If you have lost a tooth or perhaps several of them due to gum disease, decay, injury, or some other event; dentures may be suggested by your dentist as the best remedy and fastest return to a reliable oral care routine. If you have never had dentures and are concerned about how they look and function or wonder what their role is in the dental world, let’s take a closer look at what dentures are and how they can help.

What are dentures?

Simply defined, dentures are artificial teeth and gums specially made to fit your mouth and replace natural teeth that have been lost. Modern dentures almost identically match the visual appearance of your existing teeth and they nest within your gums the same way as well.

For people who have lost teeth, dentures are very important replacement structures for the jaw bones and overall facial shape. Without natural teeth or dentures in place, the support structure is compromised and can also lead to infection and an array of other related health concerns.

The ingredients of dentures

Today’s dentures are highly advanced oral care “tools” made of an extremely hard and long-lasting resin, along with a polymer gum portion that blends as seamlessly as possible with your natural gum line. While modern dentures are very strong, most varieties will wear down after about five years and wearers must remain cognizant of their care and aware of potential chips or cracks.

How will your new dentures look?

One of the most common concerns for people with dentures in their future is what they will look like. The most important goal with dentures is of course to reprise the critical role of natural teeth, and next on the list is appearance. Dentures (or false teeth) should look virtually identical to the real thing and today’s dental advances make that possible, taking into consideration details including their shape, shade, and fit.

When it comes to fit, most people adjust to new dentures fairly quickly while others will notice mild discomfort while getting used to them. This is a normal element of the process and it can take several weeks to be fully comfortable with your new oral accoutrement. Your dentist can be a great help in this regard by offering advice on ensuring the dentures fit perfectly.

Color also goes a long way in the ultimate feel and look of dentures. Naturally, you’d like your new dentures to look very similar, if not identical, to your existing teeth and a dentist can help choose the best shade as well selecting the base color to match your natural gums.

Maintaining that good look

One of the most effective ways to keep dentures looking their best and your appearance just the way you want it is through diligent maintenance. The key is to care for your dentures just as you would your natural teeth, like you’ve probably been doing since childhood. A consistent oral hygiene regime will ensure your dentures will continue to look great and give you the long-term confidence to show off your smile.

During the fitting process, your dentist can offer advice on the most effective cleaning methods, as well as proven products to use at home. Storage of dentures is also important to discuss in order to be fully aware of how to keep them sparkling clean when they’re not in your mouth. In fact, some specific products will remove nearly 100 percent of odor-causing bacteria, eliminate stains, and help dentures stay clean and fresh.

The end result

There is no question that dentures can drastically change your appearance for the better. Dentures are reliable options to help improve your smile and overall facial appearance by replacing lost teeth and restoring a natural bite. Even if you have existing dentures, you can make changes that can affect and even improve your appearance.

When getting a new set of dentures, be sure to discuss the state of your teeth in the past in regard to shape, size, color, and spacing between. You can then talk over how you’d like your smile and the look of your teeth to appear and plan accordingly. A bonus to the process is you’ll be able to see how the dentures will look prior to completion so you can walk out into the world smiling brightly.