Dentures: An Excellent Option to Replace Missing Teeth

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth. Depending on the nature of your tooth loss, they can be an excellent option to replace your missing teeth so that you have a beautiful smile and a functional set of teeth.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are used when you need to replace an entire set of upper or lower teeth. You have two options with complete dentures – conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures are made after all of your teeth have been removed and gum tissue has properly healed. It generally takes approximately 8-12 weeks for your mouth to heal properly before you can receive your conventional dentures.

Immediate dentures can be placed in your mouth as soon as your teeth are removed. The benefit of immediate dentures is that you do not have to be toothless during the healing period. However, due to the shrinkage of bones and gums following tooth extractions, immediate dentures require more adjustments to fit properly. In general, you should only consider them as a temporary remedy while your conventional dentures are being created.

Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are used when one or more of your natural teeth will remain intact. A partial denture provides you with replacement teeth that get attached to a gum-colored plastic base, which will be held in place by metal framework.

Your cosmetic dentist will insert a fixed (permanent) bridge which contains dental crowns on either side of the space where you are missing teeth. This dental bridge gets cemented into place, preventing adjacent teeth from changing position due to the gaps created by your tooth loss. Your partial dentures get attached to the adjacent crowns, providing you with a more natural-looking and removable solution to your tooth loss issues.

Alternatives to Dentures

Dental implants can be an effective alternative to dentures in certain situations. They are frequently used to support permanently cemented bridges so that you will not need a denture. Dental implants more closely resemble the look and feel of your natural teeth. However, they are also much more expensive than dentures, so if cost is a consideration for you, dentures may be a better alternative.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for dental implants. At your initial consultation, your cosmetic dentist will recommend the best option based on your specific oral health issues.