Dentures are removable prosthetic devices that replace lost or missing teeth and effectively restore your smile. Dentures can be partial or full, which means they can replace all of your missing teeth on either side of your jaws or supplant only a few lost teeth.

The dentist recommends dentures to patients who have lost most of their teeth due to injury or periodontal diseases.

Various symptoms show that the patients might need dentures like:

• Tender or swollen, inflamed, or bleeding gums.
• Periodontal disease.
• Missing or removed teeth.
• Chewing problems.
• Persistent and chronic toothaches.

These are some common reasons why dentists suggest their patients should get dentures. Dentures are made of porcelain or plastic material, and some advanced-quality dentures are also made of a hard material called resin.

Dentures have various advantages, that’s why they are widely chosen, including:

• Dentures give you a natural smile by restoring broken, lost, or removed teeth.
• They are non-invasive and require less time in the treatment process.
• They are the most comfortable and convenient form of artificial teeth because of being removable.
• Dentures give you a natural-looking smile and efficaciously restore your chewing abilities.

Moreover, dentures also prove to be long-lasting if taken good care of. After getting dentures, you should maintain good oral hygiene and see your dentist at least once a year. When you remove your dentures, don’t let them get dry and place them in plain water or in a cleanser-soaking solution.

Dentures are mostly preferred due to their wide range of versatility. People can opt for several kinds of dentures according to their oral needs and preferences. Some most common types of dentures are as follows:

Partial dentures are a type of removable denture that can supplant multiple missing or removed teeth but not an entire lower or upper set of teeth. Partial dentures are not just limited to being a cosmetic restoration procedure; they can effectually improve the chewing and speaking abilities of the wearer.

If taken good care of, partial dentures can last up to 5 years. These dentures usually comprise a plastic or resin material that provides a natural-looking smile to the patients. Partial dentures are further divided into two types, i.e., upper partial dentures and lower partial dentures.

The upper partial dentures replace the lost or missing teeth in the upper jaw of patients. Dentists usually recommend upper partial dentures when the patient has more than three missing teeth in their upper jaw.

Cosmetic dentures are specifically designed to give you the most genuine-looking smile. Unlike conventional dentures, cosmetic dentures can also support your jaw by optimizing the neuromuscular function of the jawbone.

Cosmetic dentures are best fitted in your mouth and blend with your original teeth. They help the wearer to regain the muscle tone around their neck and face and prevent face wrinkling and sagging.

Dentists suggest complete dentures to patients when they have several missing teeth. The complete or full dentures occupy the whole mouth rather than a specific portion. They comprise an acrylic material. The complete dentures enhance the wearer’s appearance and improve their chewing and speaking abilities.

Denture implants are permanent dentures that are supported and secured by implants. The implant-supported dentures are more aesthetically pleasing, have improved fitting, and are much more comfortable as compared to conventional dentures.

They are generally non-removable, can only be removed by your dentist, and are termed fixed dentures. The denture implants provide the wearer with enhanced teeth functionality and feel like natural teeth.

The permanent denture costs in Canada vary based on several factors, including the number of teeth required to be replaced, the quality of denture implants, and the experience of your dentist.

However, the estimated costs of permanent dentures in Canada can be between $1300 to $3000 for a partial set and $5000 to $7000 for a complete set.

In Canada, the costs of dentures are usually not covered by dental insurance, and patients have to fully finance their treatment.

To maintain the quality of dentures, people should follow some preventive measures advised by their dentist, including:

• Avoiding sticky or hard food items.
• Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth daily.
• Soaking dentures overnight.
• Rinsing and cleaning your dentures.

Denture cleaners or cleansers are used to clean the dentures after they are removed to control the growth of microorganisms or bacteria. The denture cleaners come in the form of a tablet that dissolves in a water solution.

They are also available in the form of pastes or powders. These cleaners kill bacteria and maintain the pliable quality of dentures. Common ingredients of denture cleaners are citric acids, sodium bicarbonate, sodium perborate, and tetra acetyl ethylene diamine.

Denture glue or adhesives are powders, pastes, or adhesive pads placed on dentures to help them remain in place. The denture adhesives are only required by removable dentures and often contain zinc in their composition to prevent unwanted shifting of dentures.

