Living with an incomplete smile can make it difficult to do the simple things in life like eating and talking with those you love. With dentures, you can complete your smile so you can comfortably eat and speak with confidence and ease. Whether you’re missing most of your teeth or only a few, at Art Dentistry Center, we offer several different types of dentures to fill in the gaps of missing teeth to restore your natural appearance and your oral health.
A denture is a customized, removable prosthetic made of acrylic resin that can be easily made without the need for a procedure or surgery.
Complete dentures, also called conventional dentures, replace an entire arch of teeth on your upper or lower jaw or both. Dr. Saluja may require tooth extractions in order to receive a complete denture.
If you need extractions, you’ll have to wait six to eight weeks for your gums to heal in order for an impression to be made for your complete dentures. This allows time for any swelling to diminish and so that your new dentures are properly fitted.
If Dr. Saluja determines that you need extractions, you may choose to have a temporary immediate denture made so you can enjoy the benefits of a complete smile during the healing process. During a preliminary visit, Dr. Saluja will take measurements of your mouth to create a model so that after the procedure, your new smile will be waiting for you.
Partial dentures fill in the spaces of as little as one missing tooth, and prevent surrounding teeth from changing position. A partial denture is suitable for those who have some natural teeth remaining. Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework.
Partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. Precision attachments are generally more esthetic than metal clasps and are nearly invisible. Crowns on your natural teeth may improve the fit of a removable partial denture, and they are usually required with attachments.
If you’re worried about your dentures staying in place, an overdenture may be right for you. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or dental implants to provide stability and support for the denture. With just a few implants, your smile can be upgraded to a more secure fit so you can eat almost anything and not have to worry about the dentures shifting out of place. Unlike traditional dentures, overdentures can only be removed by Dr. Saluja.
Following any healing, the denture process is painless and takes about one month. The process is completed in just four steps:
In addition to following any guidelines provided by Dr. Saluja, it’s best to brush your gums and dentures twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food deposits, plaque, and prevent staining. Avoid using a brush with hard bristles, which can damage the denture. Pay special attention to cleaning teeth that fit under the metal clasps of the partial dentures. Plaque that becomes trapped under the clasps will increase the risk of tooth decay.
You can clean your dentures with hand soap or mild dishwashing soaps. Other types of household cleaners and many toothpastes are too abrasive and should not be used for cleaning dentures. A denture could lose its proper shape if it is not kept moist. At night, the denture should be placed in a solution or water. However, if the appliance has metal attachments, they could be tarnished if placed in a soaking solution.
Living with an incomplete smile can take its toll on your confidence and your oral health. For more information on how you can restore your smile with dentures, call Art Dentistry Center at (248) 206-5052 today. We look forward to hearing from you.
For more information on dentures in the Madison Heights, Michigan area, call Art Dentistry Center at (248) 206-5052 today!
