Pros and Cons of Dentures

There are many advantages of dentures. There are also some disadvantages of dentures. In this article, we will take a closer look at the pros and cons of dentures to help you decide if false teeth are the right solution for you.

The Disadvantages of Dentures

We will begin by looking at the negatives associated with dentures. They include:

Bad Breath

Dentures require careful cleaning at least twice per day. When food particles are left unchecked, they can introduce bacteria into the mouth resulting in bad breath. See this article for details on a good denture cleaning routine.

They Wear Out

Dentures are strong and sturdy but are made of materials that will last between five and ten years at the most. Taking good care of them will help them to last longer but if they do not fit properly after a few years, they may require relining or replacement.

A Long Process

One of the major disadvantages of dentures is the time it takes to get them. Your dentist will have to take molds of your mouth, remove any teeth that are damaged or decaying, and create a perfectly fitting denture. You may end up wearing uncomfortable temporary dentures during this process that can take several weeks to complete.

They Take Time Getting Used To

Essentially, dentures are a foreign object you are placing inside your mouth each day. While you will eventually get used to having them, there will be an adjustment period before dentures feel normal. Sometimes this takes longer for some people than for others.

Difficulty Eating

As much as dentures will function as your natural teeth do, there will be foods that are going to be more difficult to eat than others. These foods that require additional pressure from the jaw to bite into them may result in pain. You may find yourself avoiding certain foods when wearing dentures to get away from the discomfort.

Poor Fit

As much as your dentist works tirelessly to ensure your dentures are a perfect fit, things happen. Over time, your jawline may change shape. During this period, your false teeth may become loose and slip out of place. This will require adjustments to your dentures or possibly replacement.

Swollen or Bleeding Gums

If your dentures become loose, they may cause other issues within your mouth. The rubbing action produced by loose dentures can irritate the sensitive skin and tissue that make up your gums. This can cause swelling, bleeding, and even sores.

Advantages of Dentures

If we are going to look at the pros and cons of dentures, we can’t just examine one side of the coin and leave it at that. Although there are many disadvantages of dentures, there are also many advantages that come from wearing false teeth. They include:

Many Options Available

Whether you are missing one or a few teeth to a complete row, there are denture options to fit your needs. You’ve heard of partial dentures, right? Those are designed to fit the gaps between teeth where a tooth or two are missing. Full dentures will replace the complete top or bottom row of teeth.

Fully Functional

Today’s dentures are more than just made so you can eat properly. Because they are designed to look like natural teeth, dentures are visually appealing. It is hard to identify someone with dentures because they look so realistic. Plus, modern dentures allow you to speak, smile, and eat with ease.

Improve Your Features

Facial muscles weaken and may cause your face to sag when you are missing teeth. Dentures fill your mouth and give your facial muscles the workout they would normally get if you still had all of your natural teeth.

Cost-Effective

Dentures are considered a cost-effective treatment for tooth loss and are a better investment when used to replace missing teeth with partial dentures compared to certain denture implant methods.

Improves Your Smile

Dentures restore your smile. For many, this is an important factor as dentures permit you to interact socially without fear of being treated differently for missing teeth. With a dazzling new smile, your self-confidence is boosted, and you will want to participate in activities you may have avoided before getting your false teeth.

Easy To Keep Clean

Although for many this may be considered a disadvantage, it is also an advantage. Cleaning teeth is never easy but with dentures, you can remove them completely and give them an overall clean that may not be possible with natural teeth.

They Last A While

Dentures are a temporary replacement for your natural teeth. However, if you take good care of them and handle them carefully, you should get many years of use out of them.

No Cavities

We had to add this one. With dentures, you won’t have a visit to your dental office that will end with news that you will need a filling or two. Dentures don’t decay like natural teeth, but they still need to be cared for. Since they are not permanently fixed in your mouth, you won’t have the dentist drilling into your dentures in the same way as they do with natural teeth.

In Conclusion

When looking at the pros and cons of dentures, there are several disadvantages and many advantages. It comes down to you. If you require false teeth and have been advised by your dentist to seriously consider them as a treatment option, then you will have to find ways to accept the cons along with the pros.