The Downside Of Dentures

Dentures have been around for a long time. Their less formal name is ‘false teeth.’ The use of dentures goes back to 2500BC. They were found in today’s Mexico and it appears they were made out of the teeth of a wolf. Somehow, creepy vampire smiles keep popping into our mental image when we envision this. Two false teeth were found in the El Gigel tomb in ancient Egypt. Dentures then began to be made from human and animal teeth and carved ivory around the world. Legend has it that George Washington had wooden teeth. On the contrary, George Washington’s Mount Vernon states that “Throughout his life Washington employed numerous full and partial dentures constructed of materials including human, and probably cow and horse teeth (possibly elephant), lead, tin alloy, copper alloy (possibly brass) and silver alloy.”

Why Do We Need Tooth Replacements?

History shows that tooth replacement has been ‘a thing’ for centuries. But, why is it so important? Is everyone so concerned with having a brilliant smile?

The answer is that tooth replacement has a lot more to do with how you look and feel. Teeth serve esthetic, emotional/psychological, and functional purposes. They also serve as the main mechanism by which we feed and fuel our bodies.

Lack of Teeth = Lack of Nutrition

Malnutrition Awareness Week is September 26-30. This week aims to raise awareness about the need to educate and advocate for optimal nutrition care as much as possible. For this reason, it’s important to highlight the need for proper teeth.

King’s College London researchers found that people with teeth loss struggle to chew healthy foods properly. In addition, dentures wearers were found to be at risk of malnutrition because they typically avoid healthy foods that can be difficult to chew. The studies found that “denture wearers and those with fewer teeth were 32 percent more likely to be frail and 20 percent more likely to be nutritionally deficient.

Scientists found that denture wearers and those with fewer teeth avoid difficult to chew and eat food, which are essential for good nutrition such as:

1. Fibrous Fruits
2. Fibrous Vegetables
3. Nuts
4. Meat

Primary (Known) Downsides of Dentures

1. They often lack a more natural appearance than other options.
2. They must be removed and cleaned frequently.
3. When they don’t fit securely, a messy adhesive must be used.
4. Dentures should not be worn while sleeping.
5. Dentures slip in your mouth and compromise your ability to eat and speak comfortably to the maximum potential.
6. Psychological insecurity, stemming from the their fit and fear of embarassement ans shame.
7. While they are an inexpensive replacement option initially, they frequently need refitting and periodic replacement.

Secondary (More Hidden) Downsides of Dentures

1. Sex Life – In a report by Heydecke et al, they “compared the impact of social and sexual activities by 102 adults between the ages of 35-65 years…the research revealed ‘patients reported that conventional dentures often became loose during activities such as kissing, eating and speaking resulting in both embarrassment and discomfort. Of those participants, more than 80% felt uneasy when kissing, and 70% felt uneasy when engaged in sexual relations.”
2. Social Life – Dentures make you feel like you have a foreign object in your mouth. Any time there’s something foreign in your mouth, it can inhibit your speech. Dentures can cause a variety of problems with speaking. Excessive salivation can cause lisping and also result in a mumbling or gargling sound. A whistling sound may occur as well when your tongue comes in contact with your dentures where your front teeth and dentures meet.

Implants – The Best Solution To Your Negative Issues Related To Wearing Dentures

Contact Helm Nejad Stanley today to see how our dental implants can be the right solution for your tooth replacement needs. We offer All-on 4 Implants, Dental Implants and Permanent Dentures for our patients. We pursue the latest, most cutting-edge advancement in implant dentistry. Call us today!