Charleston dentists Dr. James Dickert and Dr. Agatha Lynn offer treatment options for replacing missing teeth, including dentures and partial dentures.
Dentures are false teeth and traditionally the only option for people missing most or all of their teeth. The traditional option for restoring a functional smile, today’s dentures can offer a natural-looking smile and secure fit with advanced technology and improved materials and techniques. Get the best restorative dental care at West Ashley Family Dentistry today.
About Dentures
Patients that suffer from tooth loss can successfully replace their teeth and surrounding tissue with a denture. They are made in a dental lab with impressions of your mouth to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile. Dentures are considered very durable appliances and will last many years but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.
They also require daily care and maintenance. Since they are not permanent, you will need to remove the artificial teeth daily for care and maintenance and then put them back in. However, they are a quick and affordable way to replace missing teeth.
Types of Dentures
West Ashley Family Dentistry can offer patients with missing teeth all types of dentures, including implant secured options for the most stable result.
- Partial Denture: A dental laboratory will make the partials with either made with a plastic base or metal framework that will support the number of teeth missing. They will stay in place using clasps and rests that will form around the remaining teeth.
- Full Dentures: These are for patients missing an entire arch of teeth. The plastic base of your appliance will be the same color as gum tissue. It will stay in place by forming a seal with your gums.
- Implant Dentures: Implant-supported dentures permanently attach to the jaw using dental implants. An oral surgeon will strategically place the implant fixtures during a surgical procedure. They need about three to six months of healing time. At this time, your dentist will attach the denture giving you a secure and durable new set of teeth. They provide the highest rate of patient satisfaction. Learn more about dental implants vs dentures.
Benefits of Implant-secured Dentures
Dentists use dental implants to effectively and permanently secure a denture or partial denture. This offers far more superior results when compared to traditional techniques and options. The procedure to secure a denture with dental implants is All-On-Four®. It provides several key benefits for both overall health and lifestyle:
- Reduce bone loss and shrinkage in the jaw
- No slipping or fear of teeth “falling out”
- Enables a healthy, varied diet
- Normal speech for confidence in social settings
- No need for the use of daily adhesives
- No one will notice they are there because they look very natural
- Will not take up as much space in your mouth compared to traditional dentures
Dentures FAQs
Are implant-secured dentures permanent?
Yes. They are permanent restorations. You will not be able to remove them even for daily maintenance. Only a dentist can safely remove implant-supported dentures, and will only do so for emergency reasons.
Can I sleep in dentures?
It depends. You can technically sleep with them on, but we recommend removing traditional dentures before going to sleep. They can become a choking hazard if not secured properly. You do not have to worry about removing your implant denture because it is securely fastened to your jaw.
How long do I have to wait to get dentures after a dentists pulls my teeth?
You will usually need to give your mouth time to heal after tooth extractions in order to get new traditional dentures. Most dentists give patients 2 to 4 months of healing time before providing dentures. This will obviously depend on the type of denture, and the status of your oral and overall health.
Do dentures change the shape of your face?
Dentures will not prevent bone loss in the jaw. As the bone slowly deteriorates, your face will begin to sag and change shape. In some cases the way that dentures may change one’s face is positive. For example, in many instances, missing teeth can change the shape of a patient’s face, and when they get dentures it reverses the impact of the missing teeth.
What can you eat with dentures?
Most people eat soft foods for the first week or two after getting their dentures. This gives patients time to adjust to the feel of a new set of teeth. Once you have gotten used to their new teeth most patients are able to return to their regular diet and eat whatever they please. Dentists recommend that patients with dentures are careful while eating, and chew their food entirely.
What materials are dentures made of?
Dental labs will use a variety of materials to make dentures. These include acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, and metal. These materials will help the denture look and function like natural teeth. Porcelain dentures typically are the most sustainable and last the longest. Different materials have different strengths and weaknesses so when deciding what type of dentures to get it is best to ask your dentist what they recommend.
Schedule An Appointment
If you have missing teeth and would like to learn more about our tooth replacement solutions, schedule an appointment in our Charleston dentist office. Contact us at (843) 371-5480 or request an appointment online. Our dental team can help you restore your daily quality of life with a functional smile using dentures.