Tooth Loss: Causes, Impacts, and Denture Solutions for Better Oral Health

by: drg. Melisa,Sp.Pros

Good oral health is crucial because it directly impacts overall health. Oral health is part of general health and significantly impacts quality of life. Various factors related to health, lifestyle, and sociodemographics contribute to tooth loss.

Caries and periodontal disease are diseases associated with tooth loss that impact quality of life and daily activities, such as difficulty chewing and speaking, and aesthetic issues with missing anterior teeth.

Dentures can be used to replace partially or completely missing natural teeth, as well as to improve appearance and restore masticatory function. Dentures can be made with fixed or removable dentures.

Dentures

Dentures are used to replace missing natural teeth to repair surrounding tissue and facilitate chewing. Another purpose of dentures is to prevent changes in facial muscles and preserve remaining tissue. Denture use is also closely related to maintaining oral hygiene. Improper denture care can damage the durability and health of the dentures and their supporting tissues.

Function of Dentures

Dentures are a treatment designed to replace missing natural teeth and surrounding soft tissue. The functions of dentures include providing optimal comfort, restoring chewing and speech function, and providing aesthetics.

Masticatory Function

The chewing pattern of someone who has lost some or all of their teeth usually changes. Chewing pressure is applied only to one side in such situations. Patients show improvement after wearing dentures. Chewing pressure can be distributed more evenly across the supporting tissues, resulting in this improvement.

Restoration of Phonetic/Speech Function

The organs of speech consist of two parts. The dynamic part is the tongue, lips, vocal cords, and mandible. The static part is the teeth, palate, and alveolar bone. A patient's voice can also be affected by incomplete or imperfect speech organs, such as those with missing teeth.

Restoration of Aesthetic Function

The primary reason a patient seeks prosthodontic/denture treatment is usually aesthetic concerns, whether due to changes in shape, arrangement, or color. Tooth loss can affect a person's beauty, character, and attractiveness. In this case, the use of dentures restores a natural appearance, thereby increasing the patient's self-confidence and facilitating social interactions.

Types of Dentures

Dentures are divided into two types: removable dentures and fixed/permanent dentures. Removable dentures include complete dentures (FDF) for cases of complete tooth loss and removable partial dentures (RPD), while fixed dentures include bridges and dental implants.

Removable Dentures

Also known as removable dentures, these are artificial teeth that replace missing teeth and can be inserted and removed by the patient. There are two types: those for complete tooth loss or partial tooth loss. Removable dentures are considered a widely accepted method of replacing missing teeth, thus restoring proper oral function.

Permanent Dentures 

Also known as fixed dentures, these are artificial teeth that replace missing teeth but are attached to the patient's mouth. There are two types: dental bridges, which are permanent dentures used to replace one or more missing teeth, and dental implants, which are procedures to implant artificial tooth roots shaped like screws in place of missing teeth.

The choice of denture type of course also depends on the condition of each missing tooth, the number of missing teeth, the cost, indications and contraindications of the treatment carried out so that the best type of denture can be chosen for the patient.

Contact us

For information and make an appointment