Did you know that your oral health affects your overall health? Damaged or missing teeth can impact your confidence and quality of life. If you are like other people, you may find dentures an unappealing solution to these dental issues. However, a dentist in Thomaston, NY can assure you that dentures can effectively restore your smile and improve your oral health. If you are wondering if you should get dentures, below are signs that can help you decide:
Difficulty Chewing or Consuming Some Foods
You may need to get removable dentures if you have difficulty chewing foods. If you need to avoid some foods because of pain, this could indicate dental deterioration and the need for dentures. Eventually, weakened or missing teeth can make it hard to consume a balanced diet, resulting in health issues like nutritional deficiencies. By wearing dentures, you can chew food comfortably and enjoy a variety of foods.
Serious Tooth Decay or Periodontal Disease
If you have gum disease or advanced tooth decay, you may want to consider partial or full dentures. Unmanaged gum disease or serious tooth decay can result in the need for removal or tooth loss. Sometimes, despite dental intervention, your teeth may not be saved due to too much damage.
Dentures replace missing teeth, protecting the rest of your teeth and letting you maintain your oral health. If you have missing teeth, you can benefit from full dentures. Meanwhile, partial dentures are an option if you still have many healthy teeth.
Several Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, especially in visible areas of your mouth, consider dentures. Smile gaps can impact your speech and confidence, making daily activities harder. Also, missing teeth can result in the surrounding teeth shifting towards the gap, creating misalignment and extra strain on the jaw. Gaps can be filled with partial dentures, which also prevent further complications.
Chronic Tooth Pain
Persistent tooth pain, particularly if it affects several teeth, can indicate that the teeth can’t be repaired. Although treatments such as dental crowns, tooth-colored fillings, or root canals can usually resolve tooth pain, tooth extraction may be necessary in some cases. If you are dealing with tooth pain for a prolonged period, dentures may be a good solution.
Shifting or Loose Teeth
Loose teeth or shifting teeth can be due to advanced gum disease or jawbone loss. Such problems can result in tooth loss. Dentures can restore missing or loose teeth, offering a stable solution. If your dentist determines that you have overly compromised teeth, they will remove them and replace them with dentures.
Facial Structure Changes
Tooth loss impacts your smile and your facial structure. Your teeth support the muscles in your face and jaw structure. When you lose teeth, they can cause your lips and cheeks to sag, causing your face to look older or sunken. Dentures can fill out the facial structure and restore your younger look. Also, they can support your overall oral health. 
Speaking Difficulty
Unstable or missing teeth can make it hard to speak clearly. A lot of people cannot easily pronounce some words or sounds after losing teeth. Dentures can offer the necessary support to improve speech and let you communicate clearly.
If you are currently dealing with any of the following oral health issues above, you may be considering whether to get dentures. Your dentist can help you make the right decision and determine if you can benefit from other restorative options like dental implants. Some factors need to be considered to determine your eligibility for both dentures and implants. But if you need a solution that offers instant results and is affordable, dentures may be the right option for you.
