Dentures are not only for the elderly. Your dentist may recommend dentures for several reasons, including damage from injury, lack of dental hygiene, or poor genetics. One study found that nearly one in five people wear some form of dentures. Some younger people even have dentures that no one else is aware of because they are so well fitted. Of course, dentures provide more than just a confident smile; they enable wearers to eat more comfortably and live without pain.
Signs Dentures Are Right for You
If any of the following apply to you, talk to your dentist because you might need dentures.
Toothache
Severe toothache is not just frustrating; it may be a sign that you need dentures because you have tooth decay that has reached your nerves. Occasionally, a tooth can be saved with a root canal, but you may need dentures if your dentist cannot save your teeth.
Loose Teeth
Loose teeth may soon fall out. But this mobility is also a sign of issues that may hide beneath the surface of your teeth, including decay and periodontal disease.
Swollen Gums
Sensitive, swollen, or red gums are early warning signs of periodontal disease, which may eventually lead to bone loss and require dentures.
Painful Eating
Difficult eating or chewing, especially hard, sticky, or chewy foods, may indicate damage that will soon require dentures. People who struggle to eat may take bigger bites or chew their food less fully, resulting in indigestion that could be avoided if eating were easier or more comfortable.
Missing Teeth
If you have any missing teeth, the need for dentures is immediate because each tooth helps adjacent teeth remain in teeth. With missing teeth, the remaining teeth shift and weaken much more quickly. Space between your teeth may also mean you have lost bone.
Are Dentures Necessary?
Dentures may not be necessary if you want to replace just a few teeth. Dental implant procedures are more affordable and popular than they once were, making them feasible alternatives to dentures.
Even if you’re a good candidate for dentures, your dentures may not be right for you if they are not properly fitted. Dentures fit well when the top piece suctions to your gums, and bottom dentures float above your gums while easily remaining in your mouth. If you have partial dentures, they should align with your natural teeth.