Thanks to advances in dental materials, technology, and methods of care, it’s easier than ever before to replace
missing teeth with the most natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing treatment outcomes. While
dental implants and
fixed bridgework provide effective and satisfying solutions for missing teeth,
removable dentures remain a tried and
true method for reestablishing a complete smile.
At the office of Ideal Dental Care, we fabricate dentures from the highest grade of dental materials for a precise
and comfortable fit. Our dentures are meticulously designed to rebuild beautiful smiles and support natural facial
contours 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 offering
personalized 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 least
one tooth, and close to 40 million are missing all of their teeth. In most of these cases, tooth loss is the end
result of extensive dental decay, advanced gum disease, a traumatic injury, a congenital anomaly, or associated with
a 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. These
changes not only affect your bite, but they have the potential to create more unsightly and unhealthy gaps in your
smile. Furthermore, without the support of a complete set of teeth, facial contours may also begin to look more
sagged and haggard over time.
While it’s never too late to rebuild a complete and beautiful smile, it’s always best to replace missing teeth
sooner than later. Both partial and full dentures from the office of Ideal Dental Care offer an effective and
satisfying 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 cover
the jawbones. They consist of natural-looking artificial teeth set in a supportive base. In addition to offering a
cost-effective solution for the replacement of missing teeth, dentures are quite versatile. They can be used to
replace either a few teeth that have been lost or all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaws.
While conventional bridgework and dental
implants offer fixed solutions for rebuilding complete smiles, partial and
full dentures are removable oral appliances. This statement means it’s possible to take dentures out of the mouth to
clean and maintain the health of the underlying tissues and any remaining teeth, as well as clean the dentures
themselves, 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 Ideal Dental Care. As
skilled and experienced providers of care, we’ll carefully evaluate all aspects of your smile, the health and
integrity of any remaining teeth, along with the surrounding tissues and the supporting bone to develop a treatment
plan 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 the
best solution for your smile depends on how many natural teeth are still present in your mouth and the health of
these remaining teeth. While a partial denture can offer an effective solution in cases where some sturdy natural
teeth remain, you may be a candidate for a complete denture when all the upper or lower teeth are missing or require
extraction.
Full Dentures
Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, can effectively replace all the upper teeth, lower teeth, or both
the upper and lower teeth. As with other types of dental solutions, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for every
case. The ultimate design, fabrication, and insertion of a full denture can vary based upon a patient’s specific
needs.
Conventional Full Denture
This type of denture is fabricated and placed after all of the remaining teeth are removed, and the surrounding
tissues have adequately healed. Fabricating a full denture when healing is complete supports a precise and
comfortable fit.
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Immediate Denture
With an immediate denture, a patient does not have to go without teeth while waiting for complete healing of
the extraction sites. Although an immediate denture offers the advantage of not having to go without teeth
for any length of time, it can require a reline and adjustments as the tissues remodel and heal. In some
cases, for optimal comfort and fit, a conventional denture may eventually be required.
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Overdenture
An overdenture is a type of complete denture that receives added stability and support from special
attachments that are secured to the remaining underlying teeth or specialized dental implants.
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Implant-Supported Dentures
As the name implies, this type of denture attaches to a select number of strategically placed implants in
the upper or lower jaw. These small surgical posts provide precise points of attachment for the overlying
denture 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 replacement
of missing teeth. Partial dentures typically achieve adequate retention and stability with clasps or precision
attachments 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 look
and function of a complete smile. At the same time a partial denture fills the gaps left by missing teeth; it also
stabilizes 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. With
advances in dental materials and technology, partial denture wearers have more options than ever before. Today, a
partial denture’s supportive framework can be fabricated from various materials, including cast metal, flexible
resins, and hybrid materials.
At the office of Ideal Dental Care, we’re dedicated to building healthy and beautiful smiles. As your trusted
partner in care, you can depend on our office to design and fabricate a denture that will look good, fit
comfortably, 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 oral
function, facial aesthetics, dental materials, and appliance design. At the office of Ideal Dental Care, we maintain
a position at the forefront of advances in care and successfully combine the art and science of dentistry to provide
patients with outstanding treatment outcomes.
Once we’ve had an opportunity to review your medical and dental history, assess all aspects of your smile, and
discuss 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 any
dental work, additional procedures, or extractions are required prior to the fabrication of a partial or complete
denture. It’s essential that any remaining teeth are healthy and have sufficient bone support. Sometimes, a
pre-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 of
oral function are comfortable and healthy. Whether it takes a single visit or a few visits to fabricate a partial or
complete 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 Ideal Dental Care, our patients' care and comfort are our top priorities. Our goal is to help
patients enjoy optimal oral health and to keep them well informed every step of the way.
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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 unusual
to need some minor adjustments as you begin to speak, chew, and function with your new teeth. It can take a
few adjustments to fit completely and feel comfortable. If you have a sore spot, try to wear the denture at
least the day before your adjustment visit. In this way, we can see exactly where we need to relieve the
area causing your irritation.
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More saliva than usual
One of the natural responses to a new denture is for your mouth to produce more saliva. Not to worry, this
is only a temporary reaction. The flow of saliva gradually decreases back to a normal level.
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Speaking with ease
While it may seem challenging to speak clearly at first with a new denture, that feeling will pass within a
few days. It’s important to keep talking, as usual, to allow yourself to adapt to your new set of teeth. You
can help things along by reading some passages from printed materials or a computer out loud.
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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 partial
denture. 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 able
to eat with ease.
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Taking care of your dentures
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It’s essential to keep your denture clean! Rinse your dentures after eating and brush them daily. In
this way, you can prevent stains and bacteria from accumulating on your new set of teeth. It helps
to
use a brush designed for dentures. Also, remember to soak your dentures in water when you’re not
wearing
them and at least once a week in the recommended denture cleaner.
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Brush any remaining teeth as well as your gums to keep them clean and the tissues healthy and firm.
If
you wear an upper denture, rinse and gently clean the roof of your mouth as well.
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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).
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Added stability
Due to the status of the underlying tissues and other factors, there are some cases where full dentures
benefit from additional means of retention. While denture adhesive is often sufficient, full dentures that
are implant-supported or clip onto special attachments offer added stability and retention.
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Follow-up care
Maintaining oral health and overall well-being involves routine checkups and care. At these visits, we not
only check the fit and condition of your dentures but we also perform a comprehensive
exam to check the
status of any remaining teeth as well as assess the health of all of the soft and hard tissues in and around
the oral cavity.
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Relines
Over time, the tissues supporting the denture can change. As the shape and contours of these tissues shrink
or 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 Ideal Dental Care, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. If you have any
additional questions or concerns about your new dentures, feel free to contact our office.