What oral problems can full denture restoration improve?

　　Full denture restoration is an important treatment method for patients with complete tooth loss to restore function and aesthetics. With the acceleration of the aging society and the enhancement of people's awareness of oral health, full denture restoration is not only a way to restore basic chewing function, but also regarded as a key means to improve the quality of life, enhance self-confidence, and promote overall health. This article will elaborate on the definition of full dentures, restoration indications, functional improvement, aesthetic effects, psychological impact and future development directions , and systematically analyze the oral problems that can be improved by full denture restoration.

　　1. Overview of complete denture restoration

　　Complete dentures , also known as full-mouth dentures, are removable prostheses used to repair the patient's complete tooth loss in the upper and lower jaws. The core of its design is to reconstruct the dentition morphology and occlusal function through bases and artificial teeth, and rely on oral mucosa and bone tissue to provide support and retention. Compared with implant dentures, complete dentures have the advantages of lower cost, wide range of applications, and no reliance on alveolar bone conditions. They are especially suitable for elderly people who do not have implant conditions or are financially limited.

　　2. Indications and repair indications

　　The main indications for complete dentures include:

　　　　Those who have lost all teeth in the upper and lower jaws

　　　　Those with good alveolar ridge conditions and no severe soft tissue diseases

　　　　Patients who cannot afford the implant surgery or implant costs

　　　　Patients who need to quickly restore chewing function and facial support

　　Before determining the restoration plan, it is necessary to evaluate the patient's oral soft and hard tissue conditions, neuropsychiatric status, and adaptability to dentures to ensure that the restoration is stable and comfortable.

　　3. Analysis of Functional Improvement Effect

　　1. Restoring chewing function

　　Tooth loss directly leads to a decrease in the ability to grind food , especially the limited intake of solid and high-fiber foods, which affects nutrient absorption. Complete dentures can significantly improve patients' chewing efficiency by rationally designing the cusp ridges, occlusal surfaces and arrangement forms, and rebuilding the chewing contact relationship.

　　2. Improve pronunciation

　　Teeth play the role of articulation fulcrum in pronunciation . For example, the upper front teeth assist the airflow to pass through the lips and teeth to form clear syllables when pronouncing the "f" and "v" sounds. Full dentures can help patients improve pronunciation clarity and communication skills by restoring the dentition morphology and coordinating the space between the lips and tongue.

　　3. Restoring swallowing and occlusion coordination

　　Missing teeth often cause tongue position disorders and swallowing difficulties. The reconstructive function of complete dentures helps patients restore the tongue movement trajectory , make swallowing movements smooth, and reduce the risk of aspiration and swallowing disorders.

　　4. Preventing increased alveolar bone resorption

　　Although dentures cannot completely prevent alveolar ridge atrophy, a properly designed denture base can disperse chewing pressure to a certain extent, slow down bone absorption , and maintain the stability of oral tissue.

　　4. Aesthetic Effect and Facial Support

　　Tooth loss often causes facial aging, such as shortening of the vertical distance of the lower 1/3 of the face, sunken lips, and deepening of nasolabial folds . Full dentures can restore the support of the lips and cheeks through artificial tooth arrangement, increase the tension in the mid-face, thereby improving facial contours and delaying the aging of appearance .

　　In addition, the color and shape of dentures can be customized according to the individual needs of the patient, making the patient's appearance more natural and beautiful, and effectively improving their self-image and social confidence.

　　5. Improvement of psychological and social functions

　　Tooth loss is not only a loss of function, but also the source of social communication disorders. Full dentures can restore the patient's external image by reconstructing the dentition, and improve social participation and willingness to express language . Studies have shown that elderly patients who receive full denture restorations have significantly reduced depression scores, significantly improved mental state and life satisfaction , and can significantly reduce loneliness and social phobia.

　　VI. Possible Challenges and Strategies

　　Although complete dentures can bring many improvements, their use still faces the following challenges:

　　　　Denture retention is insufficient and easy to dislocate or slide

　　　　Chewing efficiency is still inferior to natural teeth

　　　　Strong foreign body sensation in the mouth, long adaptation period

To this end, the accuracy of preliminary impressions, bite records and edge sealing　　should be strengthened during the denture production process , and mucosal adjustment, functional training and psychological guidance should be used after surgery to improve patients' adaptability and wearing comfort.