Dentures
If you are missing all or most of your teeth, you already know the toll an incomplete smile can take on the quality of your life. Missing teeth change your appearance and make it difficult to eat, drink, and speak as you normally would.
Thankfully, modern dentistry has several options for restoring a person’s smile. Full and partial dentures are two of the most traditional and popular options for replacing all or most of a person’s missing teeth.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are an option for easily replacing a person’s teeth when they are missing all or most of their teeth on the top arch, bottom arch, or both. Dentures are made from a soft, yet sturdy type of plastic and designed to look natural in the mouth.
A top denture consists of a row of artificial teeth attached to a soft plastic that fits snuggly over the gums and across the hard palate of the roof of the mouth.
A bottom denture has a row of artificial teeth attached to an arch designed to fit snugly over the bottom gums.
Denture Treatment Options at Oakwood Dental
Dentures today offer a variety of treatment options that provide different benefits to patients. These options include:
Full or Partial Dentures
Full dentures span across the entire arches of the mouth and are designed to replace all of a patient’s teeth. A partial denture is designed just to replace several missing teeth.
Traditional, All-On-4, or Implant-Supported Dentures
There are also options when it comes to choosing how your dentures will be fixed in your mouth.
- Traditional dentures are designed to hug the arches of your jawbones and are usually held securely with special denture adhesive.
- All-on-4 dentures are permanently fixed to four dental implants that are strategically placed in the jawbone.
- Implant-supported dentures are supported by strategically placed dental implants, but they can be removed for cleaning and maintenance.
When choosing the type of denture that’s right for you, our dentists can talk with you about your preferences, needs, and costs to help you make the best decision about your treatment options.
What To Expect When Getting Dentures
The process of getting dentures is fairly simple. It becomes more complex if a patient chooses treatment with all-on-4 or implant-supported dentures, as these tooth-replacement options require the patient to undergo the dental implant placement process which is more invasive and can be lengthy.
Consultation
The process of getting dentures begins with a consultation with one of our dentists. During this appointment, we examine the patient’s mouth, take a set of dental x-rays, and talk with the patient about their goals for treatment. If together we decide that dentures are the best option, we can then talk about preparing your mouth for dentures.
Preparation
If you are missing all of your teeth, no real preparation work is needed before fitting you for dentures. However, if you still have a few teeth, these teeth need to be extracted before you can be fitted with a full set of dentures.
Once your mouth is prepared, we can scan your mouth and order a custom-designed set of dentures made specifically for you.
Fitting and Adjustment
When your dentures are ready, we can schedule you for a denture fitting appointment. We have you try on your new dentures at this appointment and tell us how they feel. We can make any necessary adjustments to ensure a secure and comfortable fit.
Ongoing Care
As you wear your dentures, you might need more adjustments in the first couple of weeks and beyond as your mouth, muscle definition, and bone structure can change over time.
Our dentists also provide patients with instructions for caring for their dentures and keeping their gums healthy while wearing them.
Ask Our Dentists in Bucyrus If Dentures Are Right for You
If you think dentures might be the right treatment option for you or if you are interested in learning more about all of your tooth-replacement options, we welcome you to schedule a smile restoration appointment at Oakwood Dental today.