The Importance of Community Understanding of the Function of Denture As a Substitute for Missing Teeth

The term denture is already familiar, denture is used throughout the world as a substitute for missing teeth. The function of artificial teeth is as a substitute for chewing and appearance (aesthetic). However, in some regions in Indonesia still assume the function of artificial teeth only in terms of improved appearance (aesthetic) only. Even the BPJS program from the government also does not fully cover the costs of making dentures as they should because they consider dentures as an aesthetic treatment not as a substitute for chewing function.

In Indonesia, especially in Bali, public awareness of the importance of maintaining oral health is still quite low and underestimated. New people will visit the dentist if they feel there is a complaint of pain in their teeth or gums, so often the cases that are obtained are quite severe, for example caries to perforation (translucent) into the pulp chamber, root residual teeth, accumulation of tartar so that the teeth become rocking , and much more. Cases that have been classified as late handling as above will lead to the choice of patients to take a tooth extraction because it is due to expensive root canal treatment costs and requires a long time to visit.

The foregoing causes the number of people who lose teeth will increase. If someone loses his teeth then the ability to chew food will decrease. In addition, if the missing teeth are not immediately replaced with artificial teeth, they will cause interference with the next tooth and antagonistic teeth. An example of the disturbance is that the tooth next to it will tilt (tipping) towards the missing tooth, if the missing tooth is in the lower jaw, the antagonistic tooth will go down because there is no opponent when used to chew, tartar arises easily because of self-cleaning teeth will be reduced, and will end with the wobbling of the teeth.

Dentures are divided into two, namely fixed and removable dentures. The most commonly used denture in Indonesia is removable denture with acrylic material, this is because the price is still affordable. This acrylic removable denture when seen in its function can already represent the entire function of the denture, which is as a substitute for chewing and aesthetic functions. Fixed denture is a type of denture that is stuck in the patient's mouth and cannot be removed. The construction of fixed dentures cannot be compared to removable dentures, including from the selection of materials and designs. Acrylic artificial teeth are not suitable for continuous use in the mouth without cleaning, this is because the acrylic material has pores that will absorb the color and the rest of the food chewed in the mouth which over time will cause the color of the acrylic to change. For example acrylic dentures made by dental artisans or dental experts. Often we find acrylic dentures functioned as fixed dentures that cannot be removed. This will cause inflammation of the gums, dental caries and even many cases of malignancy caused by acrylic artificial teeth made in dental artisan cannot be removed. The choice of denture type depends on the type of case experienced by the patient, not all patients can be made fixed dentures. However, along with the development of dentistry technology, it is now possible for dentists to make fixed dentures in toothless patients, namely by using dental implants. Dental implant treatment is still very expensive so it is not affordable by the whole community.

Understanding of oral health and the importance of making dentures in the community is still very low, this is where the role of the dentist is very important. The first thing to do is to increase their understanding by frequently educating the public. It is also inseparable from the government's participation in supporting the dental and oral health program through the BPJS program, which is expected to further develop so that it can fully cover dental and oral health care including the manufacture of dentures.