Dentures

Main Kinds of Dentures

Your cosmetic dentist will have a range of options for dentures. These are:

Partial Dentures

Your dentist will recommend partial dentures if you only miss some or a few natural teeth. Partial dentures are removable teeth replacements that attach to a pink plastic base resembling your gums. It is made of metal or acrylic material that fastens the appliance in the mouth by sitting on the gums and underlying jawbone.

Some partial dentures use internal attachments rather than clasps to hook on the remaining healthy teeth for stability and an improved natural appearance.

Partial dentures prevent the remaining healthy teeth from shifting towards the open socket, preventing alignment problems and enhancing your smile.

Full Dentures

Otherwise called complete dentures, full dentures replace missing teeth where none remain in an arch. Complete dentures sit on the mouth’s roof when replacing an entire arch in the upper jaw and rest on the lower jawbone ridge or margin to replace a full arch in the lower jaw. Your dentist then utilizes an exceptional suction or denture adhesive to retain the appliances in place.

Complete dentures are categorized into immediate and conventional. Immediate dentures are fabricated in advance before the removal of the remaining damaged teeth. Once the remaining damaged teeth are extracted, the dentist attaches the immediate complete dentures to prevent staying without teeth during the recovery. On the other hand, conventional complete dentures are attached twelve weeks after the extraction to let the gums heal. The dentures are only made after the extraction.

Conventional dentures are more advantageous than the immediate ones because when dentures are placed, the gums have healed and the bone has shrunk. Therefore, once they are placed, no adjustments are required. However, with the immediate full dentures, you will need adjustments after the placement because they are placed before the healing and shrinking of the bone. Besides, they are made before the procedure, so you miss the chance to try them. Typically, the dentist treats them as temporary restorations as you await the permanent ones.

Nevertheless, immediate dentures are beneficial because they help you avoid being toothless during recovery. Besides, they help manage inflammation and bleeding after extraction as they are fixed immediately. As you await the permanent solution, the immediate full dentures help your soft tissue adapt to the future teeth.

Denture Alternatives

Are there substitutes for dentures? Yes. You can rely on dental implants to anchor prosthetic teeth that replace missing natural teeth. These function and feel like original teeth, but you must dig deeper into your pockets than with dentures.

Also, you can support your dentures using dental implants. Implants are metal posts or screws that the dental surgeon surgically implants into the jawbone to act as artificial teeth and replacements for the missing tooth roots.

Once the post integrates with the jawbone through osseointegration, you will be ready to place dentures.  Your dentist will evaluate the condition of your jawbone and decide if it is strong enough for an implant. If it is, you can opt for an implant-retained or implant-anchored denture.

The implant-retained dentures can be removed when going to bed or cleaning. Also, they provide more stability than the conventional ones, which only rest above the jawbone and are not as stable. The fact that they are detachable and not cemented to the mouth has earned them the name snap-in dentures.

Implant-anchored dentures are artificial teeth that rely on dental implants to support dentures. These dentures are supported by implants that are attached to the jawbone through surgery. You can go for the non-removable option of snap-on, depending on your preference and dental needs. These dental solutions are suitable when you need a more permanent dental solution for lost teeth. They are comfortable and provide stability when chewing. Nevertheless, you should observe good oral hygiene, like flossing under the dentures, because they are not detachable. 

Materials Utilized to Make Dentures

When interested in dentures, discuss the available material with your dental expert, as the material choice dictates the price and durability of the treatment.

Acrylic resin is one of the materials used to fabricate the prosthetic teeth and base, which resemble the look of pearly white enamel and pink gums. The material choice offers affordability, comfort, and easy bonding. However, they stain and wear easily, have tiny holes that accumulate debris, and act as breeding grounds for bacteria.

If you want a natural smile appearance, you can opt for porcelain-made dentures, particularly when replacing anterior teeth visible through the mouth. However, the material is abrasive, so your dentist could discourage you from choosing this material for partial dentures that contact the teeth when chewing. Porcelain is advantageous because it matches the color of your original teeth, does not easily stain, is durable, and is compatible with the soft tissue. However, porcelain is expensive, susceptible to hot and cold substances, and cannot be repaired when cracked.

