Missing all or most of your teeth is more than a cosmetic problem. Sure, you may avoid smiling and feel self-conscious when you speak. But you may also have nutritional deficiencies, changes in your bite alignment, and significant jawbone deterioration.
Golden Dental Solutions offers dentures as a restorative dentistry option so you can look and feel better again. Our dentists are here to give you a beautiful new smile and restore your self-confidence.
What Are Dentures?
A denture is a dental prosthesis for replacing missing teeth and surrounding tissues to help you chew food, improve speaking habits, and improve your facial aesthetics. A full denture is a removable replacement for an entire set of missing teeth (top, bottom, or both). A partial denture replaces only a portion of the teeth.
Complete dentures are also known as “conventional” dentures. These are the permanent dentures you’ll wear for years. They are placed two to three months after tooth extraction. You may have heard the term “immediate” dentures, but those are simply temporary dentures used while your gums heal and you wait for your conventional dentures.
Benefits Of Dentures
Dentures are a popular option for people looking to restore and enhance their smile. Additional benefits of dentures include:
- Improved speech
- Restored oral function
- Improved appearance
- A more natural look
- Increased confidence
- No dietary restrictions
Be sure to ask your dentist about how dentures can benefit you personally.
Candidates For Dentures
Dentures may be right for patients who:
- Have No Remaining Teeth: Individuals who have lost all their teeth in one or both jaws are prime candidates for complete dentures. This option helps restore the function of their teeth, such as chewing and speaking, and improves facial structure.
- Are Missing Some Teeth: If you’ve lost one or more teeth but still have several healthy teeth, you may want partial dentures. These dentures fill in the gaps created by missing teeth and prevent other teeth from changing position.
- Need All Teeth Extracted: Candidates who need the rest of their teeth extracted but do not want to go without teeth during the healing period can opt for immediate dentures. These dentures are made ahead of time, and we position them after we have extracted your teeth.
- Have Weak Remaining Teeth: Some individuals still have teeth remaining, but those teeth aren’t strong enough to support a partial denture. In this case, they might consider overdentures. These are fitted over the roots of natural teeth or dental implants to provide stability and support.
- Are Seniors: Older adults often face more prevalent tooth loss due to age-related decline in dental health. Dentures offer a practical and less invasive solution than other dental procedures that might be strenuous for seniors.
- Have Advanced Gum Disease: When gum disease has progressed to a point where it has caused the loosening or loss of multiple teeth, we may recommend dentures as a part of a comprehensive treatment strategy.
Full Dentures Vs Partial Dentures
If you’re missing all of your teeth, a full denture is the only option. This may even be true if you have a few remaining teeth that are so severely decayed that they need to be extracted. After extraction, the gums need to heal for two to three months before we can place your new dentures.
Full dentures are held in place through pressure provided by the tongue and cheeks, along with suction created onto the gums. Some people need denture adhesive, but our dentists create expertly fit dentures that usually won’t need adhesives.
The better solution is to keep a few remaining natural teeth that can anchor the dentures. Partial dentures are commonly called “bridges” and can be fixed or removable. They consist of replacement teeth attached to a pink gum-colored base. Fixed partial dentures are anchored permanently to crowns on the abutting teeth. Removable partial dentures connect the denture to a metal framework that holds it in place but also allows you to remove it.
How Are Dentures Placed?
Getting dentures takes from two to three months. Why? Because getting the right fit is crucial to your satisfaction, and we don’t rush things when it comes to this aspect of denture fitting.
The process starts with the removal of any overly damaged teeth and the subsequent time to let the gums heal. To give you the ability to chew food in the interim, we create a set of “immediate” dentures. These dentures will act as temporary stand-in dentures while we create and fit your permanent dentures.
Once your gums have healed, the process for getting dentures goes as follows:
- We take full impressions of your mouth and gums. We also take measurements that detail the upper and lower jaws and the space between them.
- From those impressions, we create demo dentures out of either wax or plastic. These are made to the precise shape and position of your permanent dentures. We use these demo dentures to test the color, fit, thickness, shape, and function.
