Dentures Really Aren’t Just for Seniors

May 11, 2023

Filed under: Uncategorized — drwehrkamp @ 11:33 am
A blurred woman holding a denture in her hand

When you picture denture wearers, you likely imagine seniors. That’s only natural – older adults are those most likely to need new teeth. The odds of tooth loss, you see, increase with age. Still, dentures can help younger adults, too. It’s possible to lose teeth at any age, and these prosthetics have various perks for their wearers. If you’d like to learn more, let your Brandon dentist explain things. Here’s why dentures aren’t just for seniors and why a younger adult might want them.

Why Aren’t Dentures Just for Seniors?

True, the elderly are at higher risk of tooth loss; that’s not in question. However, young people can also suffer from missing teeth. You don’t have to be a senior to lose your pearly whites.

As for why a young adult might lose teeth, various reasons exist. Common ones include the following:

  • Severe tooth decay
  • Acid reflux
  • Gum disease
  • Poor nutrition
  • Teeth grinding
  • Trauma or injury

Given these factors, dentures are substitute teeth for young and old patients. Age doesn’t dictate whether you will or won’t lose your chompers.

Why Get Dentures as a Younger Adult?

Of course, a young adult might wonder why they’d want dentures in the first place. “Maybe,” they might think, “I’m better off without prosthetic teeth.” The truth, though, is that dentures have various perks for young wearers. More specifically, they can:

Boost Your Confidence

No matter your age, gaps in your smile aren’t pleasant-looking. Therefore, tooth loss often lowers your self-confidence and makes you anxious. From there, you may retreat from social settings and become depressed.

Fortunately, dentures restore your full, beautiful smile. The result is that you feel more confident and relaxed. Rather than be self-conscious, you’ll then socialize with ease.

Prevent Tooth Damage

Smile gaps are more than just unseemly; they also put intense pressure on your remaining teeth. Consequently, the pearly whites you still have can suffer from wear, position shifting, and damage. Left unchecked, these effects can force a dentist to remove the affected teeth.

Still, dentures prevent this problem by “filling in” the gaps. Without those nasty spaces, then, your remaining teeth are safer from harm.

Promote Comfort

Compared to the past, today’s dentures aren’t big, bulky, or difficult to wear. Rather, they fit snugly over your gums and don’t cause much (or any) irritation.

Even better, these present dentures are pretty light. It’s to the point that you’ll hardly even notice you’re wearing them!

Ultimately, dentures can help younger adults. So, consider getting some from your local dentist!

About the Practice

Wehrkamp Dentistry is based in Brandon, SD. Led by Drs. Scott Wehrkamp and Mauri Heesch, our practice offers the highest levels of dental care. To that end, we perform custom treatments that span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency services. You can trust us, then, for all your denture-related needs! For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (605)-546-9091.