partial dentures

If you have missing teeth, you know how it affects more than just the appearance of your smile. It also affects how you eat, speak, chew, and more. When you have several missing teeth, dentures or partial dentures might be recommended. Here are the pros and cons to using dentures and partials to replace missing teeth. 

Missing Teeth

When a patient is missing teeth, more than just the appearance of their smile is affected. The American Academy of Periodontology explains that there are several negative consequences to missing some, or all, of your teeth.

First, missing teeth will affect the esthetics of your face. Not just how your smile fits together, but it can also begin to affect the skin around your mouth. If you’re missing too many teeth, the skin around your mouth will not be properly held up and will begin to sag. This will make you appear older than you actually are. Secondly, missing teeth can make it more difficult to chew your food and can even make it difficult to speak. Lastly, missing even only one tooth can have negative effects and emotional consequences. Many people feel less confident about their smile when they are missing even just one tooth. 

Causes of Missing Teeth

There are many different reasons an adult may experience tooth loss. Some of the most common causes of missing teeth in adults are: 

• Gum disease — periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It is a serious infection that targets the gum tissue in the mouth and the bone supporting your teeth. When left untreated, gum disease can destroy the supporting bone and result in missing teeth. 
• Cavities — one of the top dental health problems in the world is tooth decay. Cavities are tiny holes in the hard surface of the teeth as a result of bacteria and poor dental cleaning. If cavities go untreated, they can get severe enough that the tooth may have to be extracted.
• Teeth grinding — formally known as bruxism, grinding your teeth can do more than just cause jaw pain and injure your teeth. Teeth grinding can also cause your teeth to fall out. 
• Injury or trauma — did you know that over 5 million teeth are knocked out each year between children and adults? That leads to a lot of missing teeth! 

Other causes of tooth loss can include health-related issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, and smoking. 

Dentures for Missing Teeth

A great option for restoring smiles that have succumbed to missing teeth is full or partial dentures. Dentures are removable appliances that give you a full set of teeth again. Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are used to replace the upper and/or lower teeth. A partial denture is used to replace multiple missing teeth while some natural, healthy teeth remain. 

Pros of Dentures

No matter which set is best for your smile, full or partial, both types of dentures provide the following benefits:

• Restore and enhance your smile
• Prevent further teeth shifting and tooth loss
• Help regain confidence and happiness
• Allow you eat normally again 
• Non-surgical treatment
• Less expensive than implants

Cons of Dentures

Just like your natural teeth, you have to care for your dentures to keep them healthy. If not, you could experience gum disease and other oral health issues. They require daily maintenance. Further cons could include:

• Replacement every 3 to 6 years
• You can’t sleep in them 
• Having to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods.
• They can be lost or broken. 

Other Teeth Replacement Options 

If you’re not sold on the idea of dentures to replace your missing teeth, you have other options. Another restorative option is dental implants. Dental implants are one of the most advanced solutions for missing teeth and are the only option that can support the surrounding teeth and mimic the natural formation of bone. Due to this, dental implants are able restore your smile and confidence just like dentures would, too. 

Restore Your Smile with Young Family Dental

Our dentists at Young Family Dental want you to feel confident with your smile. We will help you understand which tooth replacement option is best for you and will restore not only your smile, but your quality of life. To learn more about full or partial dentures, or even dental implants, call or visit any of our five Utah dental offices in West Jordan, Riverton, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, or Orem. Now offering the newest types of dentures and partials, come learn what they can do for you and your dental health.