
Millions of Americans are struggling with tooth loss, whether it’s a few of their teeth or an entire arch. If this is something you’ve experienced, then you understand how difficult normal tasks can be, such as talking, eating, and smiling. Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for this situation. Our team at NU Dental Eatontown can easily replace your missing teeth with lifelike and durable dentures. These prosthetics can give you back both your smile as well as your confidence! Keep reading to learn more about dentures or give us a call to schedule your appointment.
Nearly everyone who is missing one or more teeth can be a candidate for dentures. Of course, our team will need to consider several factors, including your oral health, any underlying issues that need treatment, and your commitment to maintaining your smile. If you have any problems like gum disease or decay, we’ll have to resolve them before moving forward with your treatment. Once you’ve returned to oral health, we can develop a personalized plan for renewing your smile.
Dentures can come in many shapes, sizes, and types. After we’ve assessed your situation, we’ll determine which of the following kinds of prosthetics would be best for you.
Patients who are missing only some of their pearly whites might be eligible for partial dentures. This type is designed to fit between teeth like a puzzle piece, allowing you to replace those in different parts of your smile.
This is the most common type of denture, which is meant to help replace all of the teeth on one or each arch. Unlike partials that are held by clasping onto natural teeth, these prosthetics are kept in place via suction with the gum line.
If you wish to have the best stability for your new teeth, then implant dentures might be your best choice. These prosthetics will be anchored to your jawbone via dental implants. This process does involve minor surgery, but the results can last decades to a lifetime with proper care!
Dentures come with a wide range of benefits for you and your smile, including:
True enough, tooth loss can happen at any age. However, it still occurs more often for older patients. Those in their late 40s and early 50s are likeliest to be first-time denture wearers.
Current research supports this truth. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 66 % of adults aged 40-64 lack at least one tooth. Similarly, the American Dental Association found that over half of those aged 65-74 wear dentures.
Of course, you can still get dentures in your younger years. The need for them may increase with age, but young and old alike can be denture candidates.
Typically, the wait for dentures after tooth extraction is 6-8 weeks. That said, the exact timing depends on the denture you get. Certain kinds require your mouth to recover more for placement.
For example, consider immediate dentures. These kinds can be placed right after an extraction. (As such, they have the nickname of “same-day” dentures.) Given this trait, they’d let you enjoy eating and speaking right away. Still, these dentures may not fit your underlying bone and gums well.
In contrast, implant dentures involve a longer wait. They won’t fully work until 4-6 months after placement. Once that period ends, your implants will have properly fused with your jaw.
Dentures may act as replacement teeth, but they aren’t exactly like natural ones. There are foods you should avoid when wearing them. You may hurt your restored smile or oral health if you don't.
In particular, you shouldn’t eat the following:
Honestly, yes – it’s entirely possible to kiss with dentures! Even so, you’ll need time to adjust to how the act feels.
Remember, dentures are artificial; they don’t have nerves like real teeth do. Therefore, you have to be cautious when kissing with them. You might kiss too hard or bump your partner’s teeth otherwise.
Luckily, you can speed up the adjustment. Just practice kissing gently when you’re wearing dentures. That way, your prosthetic teeth won’t shift out of place.