Many people have missing teeth, but you don't have to be one of them. With dentures, you can get back a healthy-looking smile and functionality. If you are tired of struggling with missing teeth, check out these six must-know denture facts.

There Are Immediate Dentures

Conventional dentures are crafted after your teeth are pulled and the area has healed to create a better fit, but this means you have to go without teeth for a few weeks. Immediate dentures are crafted before your teeth are pulled, and you can wear them immediately. Immediate dentures, however, won't fit for long. As your jaw heals, the immediate dentures will become too big, causing them to slip and move more than normal. This is why many people choose to have immediate dentures as a temporary solution while their conventional dentures are crafted.

Dentures Don't Protect Your Jawbone

Your jawbone and teeth have a symbiotic relationship. Your jawbone supports your teeth, and your teeth stimulate the jawbone. Without teeth to support, however, the jawbone diminishes. Getting dentures may give you back a beautiful smile, but dentures don't prevent your jawbone from shrinking. Whether you get immediate dentures or conventional dentures, this shrinking affects how well they fit, but the effects go further. Overtime, this affects the entire shape of the lower portion of your face. Your nose and chin become closer together as your chin rotates forward and upward.

Relines Can Help Your Dentures Fit Better

Relines are a way to thicken and reshape the inside of the denture, so they fit better. They are used on both types of dentures, and they can be made from a soft or hard material. Softer relines are more comfortable, but they aren't as durable as the harder relines. The procedure can be done in the dentist's office or in a laboratory. In-office relines are much faster, but they aren't as durable as ones made in the laboratory.

There Is an Adjustment Period

Whether you get conventional or immediate dentures, you can't skip the adjustment period. During this time, you aren't just readjusting to having teeth in your mouth. You are adjusting to having dentures, which take a little finesse to use. During this adjustment period, your dentures are more likely to move and slip when you talk, eat or laugh. Your speech may sound slurred, and foods may have a plastic-like taste to them. To correct these problems, try talking slowly, and cut your foot into smaller pieces when you eat, so you don't have to take big bites.

You'll Have to Make Changes to Your Diet

At first, eating may seem impossible, and you'll want to stick to softer foods as your mouth learns how to use the dentures to properly eat. Eventually, you can start eating harder foods again, but there are some foods that you should probably just give up because they are too complicated to eat. This includes sticky foods, such as caramel, and foods that you have to bite hard with your front teeth, such as corn on the cob. Both types of food put too much strain on the dentures, making them more likely to fall out or move.

Implant-Supported Dentures Are Another Option

Implant-supported dentures are a great alternative. They are non-removable, so they won't move or slip. Plus, because the implants sit in your jawbone, they stimulate it, preventing it from shrinking and changing the shape of your face. Implant-supported dentures are more durable and may even last you the rest of your life. Unfortunately, their high price make them unattainable for many people. On average, a complete set of implant-supported dentures costs about $34,000.

Stop putting off dentures another second. Whether you choose traditional dentures or implant-supported dentures, you can get a beautiful smile. For more information about dentures, contact a dentist in your area today.