Before fabrication begins, ensure that you discuss material options for fabricating dentures to ensure that your choice satisfies your cosmetic needs and is within your budget and timelines.

Initial Consultation for a Denture Procedure

In your first consultation with your advanced cosmetic dentistry service, the dentist will review your suitability for the procedure. They will thoroughly examine your gums and remaining teeth for infections and decay. If the remaining teeth are damaged beyond repair, you will undergo an extraction procedure before the dentures. Additionally, they will examine the jawbone using dental X-rays to determine its thickness. Besides, you could require dental surgery if you have a bony ridge that could interfere with the denture resting on the bone, causing instability.

Once the dentist establishes that you are a candidate for the appliances, you should discuss your options depending on your oral needs and expectations. The factors to consider when choosing a denture are:

• The number of missing teeth
• The duration you have been without teeth
• Whether you want detachable or nondetachable dentures
• The thickness and mass of your jawbone
• The connection between the upper and lower jaws
• Your preferences and expectations

After determining you are an eligible candidate, the dentist will take a mold of your gums to identify bone ridges and crevices that could hinder the proper resting of the dentures.

If you undergo an extraction, your dentist will place immediate dentures to prevent you from remaining toothless during healing. Immediate dentures rely on shades and impression charts in the dental clinic, depending on your preference. Your dentist should guide you in picking the right mold and shade based on your jaw measurements, facial structure, and preference.

Denture Fabrication

Fabrication of dentures involves several steps. First, the dentist makes two impressions of your upper and lower jaws, including teeth and gums. One impression is for the preliminary examination, and the other is for the final placement.

The dentist will then send the measures or impressions to the dental lab for modeling or fabrication. The lab technician makes a stone replica of your mouth, which is fabricated to make the final denture.

The lab technician then creates a wax model that replicates the intended position and structure of the final denture. You will try on these models multiple times to find the best positions for the prosthetic teeth on the denture. The next step is to build the base, or foot, of the denture and polish it to give it a natural tooth look.

Fitting the Final Denture

You will come for another visit to your dental clinic, where the dentist will fit the denture to determine if it fits perfectly.

Adapting the Dentures

You may experience discomfort with the dentures in your mouth for the first few weeks, as your tongue and cheek muscles adjust to the new appliance. Also, you will experience increased salivation, soreness, and some irritation. However, with time, you will get used to the dentures, and the dental problems will fade away.

Dentures mimic the appearance of your natural teeth. So, you will achieve the results you expected by improving your smile and confidence. Onlookers will hardly notice you are wearing dentures, boosting your confidence further.

You could experience discomfort while eating after the denture installation. It will take time before you regain your everyday eating habits. However, before you adapt, you can reduce the pain by eating soft foods or cutting food into smaller pieces for easy chewing and swallowing. Chew slowly with both sides of the mouth to prevent straining one side of the prosthetic teeth. You can gradually incorporate your usual diet as you adapt to the appliances.

Steer clear of sticky and hard foods. Besides, avoid all oral habits that will easily wear the dentures.

Avoid coffee because it stains the teeth and can hinder salivation, causing a dry mouth. Saliva acts as a lubricant and prevents friction between the denture and the gum. With a dry mouth, you could develop complications like sores due to the friction.

Do not bite with the anterior teeth, as it could cause the denture to move, leading to gum irritation.

If you have struggled with poor oral hygiene, it’s important to improve your habits after receiving dentures. If you keep up with poor hygiene, you are at heightened risk of suffering severe oral issues related to poor hygiene, like periodontitis, fungal infections, and leukoplakia.

You can brush the gingival tissue, tongue, and roof of the mouth, also called the palate, after removing your dentures. However, you must use a toothbrush with soft bristles. You must clean up again before putting back the dentures. Regular cleaning prevents plaque and calculus from building up in the mouth, decreasing the risk of various oral concerns.

