Dentures: Our Complete Guide to Removable Dentures

Losing one or more teeth is often a source of discomfort, inefficiency in chewing, phonation problems and unaesthetics. In most cases, it is a situation that is not well received from a psychological point of view.

This problem is not limited to the elderly. In fact, several situations that can occur at any age are capable of causing tooth loss, including periodontal infections and trauma.

Several solutions are available to people who have lost one or more teeth. Unfortunately, they are often overpriced! Many can't afford them. They then turn to partial or full dentures. A removable prosthesis that is accessible to all budgets and that allows you to quickly remedy tooth loss.

In this article, Nutrident.fr tells you everything you need to know about this removable dental prosthesis or denture.

What are dentures?

A denture is simply a removable dental prosthesis. It is therefore a device that can replace one or, most often, several missing teeth and that can be easily removed .

In order to stay in place in the mouth, the denture is custom-made so that it rests precisely on the gums, remaining teeth and jawbones.

The denture is a solution that can be proposed by your dentist in order to restore an efficient chewing function, to allow normal phonation (the pronunciation of certain sounds requires the tongue to rest on the teeth) or for aesthetic reasons.

What are the types of dentures?

There are 4 main types of dentures:

1. Full denture;
2. Partial denture;
3. Fixed denture on implants;
4. Denture without palate.

To these 4 main types, we will add a fifth: the temporary denture.

1- Full denture

A full denture, or removable full denture, is a device that replaces all of your teeth. We can distinguish 3 cases:

• Upper denture or upper unimaxillary denture: to replace all the teeth of the upper jaw.
• Lower denture or lower unimaxillary denture: to replace all the teeth of the lower jaw.
• Bi-maxillary denture to replace all lower and upper teeth.

It is important to know that patients with full dentures often have problems with adhesion and instability. Indeed, these prostheses are fixed in the mouth only thanks to a phenomenon of suction (suction cup). This is only possible if the reliefs of the denture and the prosthesis are perfectly complementary. This is why the surgeon makes extremely precise impressions before designing the prosthesis.

2- Partial denture

A partial denture is a device that is indicated when the patient is missing only one or more teeth.

This type of denture is fixed by leaning on the remaining teeth, on the gum (suction phenomenon) and also thanks to small hooks.

3- Fixed denture on implants

This solution is intended for patients who already wear removable dentures and want to get rid of the glues and false palates that are very annoying and alter the taste. It consists in fixing the prosthesis on 2 or 4 implants thanks to clips or press studs.

After the dental surgeon has placed the implants, a healing period of 3 to 6 months is required before the denture can be attached.

Fixed dentures on implants offer many advantages:

• Better stability and therefore better comfort;
• More efficient and comfortable chewing;
• No irritation of the gums;
• No glue required;
• Easy to maintain;
• Can be stored overnight.

As with any other type of dental prosthesis, fixed dentures on implants have some negative points:

• Healing period of 3 to 6 months following the placement of the implants;
• Need to remove it every night to clean it;
• By removing and replacing the dentures, the clips wear out and must be changed every 2 years or so;
• Lifespan of about 10 years, because these prostheses are made of resin.

4- Tooth without palate

The palate-less denture is indicated for people who do not have enough bone mass to allow for the placement of dental implants or who cannot afford them.

This type of removable dental prosthesis is composed, in addition to the false teeth and gums, of a false palate that serves to increase the stability of the denture by resting on the palate of the patient.

The palate-less denture offers the following advantages:

• Low cost solution;
• Better stability, better comfort;
• Natural appearance;
• Does not require the use of glue.

5- Temporary denture

To place a full or partial denture, it is sometimes necessary to extract a few teeth from the patient. This obviously causes sensitivity and pain in the soft tissue and it is not possible to place a permanent denture immediately. Therefore, while waiting for the wounds to heal, a temporary denture (complete or partial) is made and given to the patient so that he or she can chew properly and keep an aesthetic smile during this convalescence period.

A temporary denture may also be indicated for patients who have undergone dental implant surgery. Once the soft tissue has healed and the implants are osseointegrated, the final dentures are placed.

Is denture adhesive essential?

It depends on the type of denture. Adhesive is not required for fixed dentures on implants and palate-less dentures. Other types of removable dentures may require the use of an adhesive cream, one application per day, to improve adhesion and stability throughout the day.

It is important to know that denture glue becomes necessary when the denture no longer fits properly in the mouth. This is usually due to one of the following causes:

• The denture is poorly designed: it does not perfectly follow the gingival relief;
• Bone resorption: with time, the bone tissue of the jaws undergoes remodeling and therefore a morphological change. The denture will then “float” and the glue will be used to fill in the spaces between it and the walls of the jaw.

Beware, some low-end creams are almost useless! Some patients have to apply large amounts several times a day for fear that their dentures will fall out. This is dangerous for your health and is strictly forbidden! It is preferable to opt for a quality glue, despite its higher price, or to redo a new denture that is more suitable.

How do you maintain your dentures?

