If you have missing or damaged teeth, you must replace them. Dentures can restore oral function and aesthetics for patients with missing teeth. Replacing missing teeth with dentures is a great way to improve your health and confidence. With all the advances in dental technology, we can custom-make dentures to look just like your natural teeth. Longview Family Dental can provide you with a set of dentures in Longview, TX, that look natural and function well.
Missing or damaged teeth can lead to further oral health problems that impact your overall health. Lost teeth can lower your quality of life and affect how you eat, talk, and smile. These side effects can lead to frustration and lower self-esteem. Restorative dental treatments like dentures restore the look and function of your teeth.
What Are Dentures?
A denture is a dental appliance that replaces missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. Crafted from various materials, such as acrylic, metal, or both, dentures aim to restore the smile’s appearance. Dentures also support facial muscles and essential functions like chewing and speaking.
Typically, dentures are removable. However, dentures can also use support from dental implants.
Benefits of Dentures
No matter the type of denture, dentures can provide many patients for patients with multiple missing teeth. Dentures:
- Prevent Further Tooth Infection: Before we place dentures, we treat tooth decay or gum disease first. Current infections could lead to more tooth loss. Because we treat these issues first, we help protect your oral health so your new dentures can function properly.
- Help You Bite and Chew: Missing teeth can create an unbalanced bite, which makes it difficult to bite and chew food comfortably. Dentures fill the gaps left by missing teeth, to restore a full and balanced bite. With dentures, you can enjoy meals without difficulty or pain so you to maintain a varied and healthy diet.
- Prevent Shifting Teeth: When you lose a tooth, the remaining natural teeth may start to shift to fill that gap. This can lead to crooked and overcrowded teeth, which can create more problems down the road. Dentures help keep your teeth in their proper positions.
- High-Quality Materials: We use dentures made from high-quality materials to ensure durability and a natural appearance. Many of our dentures use porcelain, which can match your desired tooth shade or the color of any remaining natural teeth. This way, your dentures will look as natural as possible so you feel more confident when you smile.
We use dentures made of high-quality materials. Dentures that use porcelain materials match your desired tooth shade or the color of any remaining natural teeth.
Different Types of Dentures
Multiple types of dentures are available for our patients. The type you need will depend on your unique needs, circumstances, wants, and budget. We will examine your smile to see which denture type fits you:
Full Dentures
Also known as complete dentures, full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth on the upper or lower arch. These dentures rest directly on the gums and are held in place by suction.
Some patients will also need denture adhesive to help them remain in place. While dentures do not restore full biting abilities, they provide a functional and aesthetic solution for individuals with no natural teeth in one or both arches. You must remove dentures daily to rest the gums and clean them.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are designed for individuals with some remaining natural teeth. You can get a partial on the upper or lower arch. A partial denture has replacement teeth attached to a framework that clasps onto the remaining natural teeth. Partials ensure stability and prevent the movement of the adjacent teeth.
However, the metal clasps can sometimes be seen when speaking or smiling, creating aesthetic issues. Partials can also strain the teeth holding the prosthesis in place. A partial is also removable and should come out daily.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures, or implant-supported dentures, combine the stability of dental implants with the convenience of dentures. Dental implants are titanium posts that a dentist or oral surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. They replace the missing teeth roots and provide a platform to secure the denture.
The implant fixtures fuse to the jawbone to create a secure and durable base for the denture. This option provides enhanced stability, improved chewing efficiency, and a more natural feel than traditional, removable dentures.
Process for Getting Traditional Dentures in Longview, TX
The process begins with a consultation. Our dentist will assess your oral health, take impressions, and discuss your preferences and expectations. If you have remaining natural teeth, our dentist may suggest an extraction. Our dentist will perform this step before the denture fabrication process begins.
We will take precise impressions and measurements of your oral structures to ensure a proper fit and function. Then, we will create a wax model of the dentures for you to try on. This allows us to make adjustments before the final dentures are fabricated.
Once we complete the adjustments, a dental lab will create the final dentures. Our dentist ensures a proper fit and makes any necessary final adjustments during the placement appointment.
We will provide instructions on how to care for your dentures, including how to clean and maintain them. Schedule a follow-up appointment if you have any concerns or require an adjustment.
Process for Getting Implant Dentures
Getting implant dentures involves several key steps to ensure a stable, comfortable fit. Here’s what you can expect:
Place the Implants
We start with a surgery to place dental implants in your jawbone. Depending on your needs, we’ll use about 2-8 implants to hold the denture in place. These implants act like the roots for your new teeth.
Allow Time for Healing
After the surgery, you’ll go through a healing period that usually lasts 3-6 months. During this time, your bone bonds naturally with the implants in a process called osseointegration, creating a strong foundation. While you heal, you’ll wear a temporary denture to help you eat, speak, and smile comfortably.
Create Your Custom Denture
Once healing is complete, we’ll take impressions of your mouth to design a custom denture that fits perfectly. Based on your preferences, you can choose either a fixed denture that stays in place permanently or a removable one that you can take out for cleaning.
Attach the Final Denture
Finally, we connect your custom denture to the implants with small connectors called abutments. This step provides excellent stability so you can chew, speak, and smile confidently. This denture will feel and work like natural teeth.
How to Care for Dentures
If you have removable dentures, you must remove them daily and rinse them under water to remove leftover food. You should also use a soft toothbrush or a denture brush to clean them gently. Do not use regular toothpaste because it can be too abrasive.
When you’re not wearing your dentures, soak them in a denture cleaner or plain water overnight. This keeps them moist and helps prevent warping. Be gentle when handling your dentures. They can break if dropped, so clean them over a soft surface, like a towel, to cushion any falls.
If you have an implant denture, you should brush it regularly to keep it clean and looking great. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush along with non-abrasive toothpaste. This gentle approach helps prevent scratches on your denture while still getting rid of food particles and plaque.
Many patients find it helpful to use a water flosser or interdental floss to clean around their implant dentures. Water flossers use a stream of water to remove food and bacteria from between your teeth and around your implants, making it easier to keep everything clean. Interdental floss is designed to slide between your teeth, so it can help you reach areas that a toothbrush might miss.
One of the advantages of implant dentures is that you don’t need to remove them for cleaning. This means you don’t have to worry about soaking them overnight like you would with removable dentures. Instead, you can simply brush and clean them as part of your daily oral hygiene routine. By taking these steps, you can maintain your implant dentures and enjoy a healthy smile!
How Much are Dentures?
The cost of your treatment will depend on the type of denture, the number of missing teeth, and the number of implants. Dental insurance plans often cover a portion of restorative dental care, including treatments that replace missing teeth.
At Longview Family Dental, we participate in major PPO insurance plans. We also accept CareCredit and Alphaeon. These companies offer flexible financial options to keep restorations within your budget.
Replace Your Missing Teeth
Contact Longview Family Dental today to restore your missing teeth with dentures in Longview, TX. To learn more about your options, visit Dr. Chris Goelz. Call us today at 903-662-7811 or schedule an appointment online.
If you have questions about dentures, let us know at your next visit. We’re here to help.