Most people imagine that it is only the elderly who need dentures. The fact of the matter is that dentures are needed by old people and youngsters alike. All that is required is a few missing teeth and you are the right candidate for a new set of dentures. As per surveys conducted recently over 20 million women above the age of 40 already wear dentures, whether partial or complete. This figure is only set to grow given the state of oral hygiene and the occurrence of various dental diseases like periodontitis.
How do I know it’s time to get dentures?
The consoling fact is that one does not lose his or her tooth overnight. Tooth loss is a gradual process, and if proper precautions regarding good dental hygiene are taken the need for dentures can be done away with. Regular visits to your dentist is a must to prevent tooth decay and subsequent loss. However, despite treatment if you are unfortunate enough to lose your tooth or teeth, you will have to go in for partial dentures.
Reasons to get Dentures
Here are 6 vital signs that indicate that you are a candidate for dentures soon:
Frequent Toothache
Getting a toothache once in a way is quite alright, but if you suffer from severe tooth pain too often it means that a tooth or many teeth are already decaying. You could lose your teeth very soon if the decay has reached the root of the teeth. When detected early, a filling or root canal job should fix your tooth/teeth. The other alternative is to have the decayed teeth extracted and go in for partial dentures.
Frequent Visits to your Dentist
Normally, visiting your dentist is an annual ritual, which is more a precautionary checkup rather than treatment. However, if you find a need to visit your dentist every 3 months or so it probably means that one or more of your teeth have eroded as decay has set in. If you have visited your dentist on time your teeth can probably be saved with a cap, filling or root canal. However, if any of your teeth are beyond repair, you will be advised to go in for partial dentures after the decaying teeth are extracted.
Increasing Gaps Between Teeth
Whenever your teeth become shaky it is an indication that gum disease is setting in. Your dentist may advise you that you need to go in for treatment of periodontal disease, failing which you could lose your teeth. A very shaky tooth indicates the need for false teeth very soon. Sometimes, despite the best treatment you are likely to lose a tooth to periodontitis and must go in for dentures.
Tender, Bleeding Gums
Irritation in the gums indicates infection and could lead to gingivitis or something more advanced like periodontitis. If your gums get inflamed often and are tender most of the time it means that you could lose a tooth or two. Over 70% of people lose teeth due to some form of gum disease.
When gum disease is detected at an early stage it can be cured through intense medication and some dental procedures that your dentist will suggest. However, when bleeding and inflamed gums are left untreated, gum disease can progress to an irreversible stage, even leading to tooth and bone loss. In such circumstances, dentures are the only alternative.
Difficulty biting or chewing
Whenever there is excruciating pain while biting and chewing certain types of hard foodstuffs, it could mean that one or two teeth have started decaying. If the problem is detected early, the dentist may be able to save your precious tooth/teeth. Hence, if you find difficulty biting and chewing visit your dentist immediately lest you end up with dentures to replace teeth that you will ultimately lose.
A Couple of Missing Teeth
If you have lost a couple of teeth already and have not gone in for dentures it could mean loss of more teeth. When there is a gap caused by missing teeth the pressure on the adjacent teeth is so high that they start becoming shaky. Unless a bridge is created, or new dentures are made loss of adjacent teeth cannot be ruled out. It is better to go in for partial dentures to fill in the gap so that loss of more teeth can be avoided.
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