Dentures, also known as false teeth, are removable teeth which are made from plastic, nylon, or metal.
A partial or complete dentureAn artificial substitute for natural teeth and adjacent tissues. set fits tight over your gum in functions as a replacement for a missing tooth, a denture also prevents potential problems that may arise from there being a gap in your teeth.
If there’s a gap in your teeth, it can lead to speech and eating problems, and it can also cause teeth at either side of the opening to shift into the shape at an angle, making your teeth crooked.
It’s important to note the difference between the types of dentures available through the NHS before getting into whether or not they cover them.
The difference between the types of dentures
There are two types of dentures available through NHS: Partial dentures and Complete dentures.
Complete dentures are a full set and replace all your upper and lower teeth. Whereas partial dentures only replace one or a few missing teeth.
With dentures, there are also upper and lower dentures. Upper dentures cover the roof of your mouth and your upper set of teeth, whilst lower dentures are horseshoe-shaped and fit to your bottom gum without restricting tongue use.
Read more about what dentures are.
How much do dentures cost on the NHS?
The NHS state that dentures come under a band 3 treatment plan. Band 3 includes dentures, crowns, and bridges, as well as everything that comes under band 1 and 2.
How do you care for dentures?
Once you get your dentures, they may feel strange in your mouth because they’re a foreign object, however, you soon get used to the feeling.
One of the most important things to do when you own dentures is to make sure that you take care of them.
You can take care of your dentures by doing the following:
● When not wearing dentures, keep them moist so that they don’t lose their shape.
● Clean your dentures twice a day in the morning and at night because unclean dentures can lead to oral issues such as bad breath, tooth decayThe lay term for carious lesions in a tooth; decomposition of tooth structure., gum disease, or oral thrush.
● When you first get dentures, ease yourself into a regular diet by starting off with eating soft foods that have been cut into small pieces.