Teeth may be lost as we age, cracking or chip more readily. Deep decay adds to the problem.
Severe gum disease may cause the loss of tooth bone support and lead to tooth loss. If teeth are badly affected by wear, trauma, decay or gum disease your dentist may suggest extraction as the best treatment option.
Even at a relatively young age, some people have extensive loss of teeth. When many teeth are lost or extracted, a denture may be fitted to maintain normal chewing, bite (occlusion), speech and the appearance of the upper and lower jaw.
Millions of people worldwide wear dentures and with today’s technology, they look more natural and fit better than ever before. For many people, dentures vastly improve their oral health and appearance.
A denture is called a prosthesis, and the fitting of a denture is called denture prosthodontics; you may hear your dentist use these terms.