Dentures 101: A History of Improving Smiles Around the World
While the enhancement of a smile through the use of cosmetic dentures seems like a modern concept, it dates back to the 7th century BC, where Etruscans in northern Italy fashioned dentures from animal and human teeth that were fastened with bands of gold.
By the late 5th century BC, the ancient Romans would adopt the technique and help it to spread throughout the world. Wooden dentures first appeared in Japan in the 1500s. However, they were never used by perhaps the most infamous of all denture patients, George Washington. Contrary to popular belief, our nation’s’ first president wore dentures made from hippopotamus and elephant ivory.
Restoring Glory to Smiles
Regardless of the time period or who was wearing them, the reasons for wearing dentures were almost always the same: to act as a replacement for missing or broken teeth. At Lasting Smiles of Whitehouse Station, we understand the need to replace teeth, regardless if they were lost to extensive decay, injury, trauma, or periodontal disease.
We want our patients to look and feel their best and be confident when they smile, and we offer the expert and professional dental services to accomplish it with our certified oral care specialists.
Types of Dentures
Full, or complete, dentures consist of a customized and molded mouthpiece that fits both the upper and lower sets of teeth. It’s typically used in cases where all natural teeth are missing.
Partial dentures are recommended when only one or a few teeth are missing, to help prevent them from shifting in the gum. They’re ideal for people missing only one type of teeth, such as the back or front teeth.
Fixed dentures are a type of tooth replacement that is permanently attached to the mouth through a surgical procedure, as opposed to removable dentures.
Utilizing dentures to replace missing teeth is an excellent and highly-effective way to improve your outward appearance, restore vibrancy, and remove the stigma occasionally associated with missing or broken teeth. They’ve even been widely adopted by celebrities, TV personalities, and world leaders over the last several decades to perfect their smiles and keep them dazzling and bright.
At Lasting Smiles of Whitehouse Station, we are committed to restoring your smile and improving self-confidence with our cosmetic denture services. To make an appointment for a consultation, call us at (908) 534-4001!