Custom-Fitting Dentures Designed at Our Dental Office In Downtown Sebastopol
The Basics of Dentures
Dentures are a removable option for replacing missing teeth. They may be either complete dentures or partial dentures, depending on the patient’s needs. Complete dentures refer to a full upper or lower set of replacement teeth. Sometimes, this is needed as a result of age, tooth decay or other damage. Partial dentures are used like a bridge, when a patient is missing one or more teeth in a row, and may be attached to or fit over neighboring existing teeth for support. These can help prevent the shifting of teeth into the empty space, and preserve appearance and function.
All of our dentures are custom-fit and fabricated for maximum comfort in your mouth. Materials vary based on the patient, but might include porcelain, metal, ceramic, plastic, or some combination of those things. They are based on impressions and imaging taken of your jaw and mouth, to ensure the best fit possible and the most natural-looking replacement teeth.
With a good set of dentures, you’ll be able to eat and drink normally, speak clearly, and have a clean, attractive smile. They also help restore a younger-looking facial structure and fill out missing jaw shape where it may have been lost. Dentures help support the jaw joint, retaining a natural biting and chewing function to prevent misalignment of the jaw, which happens with lost teeth and can lead to TMJ disorder. They also help preserve underlying bone and keep gum tissue healthy, which supports your continued good oral health.
Types of Dentures
Depending on the extent of your treatment plan, there are a few different types of dentures we may recommend.
- Temporary Dentures: can be worn immediately after tooth extraction and are created in advance of your oral surgery. This helps you maintain a natural smile and the ability to properly talk and chew while the bone and gums heal. Temporary dentures will be replaced either by complete dentures or permanent dentures, depending on the patient.
- Removable Partial Dentures: can be an ideal option where there are one or more missing teeth but complete dentures are not required. A partial denture is created to match your natural teeth and can be easily supported by the surrounding teeth.
- Complete Dentures: can either be “conventional dentures” or “immediate dentures” and are used when all of the teeth have been removed. A conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about 8-12 weeks after the teeth have been removed and the tissue is healed. Whereas, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. A complete denture is a completely tissue supported prosthesis and will be customized to be a comfortable fit that also gives you an aesthetically pleasing smile with a natural tooth shade.
- Implant Supported Dentures: good solution when multiple teeth need to be replaced and the patient prefers a more secure and natural feeling replacement. With implant supported dentures, the denture is attached to dental implants which are permanently anchored in the jaw.
Good Denture Care
As with all dental restorations, dentures need to be taken care of properly to maintain good oral health and make sure they last as long as possible. The lifetime of a set of dentures is anywhere from five to ten years, and can reach the longer end of that range with better care. We recommend regular cleanings with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser. When you have partial dentures, you also need to be sure to diligently brush and floss the surrounding teeth to keep them in good condition and prevent further tooth loss.
Relining Older Dentures
With modern dental technology, dentures have come a long way in recent years. Older sets of dentures may benefit from relining, or reshaping. A reline of your removable denture consists of reshaping the underside of the dentures so they fit more comfortably against your gums. This may also simply be needed over time as age softens and decreases the gum line. If your dentures don’t fit comfortably or cause wear or pain in your mouth, there’s no need to keep enduring the discomfort. Oak Tree Dental can provide a quick, effective and comfortable reline to keep your dentures in good shape for the next decade or so.
Give us a call to get a consultation with our dentists, and find out more about whether dentures might be the right solution for you.