- Once our team and you believe we have a good fit, we make another set of final impressions of your gums and mouth. We send these to the dental lab, along with the demo dentures, to create your permanent dentures.
- When the dentures are ready, you’ll return to our office, and we’ll test your new dentures. We will make any adjustments in the office and then send you home for a few days to see how you like the fit. From there, we will continue to adjust the fit until you are completely satisfied with the final feel of your new teeth.
What Our Patients Have To Say
The staff at Golden Dental Solutions are rock stars! They use the latest technology in dentistry providing the best care possible. They explain each and every step of the process allowing the patient to make good decisions about their health. I am new in town, and happy to know I have a great group to help me stay healthy. Thanks
Why Choose Golden Dental Solutions?
Golden Dental Solutions stands out for its team of highly accomplished dentists who are passionate about delivering top-tier, comprehensive care. Dr. Dallas Kenson, and Dr. Evelyn Qi each bring impressive educational backgrounds, extensive training, and dedication to continued learning. Together, their combined expertise covers a wide range of dental specialties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Complete dentures usually have a lifespan of five to seven years. The false teeth don’t degrade; the underlying gum tissue and jawbone beneath the dentures change. These changes dictate relining, rebasing, or remaking the dentures. We will usually keep the artificial teeth on top of the dentures but reform the base that sits on the gums to adjust the fit.
The lifespan of partial dentures varies widely depending on the location in the mouth and the home care of the appliance.
Full dentures aren’t meant to be worn 24/7. When you remove them, you allow your gums to rest and get normal stimulation and cleansing from the tongue and saliva. You should remove full dentures every night, brush them, and place them in water or a cleansing solution.
Cleaning dentures isn’t difficult; you simply brush them. But you don’t use regular toothpaste, as it contains too many abrasives that can create tiny scratches and channels on your dentures. Instead, you brush your dentures with specific denture toothpaste. This brushing removes food particles and plaque, just as brushing does with your natural teeth. After brushing, place your dentures in water or cleaning solution for the night to keep them moist.
There is definitely a period of adjustment when first wearing your new dentures. In the beginning, they will feel loose, almost like they could fall out. But this changes as the muscles in your cheeks, tongue, and gums adjust. During this period, your gums can become irritated.
It will take some time and practice before you feel comfortable eating and speaking. Initially, you’ll need to eat soft foods cut into small pieces, but as you get the hang of chewing with your dentures, you can return to a normal diet. Still, with dentures, you’ll need to avoid extremely sticky and hard foods.
Speaking will also take practice, especially if you’ve been missing all of your teeth for some time. The best way to quickly get used to talking with dentures is to practice by reading aloud.
These issues apply only to full dentures, as partial dentures require little, if any, adjustment.
The only real alternative to dentures is dental implants. Dental implants consist of a titanium “implant” placed into the socket formerly occupied by the natural tooth root. The jawbone grows around the implant, making it a part of the jaw. Then, an artificial tooth is attached to the implant.
Replacing all of your teeth with implants isn’t realistic for most people due to the high costs. However, we can use implants to anchor dentures. A series of four implants on the top and four on the bottom can provide excellent stability for dentures attached to these implants. This method eliminates problems such as slipping.
Yes, dentures can lead to bone loss over time. However, modern dentures are designed for a better fit, which can help reduce this issue. Regular dental checkups can detect any changes in your jawbone, allowing your dentist to adjust the dentures for comfort and health. Dental implants can also help by stimulating your jawbone. With proper care and regular visits to the dentist, you can keep your dentures fitting well and maintain good oral health.
Can You Whiten Dentures?
You can’t whiten dentures like natural teeth due to the material they’re made from. Whitening products designed for natural teeth may be too abrasive and damage the denture material.
However, you can clean dentures to remove stains and restore their original color. Regular brushing with a soft brush and denture cleaner, soaking in a denture solution, and professional dental cleanings can help maintain their appearance. Don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals, as they can discolor and weaken the dentures.
Schedule a Consultation With Golden Dental Solutions
Dentures could be a great option if you are missing any or all of your teeth. Our practice serves Golden, Denver, and the surrounding areas. Call (303) 277-9600 to schedule a consultation today!