Dentures
It’s a life-like replacement to teeth lost due to gum disease, decay, or injury and can help the patient regain a normal life. When a large group of teeth or whole mouth needs to be replaced at once, dentures are usually what is used. Many of us have memories of an older relative, or friend, with dentures. In the post they have been obviously fake, uncomfortable and difficult to keep in place. In combination with dental implants, today’s dentures allow patients to bite and chew normally and make an excellent replacement.
Benefits
Loss of teeth can make eating difficult, often leading to nutritional deficiencies. With properly crafted dentures, patients are able to bite and chew normally, allowing them to eat most foods without difficulty.
In addition to discomfort and health concerns, missing teeth change the appearance, often dramatically. Sagging facial muscles and jaw realignment can happen when there are missing teeth and can make you look much older. Dentures fill the space of your natural teeth, repositioning the jaw and supporting the facial muscles for an improved, natural appearance that restores patient confidence.
The Process
First, we look to see if any of your natural teeth are strong and healthy and can be saved. These may be used as anchors. Another option is for dental implants to be put in place to hold your dentures. Any teeth that need to be removed are extracted and the dentures are custom fitted to your jaw line. We use a process that allows you to walk out with your dentures in place the same day your remaining teeth are removed.
Over time, your jaw line will likely change some, due to the missing teeth. If this causes your denture to not fit well or be uncomfortable, changes can be made to realign the denture. It is important that you contact us in these cases as soon as possible so that corrections can be made. Waiting will make the problem worse and more difficult to fix.
Denture Care
Denture patients follow a similar health regimen to patients with natural teeth. The mouth still requires stimulation and brushing the gums and roof of the mouth can help to keep good blood circulation and remove plaque, which can cause infection. The dentures themselves must be brushed, just like your natural teeth to remove particles and keep stains from developing. Specialized products will be recommended to help you keep your dentures clean and in good working order.
