George Cranston Nobody looks forward to wear dentures. However, loss of teeth compels a person to embrace dentures in his/her life. Faulty food and lifestyle choices coupled with improper oral hygiene often results into missing teeth. Goes without saying, navigating life with missing teeth can be a jeopardizing experience, considering the fact that it can take a hit on one’s confidence level and self esteem.
Not to forget the fact that it can also give rise to infections and complications such as loss of jawbone. Considering all these factors, one can safely proclaim that wearing dentures is a necessity for individuals with missing teeth in order to avoid all the downfalls mentioned above.
“Upper dentures” is a medical term used for artificial gums and teeth replacement. It involves replacement of few or all the top layers of natural teeth. There are many types of upper dental plates such as complete, partial, over-dentures, immediate and implant supported dentures. Let’s have a detailed look at the types of upper dentures.
Complete Upper Dentures
As the name suggests, complete upper dentures involves replacement of the entire top layer of teeth after extraction of all the natural teeth. Dental plates are used directly on the upper gums, creating support with the aid of the underlying bone. Dentists do not commence the treatment until the gums have healed completely after the tooth extraction process. Complete upper dentures can be removed any time.
Partial Upper Dentures
Partial upper dentures involve making use of a clip system to hold the remaining teeth that will be attached in between. It can be permanently fixed with the remaining teeth. Crowns are generally used to add strength to the entire structure, thereby offering permanent results.
Immediate Upper Dentures
Upper dentures that are placed immediately after tooth extraction and other surgical treatment is known as immediate upper dentures. One of the prime benefits of immediate dentures is that they protect our exposed tissues after tooth extraction, and thereby help us chew our food properly without affecting the recovery process. Tissues and bones usually require several months for recovery in order to ensure proper stabilization.
Over-Dentures
Over-dentures are used as a replacement for upper layer of natural teeth. They are similar to complete dentures, except for the fact that they are more stable because they use support of the exiting teeth. However, over-dentures are more expensive than complete dentures.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures work pretty much like over-dentures. The major difference is that it relies on implants for support instead of the natural teeth. In most cases, two or more implants are placed into our bone to facilitate proper support. Depending upon the place where the treatment is done, implant-supported dentures can cost you more than $10,000.
The good news is that upper dentures can last for more than 10 years because they are made from durable materials. However, patients should take proper care of the upper dentures to ensure that they last long. One’s best bet would be to follow the dentist’s instructions because they will offer practical and possible solutions on how to take care of the upper dentures.