Keep Your Teeth, Dentures Are A Last Resort


Dentures are not nearly the same as natural teeth

Patients often say things like “oh, I wish you could just pull my teeth and give me dentures,” or something similar. Usually the people saying this need extensive (and expensive) dental work, and they figure that dentures are an easy fix. After all, dentures seem like a no-brainer, right? No cavities, no root canals, no bridges, etc. No expense of going to the dentist every six months, no insurance worries when your dentist tells you that a root canal and crown are needed, etc.
Essentially, the people thinking the above are looking for a “tooth do-over.” They want the reset button hit, and to start over again with teeth that do not need dental work. Truth be told, it really doesn’t work that way.

Steak or Oatmeal – The Best Bite Force is Natural

There is no perfect substitute for your natural teeth. Bridges and implants come the closest (by a wide margin, really). But given a choice, a mouthful of healthy natural teeth is preferable to even implants. And your natural, healthy teeth are far (and I mean really far) superior to dentures. Dentures, in my opinion, should be seen as a last resort.
The biggest difference between natural teeth and dentures is bite force. With your natural teeth it is somewhere around 200-250 pounds of force. Some a little less, some a little more, but that’s the sweet spot. With dentures, your bite force is about 50 pounds of force. That’s a significant drop off. That’s the difference between eating a steak, and eating oatmeal. Do you like oatmeal? For dinner?

The Science Behind the Bite

The reason for this disparity is your natural teeth are set solidly in your jawbone. Rigid and strong, they handle chewing food with astonishing efficiency. Dentures, on the other hand, rest against your gums. They can be “fixed” all you want with gels and the like, but the fact is, it’s not a strong base. There’s just “nothing” behind your bite, so to say. Especially on your bottom teeth, where the denture is largely held in place by gravity and your mouth muscles.
Upper dentures can be fixed with a plate that uses suction on your upper palate to stay in place. It doesn’t sound all that strong, because it’s not. More often than not, denture wearers report that their dentures end up “flopping around a lot”. It’s why dentures should be a last resort.
Additionally, there are taste buds on your upper palate (the roof of your mouth). Upper dentures cover these, which means your sense of taste is going to be markedly diminished. Add in the adhesive, and well, eating starts to lose its luster.

What the Ads Don’t Show

Television commercials advertising adhesives that hold dentures in place show deliriously happy people eating corn on the cob and the like. What they don’t show is the 10 to 15 minutes it takes to eat that ear of corn. Yes, the adhesives work to a degree. But you still only bite with about one-fourth of the pressure you could have with real teeth. And that steak we mentioned earlier? Well, I hope you don’t mind still eating it while everyone else is on dessert.

When There’s No Other Choice, Dentures are Life-Enhancing

Unfortunately, for some people, there really is no other choice. Dentures are associated with older people, and in my mind, that’s really the only people who should be using them. Today’s longer lifespans sometimes mean that even the best cared for teeth can be lost. Dentures can be a life-enhancing asset in that case. But replacing a mouthful of healthy teeth with dentures? No way, no how.
The drawbacks of dentures are not worth avoiding root canals and the like. Yes, dental work can be a pain and can be expensive at times. However, that should not deter you. Many dentists have payment plans, they take credit cards, there is secondary insurance, etc. There are few things as important as your natural teeth. They are worth the investment.
SOURCE: Huffington Post

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Smoking and Your Oral Health

Image
By now we all know that smoking is bad for our health. It increases the risk for cancer, heart disease, and numerous other problems throughout the body. Your mouth is no exception. With the New Year right around the corner, what better time is there to quit? Hewlett Family Dental  wants to help the cause of moving towards a smoke-free life by providing our community members with some more reasons to quit. How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health One of the commonly overlooked dangers of smoking is how it affects oral health.  The truth is, several oral health problems are directly related to smoking, and continuing to smoke can put you at increased risk for: Gum disease Oral cancer Dry mouth Discolored teeth Bad breath Tips to Quit Smoking is addictive and therefore not easy to quit. Some people even try quitting multiple times before they succeed at never picking up another cigarette. We understand how difficult quitting can be and are here to provide support f
Read more

When To Start Brushing Babies Teeth

Image
Early dental care for children is very important. Although most babies do not have visible teeth for the first six months to one year of their lives, good dental care starts from the very beginning. Baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent adult teeth, but neglect of your child’s first teeth may lead to serious health issues. In making sure your child has proper dental care, you will help to safeguard their smile, and also assist them in building a lifetime of good oral care habits. Before Tooth Eruption The first baby teeth start to show up at around six months old and will likely appear in the front of the mouth. But even before they arrive, you need to keep your baby’s mouth clean. Using a clean, warm, moistened cloth or a piece of sterile gauze,   gently wipe your baby’s gums with your index finger. Be thorough, but use light pressure. The goal is to remove any food particles or milk film from their gums. Teething Teething can be frustrating for a baby
Read more

Got Questions? We've got the answers!

Image
Frequently Asked Questions  Hewlett Family Dental has the answers to the most commonly asked dental questions. If you have a question that is not addressed here, let us know! FAQs What causes bad breath? Bad breath is generally a result of dental decay and periodontitis, a disease affecting the gums and bone. Periodontitis occurs when the gums become inflamed and infected, ultimately spreading pockets of plaque and tartar from the gums to the bone that supports the teeth. The teeth may become loose and eventually fall out if left untreated. Periodontitis is treatable, but good oral hygiene is the best method of avoiding this problem. How do I repair a cracked tooth? Teeth can crack or chip for a variety of reasons. Especially if they are subjected to chewing hard foods or biting on an unexpectedly hard object, or if teeth have been subjected to large restorations. You may also experience painful chewing, unsolicited pain or discomfort due to cold air. Most
Read more