If you are missing teeth, there are a variety of restorative dental treatments available. To replace one or a few teeth, a dental crown or bridge with one or more implants may be the best solution for you. However, if you are missing all or most of your teeth on your upper and/or lower jaw (arch), dentures are better suited to your needs. These are full rows of replacement teeth. There are multiple options for types of dentures that may work for you. Dr. Smith will go over your specific situation and make tailored recommendations
based on your needs.
Complete dentures replace all of the teeth in one or both arches. If you have some natural teeth remaining, but these are severely damaged or there are too few to support other types of restorations, we will need to extract these first. We use state-of-the-art methods and technology that ensure you are as comfortable as possible during this process.
There are two types of complete dentures:
Immediate – After any tooth extraction, your gums will need time to heal. During this time you will use an immediate denture. These are placed right after your extraction so you do not have to go without teeth while you heal. Since your bones and gums will shift during healing, these are only a temporary solution and will not fit well over time. After 4-6 months, we will fit you for conventional dentures, which are a longer-lasting solution.
Conventional – After your gums heal from extraction, we will take multiple impressions of your jaw to make sure your new dentures fit properly. We work with the best dental labs to ensure your dentures look natural and that you will be confident with your new smile. While it may take a little bit of time for them to feel normal, most patients adjust quickly.
There are two main types of dentures that utilize implants: “all-on-four’ are implant supported and are fixed vs. over-dentures are ‘implant retained’ and are removable.
These are dentures that are attached to dental implants so that they do not move around. Many patients find these feel more natural.
When you lose your teeth, the roots are no longer stimulating your jaw. This leads to bone loss and over time the shape of your jaw and gums will start to change. This means that your face may look different and conventional dentures will need to be replaced every 5-8 years. Having implants stimulates your jaw and helps prevent bone loss. They also last much longer, up to 20 years or more, so you may even save money in the long term compared to the traditional option.
Implants also make it easier to eat and speak naturally. These restorations do not slip around like the removable, conventional variety, so you can confidently chew, laugh, and speak without them moving or falling out.
We know that losing your teeth can have a large impact on your daily life and self-confidence. It is our goal to restore your smile to improve your oral health and appearance. No matter what type of dentures you choose, these restorations allow you to replace your teeth and we will work with you to find the best option for your needs.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss conventional or implant-supported dentures.