This part of the article is very important, because the maintenance of your removable dental prosthesis will make it possible to lengthen its lifespan, to improve your comfort, to avoid the bad breath and to prevent the infections (bacterial, mycosic…).

The method of maintenance of a denture depends on its type:

Maintenance of a fixed denture on implants

For a safe and effective cleaning of your implant-supported dentures, follow these 4 steps:

1. Cleaning the denture: remove your denture and brush it gently with a soft, precision toothbrush (available in pharmacies and stores). Preferably use gel type toothpaste.
2. Cleaning the implants: Brush your implants one after the other using a special 3-headed toothbrush. Then use special silk threads to remove debris and tartar from the gum line.
3. Gum cleaning: Using your soft precision toothbrush, use up and down strokes to gently clean your gums.
4. Mouth Rinse: Rinse your mouth with a special antibacterial solution to complete your cleaning.

This operation should only be done twice a day.

Maintenance of a classic denture (without implants)

After each meal, remove your dentures and gently clean them with a soft toothbrush. Then, gently clean your gums with a soft brush. Finally, rinse your mouth using an antibacterial solution.

At night, before going to sleep, remove your dentures and dip them into a glass containing a cleaning solution obtained by one of the following methods:

• Special effervescent tablet for dentures dipped in a glass of water;
• Mixture of water, baking soda and denture cleaner;
• Natural method: juice of 2 lemons (do not use this method too frequently, as the acidity can damage the teeth in the long term).

How much do dentures cost?

The price of a removable dental prosthesis is extremely variable. It depends on several parameters, including the quality of the materials used, the type (partial, complete, fixed on implants or without palate) and the practitioner's fees

In France, it can range from 800 to 5000€. For a complete set of teeth (both jaws), you should count on average 2000 to 3000€ . This may not be cheap, but it is still much cheaper than other dental replacement solutions such as implants (which can cost between 30,000 and 60,000€ for a complete set of teeth!)

Dentistry: what is covered by social security?

In France, the social security covers 70% of the cost of dentures, but for a reference fee that is much lower than what the patient actually pays:

• Convention price of 64€ for a partial denture of 4 elements, that is to say a refund of 45€, whereas the disbursed price is around 450€;
• Conventional price of 107€ for a partial permanent denture of 8 elements, i.e. a reimbursement of 75€, whereas the average price of such a device is around 850€;
• Conventional price of 182€ for a complete permanent resin denture with 14 teeth, i.e. a reimbursement of 127€, while the average price is around 1700€.

Your mutual insurance company will complete the reimbursement of the remaining 30%. Choose the one that offers the best coverage for removable dentures.

The quality of dental reimbursements is expected to improve by 2021 as part of the 100% health reform.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Now, the Nutrident.fr team will provide answers to questions that most patients have about removable dentures:

Is it painful to wear dentures?

It is normal that wearing dentures is uncomfortable, unpleasant or painful at first. But after a period of adaptation, more or less long depending on the person, you get used to it and there will be no more pain or discomfort.

If the pain persists, you should visit your dentist to find the cause and remedy it.

Are there any foods that are prohibited when wearing dentures?

No, you can eat in a normal way. However, it is advisable to prefer soft foods during the beginning period.

What is the price of a denture?

In France, for a complete set of dentures, it is necessary to spend between 800 and 5000€. The average price is about 2000 to 3000€.

How do dentures fit in your mouth?

A denture is held in the mouth essentially by a “suction cup” effect. This phenomenon of suction is created when the surfaces of the dentures are perfectly complementary to the relief of the gums and jawbones.

In addition, some dentures require the application of a special glue once a day. Others, especially partial dentures, have additional fastening systems such as small hooks.

How long do dentures last?

This depends on several parameters, including the quality and type of materials used, maintenance… On average, a removable denture lasts between 8 and 10 years. It is mainly the resin that erodes over time.

Can you sleep without removing your dentures?

If you fall asleep in front of the TV without removing your dentures, it's not a big deal! There is no danger. However, you must get into the habit ofsystematically removing itat night , on the one hand to clean it, and on the other hand to avoid it putting pressure on your gums.

Does wearing dentures affect pronunciation?

The tongue presses against the teeth when pronouncing certain sounds. So yes, you can have slight pronunciation problems when you put on a new denture. Fortunately, this phenomenon is only transitory. In fact, once your tongue gets used to the thickness of the new teeth, your pronunciation will return to the way it was before.

At first, you can practice talking with your new dentures. For example, by reading texts aloud. This will speed up the adaptation period of your language.

Conclusion

Sometimes, following the loss of one or more teeth, we rush to remedy the situation very quickly (out of shame, complex or extreme embarrassment). We then opt for “emergency solutions” such as removable dentures .

However, it is preferable to take the time to discuss with your dentist in order to choose the best solution for you (your budget, your desires…).

If you have already adopted the removable dental prosthesis, make sure to respect the rules of hygiene and use.

In case of pain or discomfort, do not hesitate to visit your dentist. This may be due to a poor fit of the prosthesis. In any case, an annual visit to your dentist is recommended.