Denture Myths and Facts
Don’t Believe These Denture Myths About 90% of people without teeth wear dentures. They’re an effective, economical, and attractive way to replace lost teeth. Unfortunately, people have many misconceptions about dentures. Here are a few of these myths and the actual truth you should know. Myth: I have to choose dentures or dental implants. Truth: Dentures and dental implants are often represented as alternative tooth replacement strategies, but the truth is that if you get dental implants you will likely have a denture placed on top of them. These dentures may be removable or permanently fixed in place. Myth: Once I have dentures, I can’t get dental implants. Truth: If you want dental implants, it’s best to get them right away, but even if you’ve had dentures for years, we may be able to put in dental implants. Myth: Once I have dentures, I won’t need to see the dentist. Truth: You won’t need to see the dentist as often after you get dentures, but you should still see the dentist once a year to make sure your gums are healthy and your dentures fit properly. Myth: Dentures are all the same, so cheapest is best. Truth: As with so many things, when it comes to dentures you get what you pay for. Cheap dentures tend to look cheap, fit poorly, and function badly. You will likely have a much worse denture experience if you buy cheap dentures. Myth: Everyone will know I have dentures. Truth: Although cheap dentures are easy to spot, quality dentures can look a lot like your natural teeth—or better. Nobody needs to know that you have dentures. Myth: Dentures always fall out when I eat or talk. Truth: Cheap dentures are prone to falling out when you eat or talk, but not all dentures do. If you get quality dentures and get them checked regularly, you will find they stay in place very well. Myth: I won’t be able to eat my favorite foods with dentures. Truth: Eating with dentures takes a little bit of practice, but once you learn how, you will be delighted with the range of foods that you can enjoy. Myth: Dentures only stay in if you “glue” them. Truth: Properly fitting dentures don’t need adhesive to stay in place, though it may still be recommended to help create a seal under the dentures to prevent food and drink from getting between the dentures and the gums. Myth: Dentures will make me smell bad. Truth: The causes of denture odor are the same as the causes of bad breath: bacteria growing in the mouth that are allowed to multiply because they are not regularly removed through proper hygiene. Clean dentures thoroughly and soak them overnight, and you won’t smell. If you’ve been told stories about what dentures are like, don’t believe hearsay. Instead, learn for yourself what properly-fitting dentures can do for you. Please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today.
When Should Children Lose Baby Teeth?
Baby teeth play an important role in helping your children’s jaw develop. And they can be a great set of trial teeth for learning oral hygiene. But when it’s time for them to go, they have to get out of the way and make room for your child’s permanent teeth. When to Expect Your Child’s Teeth to Fall out Your teeth follow a pattern of first in, first out, so the first teeth to emerge, the central incisors, usually on the bottom, are also the first to fall out. This normally happens at the age of 6 or 7. However, it can begin much earlier for some children—as early as age 4 in some cases. The other teeth will follow, working their way out and back from the incisors, so that by the age of 12 your child will likely have lost all their baby teeth. Teeth Falling Out Early or Late: Should You Worry? Most parents only check out this information if they have concerns that their child’s teeth are falling out early or late. Typically, this isn’t a major concern, but there are some things to watch for. Teeth that fall out early may be due to a trauma your child suffered, typically as a result of a fall. The tooth may have turned discolored before it fell out. Here the concern is that there may also be damage to the permanent tooth that is developing in the jaw. There may also be effects on the spacing of permanent teeth as they emerge. In both cases, we will have to deal with those issues as the teeth emerge. Another issue that worries parents is the appearance of shark teeth: when permanent teeth emerge behind baby teeth that haven’t fallen out yet. This isn’t normally a cause for concern. The baby teeth will still fall out and the adult teeth will move into position. If, however, the baby teeth don’t fall out by the time the permanent tooth has fully emerged, it may need to be extracted. This will normally allow the permanent tooth to move into position. If your child’s permanent teeth are not properly guided into position because of early or late loss of baby teeth, orthodontics may be recommended. If you think your child might need braces, please contact a Denver family dentist at Ascent Dental in Cherry Creek.