My experience at PLD was truly remarkable… Dr. Sara was extremely skilled, gentle, and professional. I highly recommend.
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Linda T., Bonita Springs, FL
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Ultimately, being a good dentures candidate isn’t too tricky. Most who suffer from tooth loss can qualify for the prosthetics. That said, you should consult with our dentists before you decide anything. They’ll determine whether you’re eligible or not for denture treatment. Even if you aren’t, our office can still help by providing alternative options. (You could also become a candidate later through preliminary dental work.) To learn more, just keep reading or contact us for details.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Before making any treatment decisions, it’s helpful to review tooth loss’s causes and effects. Doing so will help you grasp how dentures improve your oral health.
In essence, someone can lose teeth for a wide range of reasons. A person’s tooth might decay to the point it falls out or needs pulling. Someone else, meanwhile, could get gum disease that wears down the tissues supporting their teeth. You can even lose pearly whites from accidents or injuries.
All that said, the effects of tooth loss are narrow but drastic. An especially notable one is that it makes certain everyday tasks harder – things like eating, speaking, and smiling. On the other hand, the smile gaps left by missing teeth slowly erode your jaw. (This process can trigger a facial collapse.) Those same spaces could also result in your other teeth tilting and falling out.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
As said before, lacking teeth is the main qualifying factor for denture candidates. Still, other noteworthy ones exist as well.
Your overall oral health is such a factor. For example, it needs to be decent for dentures to work; unhealthy gums and jaws can’t support the restorations. On the other hand, decayed or sensitive teeth won’t disqualify you. Dentures are great at replacing such pearly whites.
Meanwhile, the number of missing teeth is also relevant. How many you’ve lost determines the kind of denture you need. If you only lost a few teeth, you’ll likely need a partial type. In contrast, getting a full denture to replace all the teeth along an arch is best.
Finances are yet another worthy consideration. You see, dentures happen to cost less than other tooth replacements. As a result, they’re ideal for patients on small budgets.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Even if you aren’t a good dentures candidate, you still have options. We at Pelican Landing Dental provide several other restoration treatments. The most common of these are the following:
Dental Bridges – Dental bridges are fixed restorations. Made of crowns fused to a pontic, they clasp onto nearby teeth to support themselves. As such, they work best when replacing a few teeth at a time.
Dental Implants – Put simply, dental implants are titanium screws set in your jawbone. They act as replacement tooth roots by slowly fusing with your jaw. (In doing so, they look like natural teeth and don’t slip or fall.) Due to their high quality, though, implants are pricier than other restorations.
Millions of Americans are missing some or all their teeth and therefore require dentures. Pelican Landing Dental offers several different denture treatments. If you would like to learn more about the different types of dentures, read on below to learn more. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact us any time!
Complete/Full Dentures
When you think of dentures, it is likely that you are thinking of complete dentures. A complete denture is used for patients that have lost all their teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. A complete denture is made of a gum-colored hard acrylic base holding either porcelain or acrylic teeth. The result often cannot be distinguished from naturally healthy teeth. Complete dentures are held in place largely by the tissues in the mouth. An upper denture is retained in part by a suction created with the soft tissues of the palate.
Removable Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used when there is just a small number of teeth missing. While variations exist, a partial denture is generally fabricated using a metal framework with a gum-colored acrylic base and prosthetic teeth. Partial dentures are held in place mostly by metal clasps that essentially hook onto existing teeth.
Immediate Dentures
Often patients have teeth that are hopeless and therefore need to be removed and replaced with a denture. Many patients are unable to or unwilling to wait during a healing period after tooth removable and prior to denture delivery where they are missing all their teeth. In these situations, immediate dentures can be created. The fabrication of immediate dentures consists of removal of some of the teeth (often those in the back, preserving the visible teeth) followed by a period of healing. In the meantime, the dentures are fabricated. The custom dentures are then delivered on the same day the front teeth are removed. With this procedure, patients do not spend any period of time without visible teeth.
Overdentures
In some cases, dental implants can be used to assist in the retention of a denture. When an overdenture has been planned, several implants will be placed in the upper or lower jaw. After a period of healing and bone growth between the implants and the jaw, the underside of a denture is altered so that the denture can snap onto the implants. The result is a reduction of slipping, sliding, and dislodgment of the denture.
Hybrid Dentures
Hybrid dentures are an amazing treatment option. A hybrid denture is for the patient without any teeth in one or both of the arches that wants the most stable long-term solution. A hybrid denture has specific attachments designed to screw onto several dental implants.
