When it comes to replacing teeth, you have many choices. Depending on your case, a partial or full denture will be appropriate, which come in both removable and permanently fixed options for your convenience.
Removable (Traditional) Dentures
Conventional dentures are used to replace multiple missing teeth, up to a full arch. When you’ve decided to receive dentures, a detailed impression (mold) of your gums, ridges, and any healthy teeth will be obtained for an accurate overview of your dental anatomy. Teeth that cannot be saved are extracted before the mold is made to ensure accuracy during fitting.
- Partial Dentures – This appliance secures to healthy remaining teeth and is designed to blend seamlessly with your other teeth, replacing teeth at different points in the smile and restoring function to your bite.
- Full Dentures – When you have no remaining teeth left, an adhesive or suction-based full denture can be crafted to your preferences. During fabrication, your denturist will show you different styles of natural-looking teeth as well as allow you to choose how bright you’d like your smile to be.
- Immediate Dentures – If you have unhealthy teeth extracted before receiving dentures, you can request an immediate denture. This appliance is a temporary denture that allows you to walk out of the dental office or clinic with teeth, even while your gums are still recovering from the extraction. Once healed another impression is taken and the denture relined or a new set ordered.
Dental Implant-Supported Dentures
While traditional dentures can restore the look of a natural smile, and return a good amount of function, they do little to prevent resorption, which is a process of rapid bone loss and shrinking of the jaw due to missing tooth roots and lacking stimulation they provided.
Resorption is what causes the pinched, sunken, and aged appearance often associated with long-time denture wearers. The following implant-supported options are available for dentures.
Implant-supported partials are placed over at least two implant posts and are appropriate if several healthy teeth remain in the jaw.
Implant-supported full dentures typically require about six implant posts and offer ample stimulation to the jaw bone to reduce or prevent resorption.
All-on-4® or Teeth-in-a-Day is an expedited implant technique for people who have already lost bone mass, using only four implant posts that have been strategically inserted into the jaw to support the prosthetic teeth
Mini Implants are also used in patients with resorption issues and work well to stabilize traditional dentures.
Overdentures are removable dentures that are supported by a minimum of two implants.
Implant-supported dentures also provide stability, feel like your own teeth, and look more natural than traditional, free-moving dentures.
If you are seeking denture solutions call us today – our team is committed to providing a positive denture experience and can complete your appointment at our location or your home.