Choosing the right dentures is an integral part of your dental health. Dentures replace your natural teeth, so selecting dentures that are easy to care for and adapt to your daily needs is essential.
Before settling on a set of dentures, familiarize yourself with what dentures are and what types of dentures are available. This can help you determine how to choose the right denture solution for you. Then, schedule a visit with your dentist to learn about alternative options, costs, and procedures.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are an artificial set of teeth that replace missing teeth. Dentures help to support your facial muscles, which lose tone when teeth are missing. Lost or damaged teeth can also affect your speech and ability to chew. Dentures ensure you can continue to eat and speak as you normally would.
Dental implants require a surgical procedure and cannot be removed by the patient, whereas you must take out your removable dentures every day. Dentures do not require surgery and cost much less than dental implants.
Types of Dentures
Although conventional dentures, otherwise known as complete dentures, are the norm, there are several additional types of dentures for tooth replacement. Denture selection is based on your overall oral health, the condition and location of your remaining teeth, and what kind of dental care routine you want to adopt.
Complete or Full Dentures
Full dentures are a good solution for patients with severe tooth loss. Complete dentures are a full set of artificial teeth, which are set in a special acrylic base. Full dentures rest on top of the gums and are completely removable. These dentures require daily cleaning and maintenance.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures work for people who only need a partial tooth replacement. If you have several healthy teeth remaining, you may only need a partial denture. Partial dentures fasten to your remaining teeth and are sometimes called snap-in dentures.
Removable
Removable dentures are dentures that are made to be easily removed by a patient. They can be complete or partial dentures. Removable partial dentures should be rinsed with cool water throughout the day and soaked in a denture cleaning solution at night.
Fixed
Fixed dentures work more like dental implants. They are fixed in place and can only be removed by a dentist. These dentures require less maintenance for patients; however, they cost more than removable dentures and require special visits to the dentist for a cleaning.
Temporary, Immediate, Over-Denture
Temporary and immediate dentures are dentures that ease the transition between denture appointments. Tooth extraction is a necessary step in the denture process. Unfortunately, this leaves you with fewer or no teeth. To make this step more comfortable, a temporary denture is created.
An immediate denture serves a similar purpose and is created immediately during the appointment. These do not offer your final denture set the custom fit but are helpful during this transitional phase.
An over-denture is a denture that fits on top of and is attached to dental implants. These dentures are a type of fixed denture that can only be removed by a dentist. The benefit to over-dentures is that they are solidly attached to the gums and do not move when you chew or speak. Because they are attached to implant posts, they stimulate jawbone regeneration and minimize bone resorption, so you won’t need to replace your dentures as often.
Schedule a Custom Denture Consultation
Your first step to choosing the right denture solution for you is to speak with a knowledgeable dentist about your options. To schedule a denture consultation, call Owens Cosmetic and Family Dentistry. Dr. Owens can answer your questions and address your concerns about the different denture options, what to expect during the denture process, and the associated costs.
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