Dentures Vs Braces: What’s the Difference?

While the end goal is the same- to get a beautiful smile, dentures and braces serve different purposes. Braces are used to straighten your misaligned teeth, whereas dentures are used by elderly people after they lose their natural teeth and find it difficult to speak and chew.

Still confused between the two? In this article, we will discuss dentures and braces in detail so that you understand the key difference between them which will then help you choose a treatment that is most suitable for your dental situation.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are often made from acrylic, resin, nylon, metal and porcelain. They are oral appliances fitted into your upper jaw and lower jaw which are removable. Dentures are used as a replacement for your natural teeth. They resemble your natural teeth and help to improve your smile and facial appearance, especially in old age.

Types of Dentures

There are two primary types of dentures available today that you must know.

Partial Dentures

If you have one or more natural teeth in your upper or lower jaw, instead of a full denture your dentist might recommend you go for partial dentures. Note that a partial denture not only helps to replace the missing teeth but it also ensures that your natural teeth don’t shift and remain in their position. Just like your full dentures, partial dentures require you to have good gum and jaw support. Partial dentures are often also hooked to your remaining natural teeth with a special clasp. This gives additional stability to your dentures and prevents them from slipping off while you eat, chew and speak.

Full Dentures

A full denture or a complete denture like the name suggests replaces the entire arch of your teeth in the upper or the lower jaw or both. They come with natural-looking teeth and have a gum base and you might have to use denture adhesive to keep them intact in your mouth. Most dentists recommend people remove their dentures at night to give their gums and jaw rest.

Dentures Vs Braces: Pros and Cons

Dentures

Pros

• They enhance your smile
• They are permanent and last you for a long time.
• They are a great option for people who want artificial teeth to fill gaps in their gums or who have no teeth.
• They don’t require many visits to your local dentists.
• They are low-maintenance.

Cons

• They cannot straighten your teeth.
• You might require a long adjustment period to get used to speaking and eating with dentures.
• Cleaning and maintaining your removable dentures can get messy and frustrating.

Braces

Pros

• They can straighten your crooked teeth.
• Braces have a short-term treatment period and you can get rid of them in 12-18 months, depending on the severity of your teeth concerns.
• They improve your self-esteem and boost your self-confidence.

Cons

• They require a lot of follow-up appointments.
• Note that teeth braces require a lot of ongoing maintenance.
• They are very noticeable and can ruin your smile.

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FAQs:

What are the disadvantages of dentures?

Some of the major disadvantages of dentures are that you can’t wear them overnight, they often slip and hamper your eating and speaking abilities and cleaning them is a taxing affair.

What is the best age to get dentures?

Typically, people get dentures after the age of 40 when they start falling prey to severe oral issues like periodontal diseases and tooth loss.

Is it healthier to have dentures?

Dentures help to improve your ability to eat a variety of food items in old age, boost your self-esteem and enhance your teeth’s appearance.

Which one is more comfortable - braces or dentures?

Dentures are designed to be worn for many years and hence people often find wearing dentures more comfortable than teeth braces.

Which one requires more maintenance- dentures or braces?

Dentures are low maintenance in comparison to braces. You must remove your dentures at night before going to bed and soak and clean them regularly with a denture cleaning solution as instructed by your dentists.