The Difference Dentures can make.Partial or complete tooth loss can be devastating, affecting your general sense of well-being, your ability to eat comfortably and to smile and talk with others. People who suffer from tooth loss will frequently choose foods that require little or no chewing, but which may be bland, boring to eat and lacking in essential nutrients. This can increase the risk of developing health problems because the body is less able to fight infection and disease.

Dentures have been used to restore missing teeth for an extremely long time. Many people prefer this solution because it is minimally invasive and dentures can be fabricated quite quickly. Choosing this option can make a considerable difference to your everyday life, allowing you to eat more comfortably and to socialize more easily with others.

Ideal for Multiple or Complete Tooth Loss

Dentures are supported by the gums and can be fabricated to restore entire arches of teeth, which are called full or complete dentures. Partial dentures are used to replace multiple missing teeth and are also supported by the gums, but generally have clasps that fit around existing teeth, helping to provide additional support and stability. Full dentures are constructed with an acrylic gum-colored base in a shade that will closely match your natural gums, and which supports your new denture teeth. Partial dentures also have an acrylic gum-colored base, and which supports your new teeth, but they will most likely include a cobalt chrome alloy base. This is a lightweight metal that helps to strengthen a partial denture, helping to ensure it doesn’t feel too bulky and uncomfortable.

Not Your Grandmother’s Dentures

The very word dentures will frequently conjure images and memories of older relatives struggling with ill-fitting dental appliances or wearing dentures that look very false. This can make the thought of wearing dentures upsetting and even quite terrifying for some. However, modern dentures are very different compared with the dentures worn by your parents or grandparents. Over the years denture materials have evolved to become increasingly sophisticated while denture teeth are available in a huge range of different colors, shapes, and sizes. The techniques used to make dentures have also improved and nowadays a skilled dental lab will take enormous care when constructing a denture, providing extremely lifelike restorations.

Facing Tooth Extraction? Don’t Worry, You Won’t be Left Without a Smile

Quite understandably, people who know they need teeth extracted are worried about being toothless or missing multiple teeth for quite a while afterward. You can rest assured this isn’t the case because you can be fitted with something that is called an immediate denture. This is constructed for you before your teeth are removed, using a model of your mouth that is specially adapted for immediate denture construction. The immediate dentures can be placed in your mouth soon after your teeth are removed and will help you adjust to wearing a denture. One thing to bear in mind is that these dentures won’t fit as well as your permanent dentures because as your gums heal they will naturally shrink. To help them fit more comfortably during the healing process we may need to reline your immediate dentures, where more material is added to the fitting surface closest to your gums. Your immediate denture can be used until healing is complete, at which point we can fabricate your proper dentures.

Custom-Made to Be Flattering, Well Fitting and Comfortable to Wear

The procedure to make a good denture is very precise and our dentist Dr. Donald Nimz will collaborate closely with our dental lab, designing a denture that will fit comfortably, which provides maximum retention and above all, it will look very natural. People who have put up with missing teeth for years or who currently have ill-fitting, worn down dentures will immediately notice a huge difference when they have a properly designed denture.

When correctly made, a denture will provide the proper support for your facial muscles in your cheeks and lips, preventing that collapsed-in look. This could also help to create a more youthful appearance because the dentures may help to fill out facial folds and wrinkles. Your denture will be designed to compliment your facial features, using teeth that are exactly the right size and shape for your gender and facial structure. If you need complete dentures to replace both your upper and lower teeth, you can even select the color of your new teeth, but it is better to choose a shade that is complimentary for your skin tones, rather than ultra white teeth that won’t look as realistic. Our friendly dental team here at McLoughlin Dental Care in Milwaukie, Oregon can help you choose a look that will be most complimentary.

Allow Plenty of Time to Adapt to Wearing Dentures

Whether you need full or partial dentures, allow plenty of time to become accustomed to wearing them, especially if this is your very first denture. Any dental appliance will initially feel quite different, even a crown or filling and for the first few days, your new denture could feel a bit strange. Persevere and it will soon feel very natural. We may recommend you have a follow-up visit with Dr. Nimz a few days or a week after your denture has been fitted. This is to make sure you don’t have any problems when wearing your denture and if necessary, we can make some adjustments to its fit.

It can also take some time for your facial muscles to become accustomed to holding your denture in place. When you first begin eating foods with your denture it can be useful to start with softer, easier to choose foods, gradually introducing harder foods as you become accustomed to wearing your dentures. It can be helpful to cut your food into smaller pieces and to make sure you thoroughly chew each piece. If you find your denture is slipping slightly out of position, then use your tongue to gently reposition it while biting down.

Dentures can be a very good way to replace missing teeth and lots of people will enjoy it trouble-free use. However, some people find it difficult to get on with conventional dentures and this can often be the case when tooth loss occurred many years ago and where the bony ridge, called the alveolar ridge has change shape. Over time, this ridge is gradually resorbed making it difficult to comfortably retain dentures. If you are affected by this problem, then one good option is to think about implant-supported dentures. Often a lower denture can be held firmly in position by relatively few dental implants, providing a cost-effective solution to this problem.

If you would like to know more about dentures and how they could help you then it’s best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nimz. After examining your mouth Dr. Nimz will be able to suggest the most suitable solutions for your needs, providing you with well-fitting dentures you’ll love to wear.