Your oral health is important and there are many different options for people dealing with teeth problems. If you need full or partial dentures to act as tooth replacements, these are known as dental plates. There are many different types of dental plates that you can choose from depending on the type of tooth replacement that you require. Before you learn more about the pros and cons of dental plates, it might be a good idea to start with the basics of what dental plates actually are. Here are the most common types of dental plates.
Removable Dental Plates
Removable dental plates are extremely popular and are often referred to as dentures. Any type of tooth replacement that is designed to be removed is known as a removable dental plate. Dental patients that are not suited for implants or fixed prosthetics are the best candidates for this type of removable dental plate.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are a removable dental plate that is specifically designed to replace all the teeth in the arch. This type of removable dental plate is used when a dental patient is missing all their teeth or all eth teeth are not strong enough to help support a partial denture. Partial dentures are ideal, but full dentures are the alternative when a candidate doesn’t have strong enough teeth to offer support.
Upper Dental Plates and Lower Dental Plates
An upper dental plate is reserved for just your top teeth and has the ability to stay in your mouth without the use of any adhesive. This is not the case with lower dental plates. Lower dentures are very different than upper dentures due to the placement. The lower dental plate can easily be dislodged due to your tongue, cheeks and lips. This means that adhesive must be used when you wear only a lower dental plate.
Dental Plate Care
One aspect of dental plates that you can’t forget about is dental plate care. These plates or dentures are normally supposed to be removed from your mouth each night. This is needed to give your gums a chance to breathe. There are even dental plate cleaning kits that you can use to keep your dental plates clean and healthy for use in your mouth.
The Pros of Dental Plates
Natural Look
One of the biggest positives of dental plates is that they are natural looking. This means that you no longer have to be self-conscious about your smile. You can be confident in your dental plates and know that they will stay in place. If a natural smile is what you want to achieve, dental plates can be a great option for you.
Affordable Option
Other tooth replacement options can be much more expensive and invasive, but dental plates are specifically designed to be the more affordable solution. This means that you can replace multiple missing teeth at an affordable price.
Many Types to Choose From
There are a number of dental plates that you can choose from to make sure that you get the right fit and the option that works best to meet your needs. This might be full dentures or just upper or lower dental plates. With many options to choose from, you are sure to find a type of dental plate that meets your dental needs.
The Cons of Dental Plates
Adjustment Needed
It takes time to get used to having a dental plate in your mouth. You have to give yourself enough time to become more confident in wearing it without worry that it will move or fall out. Some dental patients do not want to deal with the adjustment period that comes with wearing a dental plate.
Plaque Buildup
Just like normal teeth, dental plates can build up with plaque. This means that tooth decay and gum disease are common in people that wear dental plates. You have to maintain excellent oral health and clean your dental plates regularly to avoid plaque build-up.
Trauma to Your Mouth
A big con associated with dental plates is the trauma that is caused to surrounding teeth and the pressure that is put on your gums and jaw. Some people can’t deal with the discomfort that they experience as a result. This makes the dental plates almost unwearable.
Bone Loss
Bone loss is another major concern when people wear dental plates. The sites of missing teeth will often experience bone loss over time as a result of the dental plate. This can often impact the adjacent teeth.
Dental Plate Care
Having to remove dental plates each night can be a major pain for many. Some dental patents would rather have a dental replacement that is not removable and doesn’t require extra care.