While many get their first set of false teeth between 40 and 49, the need to replace teeth becomes nearly universal as people age. However old one is or whatever the situation, using dentures to replace missing teeth can mean better speech, easier eating, a healthier face and a great smile.
When do people get dentures? Most commonly, people who require dentures are between the ages of 55 and 64. Despite the fact that dentures are commonly thought to be for individuals over the age of 50, younger people may require partial dentures or dental implants if they have lost their teeth.
In 2005, a Guinness World Record for being the youngest person ever to wear a full set of dentures was taken by a 3-year-old Daniel Sanchez-Ruiz of the United Kingdom.
According to the American Dental Association, there are approximately 57% of people ages 65 to 74 wearing some form of denture.
Having dentures in your 20s or 30s is not uncommon. If you need dentures or already have them, you are not alone. In fact, there are many more young people with dentures than you think.
Contrary to popular belief, regardless of how young or old you are, your age doesn't determine whether or not you are fit to wear dentures. If you happen to lose some or most of your teeth, visiting your dentist to get full or partial dentures might be the most sensible thing that you can do for your smile.
Dentures are Not Inevitable for Everyone
However, although getting dentures is actually quite common, not everyone will have to have them. If your teeth last until the end of your life, there is no reason to get dentures. Of course, a major part of having your teeth last that long involves a good oral hygiene routine.
Dentures are removable dental appliances that replace missing teeth. Patients who have lost some or all of their teeth, whether it be from decay, an accident or disease, will benefit from dentures. Patients, who suffer from missing teeth, may think dentures are high maintenance and will be uncomfortable.
Some people worry that dentures will make them look older. Thankfully, this is far from the truth. Not only are today's dentures incredibly realistic looking, but if you pair them with dental implants, you'll end up with a smile that will look and feel completely natural.
One of the most famous people in Hollywood, Tom Cruise didn't always have his perfect smile. As he was proverbially “cutting his teeth” in Hollywood, his denture specialist was doing it literally.
Academy Award-winning actor and director Ben Affleck wore a full set of dentures at one point in his career. Eventually, he switched to crowns or implants.
Regardless of the type of dentures you're using, wearing them in your sleep is a bad idea, and will cause you a number of health issues down the line. To keep your mouth bacteria-free, your gums healthy, and your bones unaltered and strong, make sure to remove your dentures every night before going to sleep.
Seniors 65 years and older have an average of 20.7 remaining teeth. Older seniors, Black and Hispanic seniors, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education have fewer remaining teeth.
It's usually best to save healthy natural teeth
When your natural teeth are healthy and won't compromise your oral health, it's usually best to save them. Replacing teeth with a removable appliance—a partial or full denture—has many disadvantages.
Nearly half [47%] of those 65 years and over, who still had some of their own natural teeth, wore dentures.
The short answer is yes, dentures can definitely change the shape of your face. But if you've been missing teeth or dealing with bad, ill-fitting dentures, the change may be for the better.
Dentures can, indeed, alter your face shape. But, the truth is that dentures may change your face shape for the better. It is noteworthy to remember that a custom set of dentures have the competency to restore your face to immaculate proportions and provide you with a more youthful and symmetrical appearance.
Absolutely not! When properly made and fixed, dentures have a very natural appearance.
Dentures put pressure not only on your gums but also on the various boney ridges that are under them. This can cause reabsorption, which will result in a gradual decrease in the bone density and volume in your jaw. Bone loss and the process of reabsorption can happen quickly if dentures are worn 24/7.
Patients who might not be a candidate for dentures are those who do not have enough healthy gum tissue and jawbone structure to support the dentures. If needed, however, these patients can restore the health of the gum tissue and bone structure to secure dentures in place at a later time.
Your dentures will be made to measure.
Dentures take a while to be made: your dentist takes the impressions of your mouth, makes the wax models, and then the dentures are cast and created. You can see more here about how dentures are made.
Adjusting to dentures means that, in time and with some practice, you will be able to speak clearly. At first your voice may sound odd because the sound reaches your ears through vibrations in the bones of the jaw and skull. Wearing dentures changes and increases the sound, but only you will notice this.
One of the reasons people procrastinate getting their teeth removed and replaced with dentures is because they can't stand the thought of being toothless after having all their teeth removed in preparation for dentures. Luckily, this isn't the case, and at no point during the process will you walk around without teeth.
The general rule after having your teeth extracted to get dentures is to wait between three to six months.