False Teeth-Bridging the Gap

Whether it is a single false tooth or a complete set, many people opt to have false teeth to avoid having gaps in their smile. False teeth bridge the gap in the mouth left by teeth that have been removed or have fallen out. They help on both a practical, and a psychosocial level, as false teeth aid the mouth in chewing food (mastication) and also help boost confidence as it fills unsightly gaps, allowing the patient to smile and laugh without feeling self conscious. It can also help in pronouncing certain words better.

False teeth are prosthetic dentures that rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or gums or the mouth cavities soft and hard tissues that surround the false teeth. There are two types of false teeth, depending on whether they are replacing teeth missing on the mandibular or maxillary arch.

False teeth are not the only option for bridging a gap, as advancements in dentistry have given way to alternate ways to bridge the gap depending on the situation and needs of the patient. Dental implants (thought to go back as early as the Mayan civilisation though not as we know it) have become more widely available and popular in the cases of singular and group tooth loss.

False Teeth Types

With false teeth you can have different types, from removable partial false teeth or dentures (used for people who have lost some teeth in the same arch) or fixed partial false teeth or dentures sometimes called a ‘crown’ or ‘bridge.’ These types of false teeth or dentures are attached to adjoining natural teeth or to the aforementioned Dental implants. Complete sets of false teeth or dentures are used to completely replace teeth missing from both the higher and lower arch.

False Teeth Advantages

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, and psychosocially advantageous (self esteem/confidence in social interaction), false teeth help to pronounce words containing sibilants or fricatives and aid in the chewing (or mastication as it’s known technically) of food.

False Teeth/Denture Care

Fixed false teeth need to be treated similar to natural teeth, they should be brushed regularly and thoroughly and removable false teeth should be cleaned by being removed and checked for any food debris stuck in-between the individual teeth. Where available and advised, a dentist recommended false teeth cleaning solution should be used. Don’t try to modify the fit of your false teeth on your own, always get your dentist to do it, as results can otherwise be disastrous! 

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