Once applied, the denture adhesives can last up to four days on dentures and provide a cushion grip.

Sometimes, denture adhesives prove to be really sticky, and people prefer acrylic resins in their place. Acrylic resins are quite expensive compared to denture glue, but they are more durable and long-lasting.

In the beginning, people might feel slight discomfort or soreness after getting dentures, but after some time, these side effects settle down on their own, and people get comfortable with dentures, whether they are removable or permanent.

After getting dentures, you can almost eat anything you want except some extremely hard or sticky food. Moreover, you should maintain good oral hygiene to preserve the quality of your dentures so they can last longer.

You should also give up teeth-grinding or nail-biting habits after getting dentures to maintain the functionality of dentures.

Dental implants are screw-like surgical devices that are inserted directly into your jawbone and act as artificial tooth roots. Dental implants can effectively restore the form and function of decayed and damaged teeth. They also anchor artificial dental alternatives such as dentures, bridges or crowns.

Dental implants can significantly prevent bone loss and keep you away from various periodontal diseases. Moreover, with proper oral care, dental implants can last forever. People with the following dental issues must undergo dental implant treatment.

• Have one or multiple missing or lost teeth
• Decayed or cavity-filled teeth
• Damaged tooth roots
• People with an adequate bone structure to support dental implants

Moreover, if a missing or lost tooth is left untreated for more than 12 months without dental implants, it can cause the dislocation of adjacent teeth, resulting in extreme dental complications.

In such cases, dentists have to undergo complex dental procedures, including sinus lift or bone grafting. That’s why it is necessary to control oral issues in the initial stages and get appropriate treatment to eliminate severe consequences.

Dental implants have higher success rates than other teeth replacement treatments. People with healthy and adequate jawbones are likely to get 98% positive results after getting dental implant surgery.

Moreover, implants are durable, highly resistant, and can last for a lifetime if people maintain good oral hygiene. The implants are composed of titanium and are completely fused with the jawbone, making them more reliable than other dentistry procedures, including dentures, root canals, and crowns.

Dental implants substantially restore lost bone density by transmitting forces of chewing, biting and smiling into the jawbone, which stimulates the underlying tissues and prevents further bone deterioration or reabsorption.

On the other hand, if no implant is placed within 12 months after losing a tooth, it can cause 25% of bone loss due to lack of stimulation.

The unnecessary spaces or gaps between lost teeth can cause the adjacent teeth to shift toward these spaces, which results in teeth misalignment. The dislocated teeth eventually affect chewing abilities and look visually displeasing.

Poor bite also gives rise to various other oral problems, including temporomandibular joint. By replacing the lost tooth roots with dental implants, you can prevent all these issues and can restore your tooth functionality.

The empty spaces between missing teeth can trap food particles and can become a reason for tooth decay and cavities, eventually leading to several gum diseases.

By filling the lost teeth spaces with dental implants, we can minimise the presence of gapped teeth and can reduce the risks of various periodontal diseases.

The missing teeth cause bone loss which ultimately becomes a reason for facial sagging and premature ageing. In facial sagging, the distance between the tip of the nose and chin gradually starts to reduce, collapsing the lower third of the face.

The common results of collapsed facial structures are pointed chins and thin lips. This can make a person look older than their actual age.

Dental implants can prevent the occurrence of facial sagging by preserving bone mass and can significantly restore jawbone structure.

With proper care and oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime. However, the crowns or dentures remain functional for 10 to 15 years and should be replaced after that period. Dental implants are the most reliable dental restorative procedure and have the highest success rate.

Moreover, the dental implant placement process is also painless because dentists use sedatives during the surgery and numb the patient’s affected area.

After getting implants, patients sometimes feel slight discomfort or pain, but these are minor and temporary side effects and subside on their own within a week.

The approximate costs of dental implants range between $3000 to $5000. However, these are inconsistent costs and vary based on various factors, including the quality and type of implants, the extent of the oral problem, and your region.

The dental implant treatment process mainly consists of three steps: placement of the implant, attachment of abutment and fitting of the crown. That’s why it is a slightly more complicated process and can cost you more than other dental procedures, but it is worth the price as dental implants deliver long-lasting results that usually last forever.