Quality dentures bring better living
Even the most experienced denture wearers can have difficulty if the dentures are not made to the highest standards with the right fit and function.
Old or ill-fitting dentures can slide around in the mouth and create multiple problems such as discomfort, pain or even permanent bone changes.
Unaesthetic and poorly functioning dentures can be detrimental to an individual’s health in more ways than people realise.
Merivale Denture Clinic owner Thomas Gu knows all about the damage poorly functioning dentures can cause from his extensive skill and experience working at the University of Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry in Dunedin.
Thomas says from his experience and backed up by numerous studies conducted by institutions around the world, ‘‘an unaesthetic and poorly functioning denture can cause multiple health problems which could affect physical health as well as mental and psychological well-being’’.
‘‘If these problems go unaddressed, it may even lead to depression due to the poor quality of life,’’ he says.
‘‘If the dentures don’t work well, you can’t eat properly. As a result the patients tend to favour a particular type of food, such as soft foods, which are easier to handle. Besides not being able to enjoy the food, this can severely limit the patient’s ability to obtain a balanced diet, which can adversely affect an individual’s health.
‘‘Also it is important to note the inability to chew properly and break up the food within the mouth before swallowing significantly compromises our body’s ability to absorb nutrition. Ingesting improperly ground-up food makes our stomach do that much more work, which overworks and stresses our internal organs.’’
This is especially important as a good, balanced diet and adequate nutritional intake is imperative to successfully manage certain medical conditions, and can help make medications work better.
Thomas also emphasises the significant role dentures play with regard to an individual’s mental health and psychological well-being.
‘‘While treating people from the special care unit, I’ve come to realise how important a role dentures play in terms of the patient’s mental health,’’ he says.
‘‘Besides the functional aspect of dentures affecting physical health, having loose dentures can cause constant stress on a daily basis, as the patients are having to worry every time they’re eating, talking and smiling, especially in someone else’s presence.’’
This greatly affects their psychological well-being as they cannot simply enjoy the company of their loved ones like friends or family without the constant stress or fear of the dentures falling out and causing embarrassment.
Natural, well-fitting and goodfunctioning dentures can provide a huge confidence boost when meeting and interacting with people, and in being able to simply enjoy life, Thomas says.
A well-made customised denture can greatly improve your ability to eat, talk and smile comfortably and with confidence, which can help your physical health as well as mental and psychological well-being, and ultimately greatly enhance your quality of life.
At Merivale Denture Clinic, Thomas’s highly specialised expertise, skills and experience are combined with the latest technology to provide patients with the most natural looking dentures of the highest quality, fit and function, unique to each individual.
The clinic provides dentures only of the highest craftsmanship, designed and customised to your specific measurements, just for you.
For more information, contact Merivale Denture Clinic on
03 355 4704 or email reception@merivaledenture clinic.co.nz. The clinic is located at
206B Papanui Rd, Merivale.