Do not forget to brush your dentures too, because, like natural teeth, they trap food particles during eating. After brushing them, you should soak them in a cleansing liquid suggested by your dentist. Dentures are prone to breakage, so when cleaning, place a towel below them or fill a sink so that if they fall, they will not break.

You should visit your dentist 24 hours after the installation, although some of the symptoms you will be experiencing, like sensitivity and discomfort, are normal.

Dentures will affect your speech before you adapt to them. So, after the installation, you will have challenges pronouncing some words you previously pronounced easily. It takes two weeks to regain your speech, although it can happen even earlier if you practice reading or saying the words loudly.

Dentures can feel loose in the first few weeks. If they slide while laughing or chewing, bite them gently and then swallow for repositioning. If the swallowing or speech issues persist, you should schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist. Poorly fitting dentures are prone to cracking, chipping, or fracturing, so talk to your dentist for readjustment.

Dentists encourage patients to wear dentures for 24 hours in the first few days after the installation, meaning you will be forced to sleep with them. Doing so helps the dentist identify flaws like ridge contours, preventing the dentures from resting properly on the gums. Once the problems are identified and the necessary adjustments made, you can remove the dentures when going to bed. Doing so enables the gum tissue to rest and allows saliva to cleanse the tongue and gums. When you wake up in the morning, clean the gums and tongue before putting the dentures on.

If your dentures fit correctly, you will not require denture adhesives. Adhesives improve stability and prevent dry mouth. However, they are unsuitable for everyone, so consult your dentist before applying a denture adhesive.

Denture Replacement

Age-related changes in the facial structure and the standard wear and tear of the dentures will necessitate you seeking a replacement, rebasing, or relining. Usually, dentures can last between seven and ten years. Therefore, depending on how you maintain them, you must replace them for optimal function after seven or ten years. There are several ways you can tell that your dentures require replacement.

First, if they start fitting poorly after several years, it could mean that your prosthetic teeth have loosened after the shrinking of the bone. Also, failure to wear the dentures properly could cause them to become too tight to fit in the mouth.

Dentures have a base where the dental technician attaches or positions the artificial teeth. Therefore, when the base breaks during cleaning, the teeth will not have a solid foundation and will not function optimally. Depending on the damage, your cosmetic dentist will examine them and recommend replacement or repairs.

Your prosthetic teeth could break due to impact or excessive pressure. Just like natural teeth, when you have missing or broken artificial teeth, you will feel conscious of your smile. The dental expert will recommend denture replacement to restore confidence and a beautiful smile.

Also, despite observing proper oral hygiene, your dentures could stain over time because of debris trapped in the cracks. When tartar and plaque build up in the dentures, you could develop foul mouth odor and, with time, gum disease. Therefore, if after observing good oral hygiene, your breath still smells or the artificial teeth are stained, it could mean the treatment has a defect, and it is time to replace it.

Dentures are not real teeth, so you will not feel pain when the prosthetic teeth have issues. Dentures should rest comfortably in the mouth. However, when you start to experience discomfort or irritation in the gums, it could mean your denture is faulty and should be checked for repairs or replacement.

Cost of Dentures

The price of dentures ranges from $400 to $8,000, depending on the material choice, modeling time, and the dentist’s experience. Other factors that affect price are:

• The dentist’s location
• Complementary procedures are required, like the extraction of remaining teeth
• Use of a prosthodontist in denture modeling
• Available warrant

Speak to your dentist to understand the cost of treatment and any payment plans available that could help make the treatment affordable.

Find a Competent Cosmetic Dentistry Service Near Me

Missing teeth adversely impact your routine, making simple activities like eating or speaking problematic. Also, you become conscious of your smile, which dents your self-confidence and happiness. Thankfully, replacing the missing teeth can improve your appearance and overall oral health. At Calabasas Smiles Advanced Dentistry, we utilize modern techniques like dentures to recreate smiles and restore regular teeth functionality. Call us today at 818-878-7300 to understand dentures and their alternatives.