Many people assume that everyone will need to wear dentures when they get older. While a large number of people do wear false teeth, those who have good dental hygiene and take care of their teeth may never need dentures. Made from both fake gums and teeth, the dentures fit right inside your mouth and function as your natural teeth should. It’s often helpful to look at your own oral health to see if you might need dentures in the coming years.
Missing and Damaged Teeth
Several missing teeth indicate that you’ll need a partial or a set of false teeth in the future. The placement of your teeth depends on the surrounding teeth. When you have a tooth pulled or extracted, the remaining teeth in your mouth will eventually shift to accommodate that gap. A partial, also known as a bridge, is a series of two or more false teeth that the dentist fits into your mouth to work with one or more implants. If you continue losing teeth, the dentist may suggest extracting all your teeth and fitting you for dentures.
Gum Disease
Dentists often view gum disease as an early warning sign that a patient will need dentures. Gum disease causes redness and inflammation in the gums, may lead to your gums bleeding when you brush and cause pain. As the disease progresses, it can damage the roots of your teeth and cause those teeth to weaken or break. Unless the doctor can still treat your gum disease and save your teeth, you may need dentures.
Schedule a Denture Consultation
Scheduling a denture consultation with a dental office is a great way you find out if you need a partial or a full set of dentures. The dentist will examine your gums and teeth before deciding how to fix your smile and if dentures are necessary.
