Thanks to advances in dental materials, technology, and methods of care, it’s easier than ever before to replacemissing teeth with the most natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing treatment outcomes. Whiledental implants andfixed bridgework provide effective and satisfying solutions for missing teeth,removable dentures remain a tried andtrue method for reestablishing a complete smile.
At the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care, we fabricate dentures from the highest grade of dental materials for a preciseand comfortable fit. Our dentures are meticulously designed to rebuild beautiful smiles and support natural facialcontours while enabling patients to speak, smile, and chew with renewed confidence and ease.
We’re dedicated to helping patients to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful smile and take pride in offeringpersonalized solutions to address their dental needs, lifestyle, and budget.
How missing teeth affect your smile, your health, and your outlook
According to recent statistics, it’s estimated that across the country, over 175 million adults have lost at leastone tooth, and close to 40 million are missing all of their teeth. In most of these cases, tooth loss is the endresult of extensive dental decay, advanced gum disease, a traumatic injury, a congenital anomaly, or associated witha medical condition.
In addition to the psychological and social consequences having embarrassing gaps in your smile often produce,missing teeth can affect your ability to speak clearly and eat a satisfying and nutritious diet. Left unaddressed,missing teeth can also cause gradual changes to your appearance and the alignment of your remaining teeth. Thesechanges not only affect your bite, but they have the potential to create more unsightly and unhealthy gaps in yoursmile. Furthermore, without the support of a complete set of teeth, facial contours may also begin to look moresagged and haggard over time.
While it’s never too late to rebuild a complete and beautiful smile, it’s always best to replace missing teethsooner than later. Both partial and full dentures from the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care offer an effective andsatisfying solution for reestablishing a complete smile.
What are dentures?
Dentures are removable appliances that are designed to precisely and comfortably rest on top of the gums that coverthe jawbones. They consist of natural-looking artificial teeth set in a supportive base. In addition to offering acost-effective solution for the replacement of missing teeth, dentures are quite versatile. They can be used toreplace either a few teeth that have been lost or all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaws.
While conventional bridgework and dentalimplants offer fixed solutions for rebuilding complete smiles, partial andfull dentures are removable oral appliances. This statement means it’s possible to take dentures out of the mouth toclean and maintain the health of the underlying tissues and any remaining teeth, as well as clean the denturesthemselves, or remove them while sleeping.
Types of Dentures
You can rest assured that rebuilding your smile is in the best of hands at the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care. Asskilled and experienced providers of care, we’ll carefully evaluate all aspects of your smile, the health andintegrity of any remaining teeth, along with the surrounding tissues and the supporting bone to develop a treatmentplan that satisfies the functional and aesthetic requirements of your case.
The two main types of removable dentures are full dentures and partial dentures. Which of these types offers thebest solution for your smile depends on how many natural teeth are still present in your mouth and the health ofthese remaining teeth. While a partial denture can offer an effective solution in cases where some sturdy naturalteeth remain, you may be a candidate for a complete denture when all the upper or lower teeth are missing or requireextraction.
Full Dentures
Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, can effectively replace all the upper teeth, lower teeth, or boththe upper and lower teeth. As with other types of dental solutions, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for everycase. The ultimate design, fabrication, and insertion of a full denture can vary based upon a patient’s specificneeds.
Conventional Full Denture
This type of denture is fabricated and placed after all of the remaining teeth are removed, and the surroundingtissues have adequately healed. Fabricating a full denture when healing is complete supports a precise andcomfortable fit.
Immediate Denture
With an immediate denture, a patient does not have to go without teeth while waiting for complete healing ofthe extraction sites. Although an immediate denture offers the advantage of not having to go without teethfor any length of time, it can require a reline and adjustments as the tissues remodel and heal. In somecases, for optimal comfort and fit, a conventional denture may eventually be required.
Overdenture
An overdenture is a type of complete denture that receives added stability and support from specialattachments that are secured to the remaining underlying teeth or specialized dental implants.
Implant-Supported Dentures
As the name implies, this type of denture attaches to a select number of strategically placed implants inthe upper or lower jaw. These small surgical posts provide precise points of attachment for the overlyingdenture and add a significant measure of stability and retention.
Partial Dentures
In situations where some sturdy teeth remain, partial dentures can offer an effective solution for the replacementof missing teeth. Partial dentures typically achieve adequate retention and stability with clasps or precisionattachments on the teeth adjacent to the edentulous areas (the spaces formerly occupied by the missing teeth).
Removable partial dentures can fill the void left by individual missing teeth and multiple ones to restore the lookand function of a complete smile. At the same time a partial denture fills the gaps left by missing teeth; it alsostabilizes the dentition and bite and prevents unwanted drifting of the remaining natural teeth.
