Dentures Specialist

What health problems develop due to lost teeth?

The loss of just one tooth leads to significant dental problems as the remaining teeth shift out of alignment. Also, the lack of a tooth root leads to bone loss. If you lose multiple teeth, or all of them, you can’t speak properly and it’s impossible to eat all the healthy foods you need, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and loss of your self-confidence.

What types of dentures might I receive?

The first decision — whether you need partial or full dentures — is determined by the number of teeth that are missing. Partial dentures are used for several missing teeth, while full dentures replace all of your upper teeth, lower teeth, or both.

Beyond partial versus full dentures, you have other choices, such as:

Traditional dentures

Traditional dentures are made from a plastic base that’s the same color as your gums and holds the teeth. A partial denture has a metal clasp that attaches to the surrounding teeth. Full dentures are designed to stay in place through suction, but you may also use a small amount of denture adhesive.

Implant-supported dentures

A dental implant is a small rod that’s inserted into your jawbone and protrudes slightly above the gumline, where it attaches to your dentures and firmly holds them in place. It takes only about 4-6 implants to anchor your dentures. Implant-supported dentures can be made to snap on and off, or to stay permanently in your mouth.

What should I expect when getting dentures?

Getting dentures usually requires several office visits and may take several months, depending on the need for dental work and whether you’re getting implants.

If you need to have teeth extracted, for example, your gums need time to heal before getting permanent dentures. The first step for patients who choose implant-supported dentures is having the implant rods inserted into their jawbone. Then you wait a few months for the bone to heal and attach to the rod.

Once healing is finished, or right at the start if you don’t need dental work, your dentist takes an impression of your mouth and sends it to the lab that is making your dentures. As soon as your dentures are finished, you’ll go back to the office, where your dentist checks to be sure they fit properly. Then you’re ready to start wearing your new dentures.

If you have questions about dentures, schedule a consultation by calling Smiles in Springfield, or you can book an appointment online.