Dental plates or dentures come in handy when your natural teeth fail you. They are effective in ensuring that you continue to live a normal life in which you can chew without the discomfort of lacking teeth. They also serve an aesthetic purpose in that you do not have to expose toothless gums when you smile or laugh. This means that your self-confidence is not interfered with. Additionally, missing teeth can inhibit with your speech. Filling the spaces with dental plates can help restore your speech to normal. Knowing how the dental plates are fitted can help you gain an understanding of how they work and how to maintain them.

Complete Dental Plates

If you need all your upper or lower teeth replaced, a complete dental plate is needed. If you have already had dentures, a dentist will perform the replacement immediately after the old dental plates are removed. This means that you do not have to spend a period of time without teeth. To ensure that there is no discomfort, the dental plate is fitted snugly over the gums and jawbones. If you are removing teeth before getting a dental plate, it is important to leave some time for the jawbone to harden. If you get a dental plate fitted immediately after removing several teeth, the jawbone may be altered in shape. This would necessitate relining after some period of time. In any case, you might need to leave some time for your gums to heal after you have the old teeth removed. A dentist or dental technician can advise you on when it is best to fit the new dental plates after removing the old teeth.

Partial Dental Plates

If only a few teeth are missing, you only need a partial dental plate. This helps to fill the holes on your gums. It is made of either nylon or metal onto which false teeth are attached. It is attached to the natural teeth using metallic clasps. These are easy to unclasp and remove in case you need to. The dentist measures your mouth and teeth to determine the type and size of clasps to use.

Fitting the Dental Plates

It is important to note that you need a trial dental plate for a period of time. After the dentist takes impressions of your mouth, he or she builds a plate that is to be used temporarily. After observing how the trial plate fits, the dentist can then build a more permanent dental plate with the necessary adjustments. After using the temporary plate, you might want to suggest the color and shape for the permanent dental plate.

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