If you are missing a few or all of your teeth, dentures may be the best solution to help you eat better, prevent further dental issues, and smile well. Call Broadway Family Dental and schedule an appointment with our board-certified dentist, Dr. Ella Dekhtyar. She will explain what makes dentures so significant for oral health, the different types and designs of dentures available, and which type will suit you best and improve your overall appearance. Dr. Dekhtyar utilizes cutting-edge technologies that help in accurate and faster diagnosis of oral health conditions and provides reliable treatment options to restore your healthy, beautiful smile.
Dentures often become necessary at some point in life. Accidents, aging, illnesses, or side effects of medications are some causes of tooth loss. If you have loose or shifting teeth, severe gum or periodontal disease, or multiple damaged teeth, having your your teeth removed and replaced with dentures may be the only option to prevent further health complications.
Dentists recommend replacing missing or damaged teeth as soon as possible, as leaving them for long can result in jawbone deterioration. Dentures come in handy and make it easier to eat, chew, and speak regularly and help you enjoy a normal life. Depending on the severity of your condition, the dentist will create a custom-fit denture for you.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are prosthetic devices that replace your missing teeth effectively. They are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity, such as implants, gums, or existing teeth. While conventional dentures are removable, there are fixed dentures, as well as implant-supported dentures, that fill your facial profile and improve your appearance.
Dentures are a good solution when you left with gaps in mouth. They are custom-made to fit your mouth and enhance your overall quality of life. A complete denture works best when all the teeth are gone, while a partial denture is used when only a few teeth are missing.
Dentures help to maintain the shape of your face and prevent the remaining teeth in the mouth from shifting. When missing teeth are not replaced, the remaining teeth may start to move and tilt, causing gaps, bite problems, and gum disease. How much dentures will work and how they will benefit you depends largely on your lifestyle, your desired appearance, and the functionality of your smile.
Different Types of Dentures
There are seven different types of dentures, each one of them to suit individual needs:
- Complete dentures
- Partial dentures
- Immediate dentures
- Snap-in dentures
- Overdentures
- Economy dentures
- Custom dentures
The main difference lies in the material they are made out of and the purpose they serve. Before settling on a particular type, you must find out about its benefits, uses, and how well it would restore your dental function.
Read on to learn about the different types of dentures and what would be the best choice for you, depending on your oral health status and lifestyle.
1. Complete Dentures
Complete or traditional dentures replace all your teeth, upper or lower jaw, or both. They are custom-made to fit the contours of the gums and jawbone and resemble natural teeth. The denture sits on the top of the gum, as there are no teeth to anchor on.
Complete dentures are usually placed within 8-12 weeks after the teeth are removed. Most dentists try to save at least some natural teeth before recommending full dentures, but they become necessary if all other options have been exhausted. The best thing about complete dentures is that they restore your ability to chew and speak, improving overall quality of life. They also boost your self-confidence by giving you a fuller, more youthful appearance and make you smile better. They are removable, which is a plus for people who don’t want to wear dentures all the time.
The only problem with these dentures is that they can take some time to get used to and may feel uncomfortable or loose at first. Also, they need proper maintenance and may need to be replaced or adjusted over time. It is crucial to handle your dentures carefully to avoid dropping or breaking them and visit your dentist regularly to ensure they fit properly and stay in good condition.
2. Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are best for patients who still have some of their natural teeth left. Even one or two teeth in the upper and lower jaw are sufficient as they can be used as anchors. These dentures have a pink-colored base attached to a metal piece, and the two pieces hold the denture together. Made from all-acrylic or acrylic material, partial dentures are good as they prevent the other teeth from moving.
These dentures can be either removable or fixed, depending on your needs and preferences. Removable partial dentures are easy to take out and clean daily. They consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored base held in place by a metal framework. The framework is clipped onto your remaining natural teeth for support. Removable partial dentures are a cost-effective option that can restore your ability to chew, speak, and enhance your appearance.
Fixed bridge partial dentures are permanently attached to your remaining natural teeth. They are bonded to your natural teeth on either side of the gap. They are a more stable and secure option, as compared to removable partial dentures, but can be more expensive and require more extensive dental work. If you choose partial dentures, you must care for your remaining natural teeth and gums to prevent further decay and gum disease.
3. Immediate Dentures
These dentures are placed in your mouth immediately after the remaining teeth in your mouth are extracted so you don’t have to go without teeth during the healing process. They are custom-made to fit your gums and jawbone and can be complete or partial, depending on your needs. These dentures are designed to help you maintain your facial appearance and dental function while your gums heal and prevent the gum tissue from shrinking.
