Are Dentures Right for Me?

Read on to find out!

You have many options when it comes to improving the health, comfort, and beauty of your mouth, so it is important to know which procedures and materials are best for your specific needs. In this message I want to talk about what it would mean to replace one, several, or all of your natural teeth with dentures.

Complete Dentures

When people talk about “having dentures,” they are most likely referring to “complete,” “conventional,” or “immediate” dentures; all of these terms describe dentures that replace all of your teeth. If you’ve lost all or most of your natural teeth and need to have them replaced with artificial teeth, it makes the most sense to get complete dentures. This may mean removing the few natural teeth you have left; this can be done painlessly and will allow the new teeth to fit properly and seamlessly over your smooth gums. Complete dentures are inserted into your mouth and held in place by their tight fit over your gums, the muscles of your cheeks, and a dental adhesive.

Once you get used to your complete dentures you’ll find that you are able to eat and talk completely normally, and that your mouth looks natural, filled out, and healthy. Dentures can give you back the confidence you might have lost while you were losing your teeth, and they make your smile look bright and youthful again. They are easy to care for, and if you clean them and come in regularly for checkups, they will last you a very long time.

Implants

If you’d like something a little more stable and permanent, or if you need to have only a few teeth replaced, you might choose dental implants instead of dentures. Implants are surgically placed; they fuse to the jawbone under the gum line and, because they are more secure, can feel more natural and comfortable than removable dentures. If you have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implants, this might be the solution for you.

The implants require several consecutive appointments and may require multiple surgeries. In the first surgery you’ll be fitted with “anchors” for the implants, and after your jaw heals around them, you’ll be fitted with newly crafted teeth that fit onto the anchors. Because there is time and surgery involved, candidates for implants need to be in good health and need to be prepared to endure what can be a several-month long process. You’ll be rewarded in the end with a brand new secure, stable, sparkling smile.

Mini dental implants are a smaller and less invasive version of regular dental implants. They can be used to replace one or a few teeth, and they do not require surgery. These implants fit into the existing structure in your mouth and can be fitted quickly—they require up to 80% less time than conventional implants.

Whichever of these three ways you choose to go, you should know that they all work extremely well, leave you with a natural-looking smile, and help to improve your overall confidence and beauty.

If you’re interested in learning more about dentures, or you’d just like to consult with a dentist, click here to schedule a free consultation with me!

See you next week when we’ll discuss how dentures affect your speech and eating habits.