Dentures replace missing teeth. They are not always easy to tolerate but with advances in dental science, there have been vast improvements in the materials and options available.
Denture types
Acrylic denture – made of resin. Because it is hard and of a certain thickness, it can feel uncomfortable.
Flexible type – it flexes, is soft and comfortable. The supporting hooks can be colourless or gum-coloured, so it is more esthetic.
Chrome cobalt denture – a vitallium base combined with acrylic teeth. It transmits hot and cold during eating and drinking.
Full dentures – replace an edentulous mouth where all the teeth are missing. It can be challenging when bone has resorbed or thinned over the years. An overdenture with implants can be considered.
Depending on which teeth are missing, the patient could also consider options such as a bridge or an implant overdenture.
Denture care
Remove dentures before bedtime; wash, brush, and keep them soaked in water.
Use denture tablets to disinfect the prosthesis.
Do not wear them continuously – this can lead to decay of the remaining teeth from plaque and food accumulation, and to gum disease.
Watch for candidiasis, a fungal infection in which the oral mucosa under the denture often looks very red.