Hybrid dentures correct many of the deficiencies of the other denture treatments. Because they are fixed, they do not slip, slide, rock, or dislodge. Patients who have obtained hybrid denture treatment report excellent levels of satisfaction.
Today's dentures are nothing like what they were back in the day. At Pelican Landing Dental, we know dentures aren't one-size-fits-all. Creating these prosthetics takes time and attention to detail to ensure they fit perfectly in your unique mouth. By taking some time to learn a bit about the fabrication process, you’ll value your dentures even more!
What Are Dentures Made Of?
Every denture, regardless of its type, is made up of two key materials: one for the gum-colored base and another for the teeth.
Base – This part of the denture provides support to the teeth and allows for the replacement of multiple teeth with a single appliance. Usually crafted from acrylic or resin, the base can be colored to resemble real gum tissue. Full dentures commonly use acrylic for the base due to its close resemblance to natural gums. In partial dentures, metal clasps are often added to enhance stability.
Teeth – The artificial teeth are typically constructed from porcelain or resin. While porcelain is the stronger material and often preferred, both options offer a natural appearance.
The Denture Creation Process
Making dentures begins with a consultation and addressing any preliminary treatments, such as gum disease treatment, tooth extraction, or implant placement. Once these steps are completed, we take impressions of your upper and lower arches, forwarding them to our in-house dental lab. Skilled technicians at the lab create a plaster mold and wax makeup of your mouth, attaching false teeth to the wax dentures using a device called an articulator.
A denture fitting follows, during which the wax dentures are inserted into your mouth. We carefully note any needed adjustments, communicating these changes to the lab. If necessary, additional fitting appointments may be scheduled.
Subsequently, the lab progresses to the next fabrication stage, where the wax is carefully replaced with acrylic. Finally, your dentures undergo a polishing process, giving them a natural sheen. Once polished, they are sent back to us for a final fitting with you.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
While modern dentures aim for comfort and a natural feel, they might feel a bit awkward at first. Going from missing teeth to a complete smile takes some getting used to. Allow your mouth time to adjust, as any initial discomfort is usually temporary. If you find ongoing challenges with your dentures, please inform us. We're here to make additional adjustments and ensure your smile feels as natural and comfortable as possible.
There are several good reasons why dentures continue to be one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. These reliable restorations are easy to take care of and don’t involve a lengthy invasive treatment to get. Plus, with the help of today’s modern dental technology and high-quality materials, dentures are now more natural-looking, strong, and comfortable than ever before.
Denture FAQs
Click on any question below to learn the answer.
QCan Anyone Get Dentures?
Dentures are a classic, reliable restoration that practically any adult with many missing teeth can benefit from. However, oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease can be made worse by dentures if they’re left untreated. So first, we’ll need to make sure that your mouth is healthy before we can begin fitting you with dentures.
In addition to good oral health, patients who are interested in implant dentures (overdentures or hybrid dentures) will also need to be in good general health and have adequate jawbone density.
QWhat’s the Best Type of Denture?
Many people are somewhat surprised to learn that there are so many different types of dentures. It can feel somewhat overwhelming trying to pick which one is best for your unique smile! That’s why if you’re interested in dentures, your first step should be to come visit us for a consultation. We’ll discuss your goals for your smile and fully explain all your options. Then, we’ll help you choose which one will most effectively achieve your desired results while taking into consideration your budget and lifestyle.
QCan I Sleep While Wearing My Dentures?
We understand — no one wants to be caught without their teeth. However, dentures are not meant to be worn all day every day. During your first week or so of wearing dentures, we may recommend that you wear them to sleep in order to help your mouth adjust. After that, it’s important that you take them out at the end of every day and soak them overnight. This mitigates plaque and bacteria buildup on your dentures and encourages healthy gum tissue. On the other hand, implant dentures are a different story. Overdentures will need to be removed every night for cleanings, but you can put them back in when you go to bed. Fixed hybrid dentures can only be removed by a dentist, so you don’t have to worry about taking them out at all!
QWhat Can I Eat With Dentures?
You’ll be able to eat most of your favorite foods with dentures. However, most patients will need an adjustment period while they navigate how to chew with their new teeth. After some time and practice, you should be able to eat normally. Even then, it may take a little bit of patience and adhesive to get used to eating harder or sticky foods. Once again, this isn’t the case with implant dentures. Since these types of restorations are anchored into your jaw, you should be able to eat just like natural right away as soon as you heal from your treatment.