. But by replacing dentures as your mouth changes, you'll retain a youthful fullness to your face and keep a younger looking smile. If your dentures have been around a while, see your dentist and consider a new set. Old prosthodontics can make you look older, too. And that can be fixed.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.
Affordable Dentures
In the best of all possible worlds, false teeth last forever. But in fact, over time, the tissues in your mouth change, and even the best replacement teeth won't fit as well as they once did.
The preferred remedy - a new denture - isn't always feasible or affordable. Dentures are expensive - that's why there are denture relines.
Albeit a temporary solution to slippery dentures, there is no denying that relining can make a difference in how you look, relieve any soreness and, most of all, bolster your self-confidence. And that's important.
So what does relining involve?
There are two ways to go about it. A reline can be fashioned by a dental laboratory. Your prosthodontist takes impressions in his/her office, and the lab rebuilds your prosthodontics in about 24 hours. Optionally, they can reform the liner for you in a single visit. The reline material, a kind of plastic, is cast directly in your mouth and allowed to set. A "quick" reline, though, probably won't last as long as the lab-processed version.
In any case, you'll gain what is called "vertical dimension," new height to your face. The result is a more youthful appearance, and a renewed sense of control. Call your denturist to schedule an evaluation appointment. Or fill out the search form above to search for a dentist.
+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.