How to Find the Right Type of Denture

There’s a wide range of reasons you might be considering dentures. Whether it’s a cosmetic decision or to reduce pain in your mouth, finding the right type of dentures is key to help reduce problems in your mouth that you’re currently facing.

Reasons You Might Need Dentures

Here are some of the most common reasons you may be needing dentures:

Problems with Chewing

If you’re experiencing issues while attempting to chew food, it might be time to look at denture options available. If you have missing or decaying teeth which makes eating painful, it’s time to get the problem fixed now before more serious issues occur from negligence.

Chronic Toothaches

Severe and constant tooth pain can be a sign of severe tooth decay. While more minimal cases of tooth decay can be treated with a small filling, more severe cases may require the tooth or multiple teeth to be removed. Once removed, you may need to get a partial denture to fill the gaps, allowing you to chew normally and protect your gums.

Mouth Instability

Shifting and loose teeth cause mouth instability, which usually stems from an advancing gum disease. This can cause a long raft of issues and may require you to have teeth extracted. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to visit your local dentist and discuss which complete or partial denture options are available.

To Give a Fuller Smile

Having missing teeth, especially more visible teeth may result in a feeling of self-consciousness. This is very common for many people who are missing teeth and can be solved with the use of complete or partial dentures. Investing in a new set of dentures will give you a wider and fuller Hollywood smile, so you don’t need to be self-conscious anymore.

Types of Dentures Available

The three most common types of dentures available include complete, partial or Valplast dentures. There is a range of materials used to create dentures, including metal (titanium or chrome), acrylic and specialised Valplast material.

When considering what type of denture if right for you, you’ll likely decide between:

Complete Dentures

If you currently have a full arch of missing teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth (or both), complete dentures would be the best option to give you a brand-new smile. Complete dentures are normally manufactured using acrylic materials for a long-lasting natural look.

Partial Dentures

When you have gaps between teeth, you may require partial dentures. Using wire clasps attached to pre-existing teeth, acrylic dentures will be fit in to give you a complete set of teeth. These are removable and repairable and work perfectly for patients whose current teeth are still in good shape and just want to fill in gaps.

Valplast Dentures

These unique dentures are made from a thermoplastic nylon material which creates strong and flexible dentures. Valplast dentures are usually fitted onto your pre-existing teeth. This is a far less invasive way to have dentures fitted in your mouth, which is perfect for people who are worried about the pain caused by having dentures fitted.

As Valplast dentures are flexible, they can change their shape slightly when your mouth is moving in awkward directions, such as during eating. This comfort is almost unrivalled compared to most other types of dentures available. They also contain no metals which allows for a much more natural look in your mouth.

Finding the Right Dentures

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to dentures. Everyone’s mouth has a different shape and expects different features when considering which type of denture is right for them.

Some of the most common things people look for when selecting which denture to buy include it’s:

Comfort

The first thing you should consider when purchasing a set of dentures is how comfortable they are. As you’ll likely be wearing them daily, uncomfortable dentures can cause a long list of problems, irritations and even cause sores or cuts in your mouth.

While metal dentures may be quite sturdy, due to limited flexibility, they could cause slight discomfort at times. Acrylic or Valplast dentures do usually offer more flexibility, while still being sturdy.

Longevity

Depending on which materials are used when manufacturing your new dentures will determine its longevity. While dentures may last for tens of years, most dentists would recommend you get a new set every five to seven years. To increase the longevity of your dentures, it’s important that you take care of them and clean them regularly.

Repairable

Accidents happen. Even if we are overly careful with our dentures, there may be a time when they accidentally get chipped, cracked or broken and need to be repaired. Before investing in dentures, speak to your dental provider about the repairability of the different types of dentures.

For more information or to find the right type of denture for you, contact the team at Oceanic Dental Laboratory on 1300 792 990.