As with full dentures, partial denture design and fabrication varies based on a patient’s specific needs. Withadvances in dental materials and technology, partial denture wearers have more options than ever before. Today, apartial denture’s supportive framework can be fabricated from various materials, including cast metal, flexibleresins, and hybrid materials.
At the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care, we’re dedicated to building healthy and beautiful smiles. As your trustedpartner in care, you can depend on our office to design and fabricate a denture that will look good, fitcomfortably, and serve you well for years to come.
Providing integrated solutions to rebuild smiles
Fabricating an attractive, well-fitting, and long-lasting denture requires a comprehensive understanding of oralfunction, facial aesthetics, dental materials, and appliance design. At the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care, we maintaina position at the forefront of advances in care and successfully combine the art and science of dentistry to providepatients with outstanding treatment outcomes.
Once we’ve had an opportunity to review your medical and dental history, assess all aspects of your smile, anddiscuss your expectation of care, we’ll discuss the best options for restoring and rebuilding your smile.
Based upon a comprehensive analysis of your case, including advanced diagnostic imaging, we’ll advise you if anydental work, additional procedures, or extractions are required prior to the fabrication of a partial or completedenture. It’s essential that any remaining teeth are healthy and have sufficient bone support. Sometimes, apre-prosthetic procedure to improve the tissue anatomy and ensure a denture’s optimal fit is recommended.
Having a denture or set of dentures made is a sophisticated process involving dental impressions, framework try-ins,selecting the right shade, shape, and size of the artificial teeth, and making sure that the bite and all aspects oforal function are comfortable and healthy. Whether it takes a single visit or a few visits to fabricate a partial orcomplete denture, a satisfying and healthy outcome relies on the careful execution of every step in care.
What To Expect When You Receive Your New Denture
At the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care, our patients' care and comfort are our top priorities. Our goal is to helppatients enjoy optimal oral health and to keep them well informed every step of the way.
Adjusting to wearing a new denture
Getting used to wearing a new denture, especially a full denture, can take a little time. It’s not unusualto need some minor adjustments as you begin to speak, chew, and function with your new teeth. It can take afew adjustments to fit completely and feel comfortable. If you have a sore spot, try to wear the denture atleast the day before your adjustment visit. In this way, we can see exactly where we need to relieve thearea causing your irritation.
More saliva than usual
One of the natural responses to a new denture is for your mouth to produce more saliva. Not to worry, thisis only a temporary reaction. The flow of saliva gradually decreases back to a normal level.
Speaking with ease
While it may seem challenging to speak clearly at first with a new denture, that feeling will pass within afew days. It’s important to keep talking, as usual, to allow yourself to adapt to your new set of teeth. Youcan help things along by reading some passages from printed materials or a computer out loud.Getting used to eating with a denture
If this is your first denture, it can also take some time to adapt to eating with your new prosthesis.Getting used to eating with a full denture is typically more challenging than doing so with a partialdenture. It’s best to start with soft foods and to avoid chewing on just one side. Your tongue, lips,cheeks, and soft tissues will soon adapt to chewing with your new denture, and from then on, you’ll be ableto eat with ease.
Taking care of your dentures
It’s essential to keep your denture clean! Rinse your dentures after eating and brush them daily. Inthis way, you can prevent stains and bacteria from accumulating on your new set of teeth. It helpstouse a brush designed for dentures. Also, remember to soak your dentures in water when you’re notwearingthem and at least once a week in the recommended denture cleaner.
Brush any remaining teeth as well as your gums to keep them clean and the tissues healthy and firm.Ifyou wear an upper denture, rinse and gently clean the roof of your mouth as well.
Take your dentures out at bedtime. This practice gives the gums and the jawbone a chance to rest,helping to prevent irritation and infection as well as bone resorption (shrinkage).
Added stability
Due to the status of the underlying tissues and other factors, there are some cases where full denturesbenefit from additional means of retention. While denture adhesive is often sufficient, full dentures thatare implant-supported or clip onto special attachments offer added stability and retention.
Follow-up care
Maintaining oral health and overall well-being involves routine checkups and care. At these visits, we notonly check the fit and condition of your dentures but we also perform a comprehensiveexam to check thestatus of any remaining teeth as well as assess the health of all of the soft and hard tissues in and aroundthe oral cavity.
Relines
Over time, the tissues supporting the denture can change. As the shape and contours of these tissues shrinkor remodel, your denture may not fit as comfortably or feel as stable as it once did. A separate procedure,which is known as a reline, may be recommended.
At the office of Willow Ridge Dental Care, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. If you have anyadditional questions or concerns about your new dentures, feel free to contact our office.