Made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, they give you a chance to have a set of teeth while the permanent dentures are made. This way you can get used to them before getting fitted for proper dentures. However, immediate dentures may need to be adjusted or relined as your gums heal, and sometimes they may not fit as well as permanent dentures, making them a little less comfortable. You have to be a good candidate to get this type of denture.
4. Snap-in Dentures
Snap-in dentures are the best choice when it comes to stability. They are also known as implant-supported dentures, as they are snapped onto the dental implants that have been surgically placed into your jawbones. The dentures consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored base, which snaps onto a series of abutments on the dental implants.
They look and feel more like natural teeth and help you chew and speak better, which also improves your self-esteem and confidence. They can either be complete or partial dentures and are designed to be more stable and secure than traditional dentures The locator attachments are embedded within the tissue side of the denture, and they snap onto the implants or the locator receptors, making them convenient to put on and take off.
Dentists recommend snap-in dentures when you don’t have any natural teeth but enough bone to support an implant. However, they are an expensive option, and require more dental work than traditional dentures.
5. Overdentures
Overdentures sit on the gum, but they are held in place by dental implants. They can be placed on the upper or lower jaw, depending on the patient’s needs. Usually, overdentures are complete dentures, but partials also exist. They are supported by implants or a metal bar fixed in the gum.
The best thing about overdentures is that they do not dislodge easily. Even if you bite into something hard, it will not affect them. The dentures are natural-looking and secure, which improves your confidence and makes you look and smile better.
It is essential to know that getting overdentures is expensive. This is because overdentures have more stability and offer better chewing function than conventional dentures. However, you have to remove them every night to clean them and help the gum tissues rest.
6. Economy Dentures
Economy dentures are more affordable than any other type of dentures. They are a good option for people on a tight budget. However, they are generic and not customized to fit your mouth, which often makes them less comfortable, or secure than other types of dentures. Also, they need denture adhesive to fit in.
Dentists usually don’t recommend economy dentures as they are premade and do not fit well. Due to this, they can harm your mouth and lead to poor oral hygiene. In addition to this, economy dentures may not offer a natural-looking appearance and look fake because they are not specifically made for your teeth. They are more noticeable than custom-made dentures. Economy dentures may need to be replaced frequently, as they are not made from high-quality materials, and it can add to their long-term cost.
7. Custom Dentures
Also known as personalized dentures, custom dentures are specifically designed to fit your mouth. They fit your unique oral anatomy and are more comfortable and secure than other dentures. They are made of more expensive teeth, which results in a more natural-looking smile and enhanced appearance.
The dentist takes a detailed impression of your mouth and creates a mold to craft your dentures. This process ensures a precise fit that can minimize discomfort and slippage. Custom dentures are customized to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth, which makes them virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Dentures can be made from a variety of materials, including acrylic resin, porcelain, and even flexible materials such as polycarbonate. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, such as durability, cost, and appearance. Remember, regardless of the type of denture you choose, it is necessary to care for them properly.
What Dentures Are Best for You?
When it comes to choosing the right type of denture, there are several factors to consider. Your dentist will work with you to determine the best option based on your needs and oral health condition.
If you have lost a couple of teeth, partial dentures are a good option, but if all of your teeth are missing, you may need complete dentures. If you seek a more stable and secure option, implant-supported dentures or overdentures may be the right choice.
Budget is also an important factor you will have to consider, as some types of dentures are more expensive than others. Your dentist helps you through the decision-making process, and recommends the best option for achieving a healthy, functional, and natural-looking smile.
The Process of Getting Dentures
The process of getting dentures involves several steps:
- The dentist will begin with a comprehensive oral exam to assess the condition of your teeth, gums, and jawbone. It is necessary to determine if dentures are the best option for your teeth and which type will work best for your teeth and gums.
- Next, the dentist will take impressions of your mouth. Molds of your teeth and gums are created that help to make customized dentures.
Once your set of teeth are ready, the dentist will call you for a fitting. During this appointment, your dentist will check how well the dentures fit and adjust them as needed to ensure they are comfortable and secure. It may take several appointments and adjustments before they fit and function well.
You can put an end to dealing with missing teeth or repetitive dental work with top-quality dentures. Custom-made dentures are a great option for replacing missing teeth. At Broadway Family Dental, Dr. Ella Dekhtyar focuses on personalized care and the highest quality treatment options to ensure you find the right dental solutions for your needs. She understands that losing teeth is not a pleasant experience, and it can affect your self-esteem, as well as overall health and appearance. She works hard to ensure you achieve a beautiful, functional, and natural-looking set of dentures within the shortest possible time.
Broadway Family Dental
1152 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(Bushwick, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant)
(718) 455-4400