Bridging the Gap with False Teeth
Those who have dentures or false teeth may have a love-hate relationship with their own “sets”. There is no doubt that the presence of false teeth helps a lot when a gaping smile is the only other alternative; the false teeth brings back a brighter smile to a person’s face, and also helps in making sure that the mouth can function in the most normal ways possible.
This is Dentistry is more than happy to give you the information you need about false teeth, so you can decide on the type that best suits your needs. You can also use the information given to determine if false teeth are for you, and how you can take care of these prosthetic devices so you can make the most out of them in the long run.
Dentures or false teeth are prosthetic devices used to fill in the space made by a lost tooth (or teeth); the false teeth are supported and held in place by the oral cavity’s soft and hard tissues, which surround the prosthetic device.
Types of False Teeth
- Removable Partial False Teeth/Dentures – This type of setting for false teeth is used for people who lost some of their teeth in a specific arch.
- Fixed Partial False Teeth/Dentures – Also called “bridge” or “crown”, this type of false teeth setting is permanently attached to dental implants, or to adjoining natural teeth.
- Complete False Teeth/Dentures – This type is used to replace all of the teeth that are missing, either in the lower or the upper arch.
Advantages of False Teeth
Aside from the obvious aesthetic reasons, there are other advantages of false teeth in a person’s daily life.
- Easier Chewing/Mastication – False teeth enable a person to chew on food much easily, as compared to chewing with a missing tooth (or teeth).
- Improved Speaking Abilities – Persons who have lost a tooth (or a group of teeth), may experience difficulties in speaking and pronunciation. False teeth help make speaking easier for a person, and will with the proper pronunciation – especially of consonants.
- Self-Esteem Boost – It is not easy to let go and flash a gaping smile. With false teeth in place, a person can smile naturally, and feel a lot better about himself and his overall self-confidence.
False teeth should be taken care of in much the same way as natural teeth. Regular and thorough brushing should be done; removable false teeth should be cleaned thoroughly upon removal, to ensure that no food bits are trapped inside. In addition, any adjustments to false teeth should only be made by dentists – do not attempt to tighten or loosen your own false teeth, or you may end up with a broken smile (literally) in your hands!
