Dentures, otherwise known as false teeth, have been used for decades as an effective replacement for missing teeth. Dentures restore the natural beauty and function of your smile. They are removable dental devices that do require some additional care and maintenance.
If you have lost many of your teeth due to excessive tooth decay, gum disease, a genetic defect or even oral trauma – it may be time to consider being fitted for dentures. Patients of all ages and backgrounds have enjoyed the transformation that dentures can bring to their smile. Additionally, dentures can help keep your cheeks and lips strong and help maintain their shape as you get older. Lost teeth can lead to bone deterioration in the jaw as well as an older appearance in your face around the cheek and mouth area. Lost teeth can also cause slurred speech and a loss of some function of your mouth.
Dentures are flexible devices to consider, in that they can be fitted to replace many or all of your teeth. Partial dentures are built for patients who have lost some of their teeth on an arch. Made from a gum-colored base that is connected to a metal framework, partial dentures are attached to the adjacent remaining teeth for support.
Fixed partial dentures are commonly called crown and bridge dentures, and are secured by dental crowns on both ends with the gap filled with artificial teeth. These are anchored to the adjacent teeth by a dental implant, making it a permanent dental appliance.
Complete dentures are used to replace a full row of missing teeth either in the upper or lower arch. Complete dentures are also classified as “conventional” or “immediate” dentures depending on when they are provided to the patient.
Conventional dentures are placed in the patient’s mouth after the gums have healed following tooth extractions. The configuration and shape of the gums change after tooth extraction, and waiting for them to completely heal will provide the patient with better-fitting dentures.
Many prefer immediate dentures because the patient doesn’t remain toothless while waiting for the gums to heal. Before the last tooth is extracted, dental impressions will be made to fabricate the dentures and they are immediately placed following tooth extraction. Immediate dentures, however, require the patient to come in again for a refitting as the gum shape changes as the gums heal.
No matter which type of dentures you choose, you can rest assured that the professionals at Hampton Dental Associates will help you restore your smile and your self-confidence quickly and beautifully.
