If you have a large space in between your teeth, one of the many choices that you have to fill it is to get a set of partial dentures. There are many options that you have when getting partial dentures, and you should spend some time learning about all the different ones and their uses. Factors like cost, medical history, the amount of teeth that need to be replaced, and the location of those teeth can all affect which option is right for you. Full dentures require the extraction of all remaining teeth and for most people they are a lot more trouble then they are worth
Types of Dentures
The most recognizable type of denture is the old-fashioned glue-in types. Typically these are for full dentures since there is very little else for them to mount to. They are often difficult to take care of and maintain because they are very messy and do not like to hold their place. When using these types of dentures, it is important to chew food with both sides of the mouth at the same time or else the dentures could get dislodged and you will have to adjust them.
A better alternative to glued dentures is ones that are able to attach to other teeth with metal connectors. Often times they will also include some sort of metal support across the roof of the mouth. Although they can be a little more uncomfortable at first, they are much stronger and more durable than their glued on alternative. They also allow you to replace just a few teeth a lot easier.
Some people like to opt for bridges. These are a set of fake teeth that mount to the surrounding teeth permanently. The surrounding teeth will first have to be ground into a cone-like shape in order to ensure a tight fit. Then, the bridge is cemented to the surrounding teeth. If replacing many teeth in a row, it may be necessary to use two teeth on either side to anchor to instead of just one.
There is also a type of removable bridge that dentists refer to as a snap-in denture. Snap-ins work much like bridges except that a fixture is placed on the surrounding teeth, usually a very tiny extruding ball. The snap in denture has a hole that the ball is able to pop in and out of, and can be put in or removed with ease. These type of dentures also usually have a support on the roof of the mouth.
If there are no teeth to anchor the denture to, or to just have a more permanent solution that does not depend on other teeth, an oral surgeon may secure an implant directly into the jaw which the denture can pop in and out of. Doing this will ensure that loosing a tooth or a tooth moving slightly inside the mouth wont have any effect on the denture. While this is by far one of the best solutions, it is also the most expensive.
Talking with Dentures:
A person’s mouth and tongue may have a difficult time adjusting to the dentures while talking, just as it is difficult to talk with anything else in your mouth that is large. All you can really do is practice. Try and talk for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. If you can’t think of anything to say, just pick up a book or a newspaper and read out loud. You sound a little funny at first, but eventually you will get used to it.
So What do Dentures Cost?
Depending on the type of dentures you opt for, the cost can be anywhere from $400 to $4,000. If you’re on a budget and opt for a $400 job though, you’re going to wind up with something that is similar to what you would buy at a toy store on Halloween. The only difference is the material that the actual tooth is made of lets you chew food and it is custom fitted to your mouth. For about $1500 to $2000 you could get a snap-in denture or bridge, and for $3500 to $4,000 you could wind up with something that can actually be removable and supported by the jaw.
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