Learn About the Types of Dentures Available To You

When it comes to getting dentures, patients typically have many questions about what kind of solutions are available, how reliable they are, and what the cost factors are. The reality is that dentures are one of the most trusted solutions available for replacing teeth that you have lost.  As people grow older or find themselves involved in unforeseen situations like accidents, there is a risk of losing teeth. Lost teeth can be extremely hard to live with since your teeth are responsible for a number of critical functions that are important to your quality of life.

A Full Set of Teeth is Important

The first and most relevant function that teeth perform are biting and chewing food. Too many people who are living with lost or missing teeth are not chewing their favorite foods and miss enjoying the food they want. Similarly, teeth are also responsible for helping you enunciate words when you are speaking. People without teeth can be difficult to understand and find it extremely frustrating to communicate. Dentures are a solution that can help you with all of these problems and at the same time, give you back a wonderful, confident smile that you have been missing since you lost your teeth.

Types of Dentures

Without going into too much detail, which we will get into when you visit our clinic, there are three basic types of dentures available to any patient.  Numerous factors come into play when considering which of the three types of dentures you will be using. Determining if you're going to need a permanent or temporary solution is the most important factor.  In addition, we will need to evaluate the health of your gums when considering which dentist solution is best for you. There are numerous solutions, like dental implants, that we can offer our patients, and so during your initial consultation, we will need to discuss all these options to help decide which solution and which type of dentures are best suited for your needs.

• Temporary dentures are typically placed for patients who are only using them for a short period of time. In most cases, patients who are getting temporary dentures are preparing a different solution like dental implants or a dental bridge to be made. While this is an excellent solution for a temporary  restoration, temporary dentures are not a long-term fix because they are secured in place with a metal wire and work much the same way as a retainer would.
• Partial dentures are used if you had a few missing teeth and are looking for a more permanent solution to replace them. Partial dentures are not designed with a plastic base; rather, they are created with a metal framework to secure the base and prevent the dentures from falling out. In order to have partial dentures, you do need to have strong natural teeth in place so they can comfortably be attached to the denture fitting.
• A complete set of dentures is used if all your teeth are missing, or they are too weak and unhealthy to use a partial denture. Sometimes we need to remove teeth so we can make room for a complete denture. This process typically takes between eight and 12 weeks and will require some recovery time as your mouth adjusts to the new full or complete dentures.

To learn more about the solutions available to you, call our office and schedule a consultation.