Understanding Dentures: Types & Advantages

Whether you’ve lost one, several, or most of your teeth, dentures in Grove City, OH may be just what you need to restore your appearance, boost your confidence, and eat your favorite foods once again. But there are lots of different types of dentures, and they all work a little bit differently. 

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Not sure exactly what’s involved in getting dentures? Wondering if dental implants are a viable alternative? Curious about what’s required to care for your new smile after you get dentures? In this guide from Grove City Smiles, we’ll get into all the details and help you understand everything you need to know about dentures.

What Are Dentures? The Basics

Dentures are dental prosthetics used to restore missing teeth in the upper, lower, or both rows (arches) of your teeth. They consist of one, several, or a full row of false teeth that are set into a gum-colored acrylic base. Each set of dentures is completely custom, and is designed to fully restore your smile and your bite. 

Dentures are designed to fit perfectly over your gums (for full dentures), or to attach to your remaining healthy teeth using a metal or plastic framework (partial dentures). Once in place, dentures restore your ability to chew foods, speak clearly, and smile proudly once again after tooth loss.

Understanding Common Types of Dentures

Not all dentures are the same. Dr. Michale Pappas and our team will recommend the proper type of dentures based on how many teeth you’ve lost and some other factors. Wondering what your options are? Here’s a quick overview of the most common types of dentures.

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• Partial dentures – Partial dentures consist of one or more false teeth held together by a plastic or wire framework. They are designed to attach to your remaining healthy teeth, replacing one or several missing teeth. Partial dentures are a great option if you've lost a few teeth, but the rest of your smile is healthy.
• Full dentures – Full dentures replace the upper, lower, or both rows of teeth, and are what most people think of when they think of “dentures.” Full dentures are only recommended for patients who have lost most or all of their natural teeth. This is because they require the extraction of all of your remaining teeth in order to fit properly.
• Temporary dentures – Temporary dentures are pre-fitted dentures that are often placed right after tooth extractions or other dental surgeries like implant placement surgery. They are meant to restore your smile until your permanent set of custom-built dentures can be designed, built, and placed in your mouth.
• Implant-supported dentures – Rather than being held in place with friction, implant-supported dentures snap directly onto a set of 4-6 dental implants in the upper, lower, or both rows of teeth. This locks them in place, providing enhanced stability. Both removable and fixed implant-supported dentures are available.

The Benefits of Dentures

Restore your confidence

First and foremost, dentures let you restore your confidence in your appearance. Tooth loss can make you feel embarrassed when you smile, laugh, or even speak around others, especially if you’ve lost most of your teeth or multiple front teeth. With dentures, you can enjoy a beautiful, natural-looking smile once again.

Eat your favorite foods

Tooth loss makes it really hard to eat certain foods, especially nutritious foods like raw fruit and vegetables. With a set of custom dentures from Grove City Smiles, you’ll be able to eat just about everything that you loved before you lost your teeth.

Speak clearly once again

Along with chewing, tooth loss can also impair speech. If you’ve lost many of your teeth, you may sound “slushy” when you speak, or have trouble pronouncing certain words. Dentures restore your ability to speak clearly and confidently.

Prevent teeth from shifting

If you still have most of your teeth, getting partial dentures helps prevent complications like teeth shifting. After tooth loss, your remaining teeth will tend to move toward the gaps in your smile, which can ruin the alignment of your teeth. With dentures, this won’t be an issue! 

Comparing Dentures Vs. Dental Implants

Not sure if dentures are right for you, or if you should choose dental implants instead? Both options may be a good fit, but it’s not always easy to figure out which method of tooth replacement is the best choice.

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Overall, though, dentures are usually the best option for replacing your teeth if you’re on a budget and want fast results. You can get your new smile in just a few weeks, and dentures are usually covered, at least in part, by dental insurance. 

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The biggest drawbacks are that dentures don’t have a very long lifespan. They usually last between 5-8 years. They also require a lot of maintenance and adjustments to your oral health routine.

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In contrast, dental implants often have a lifespan of 20-30 years or longer, and many patients keep them for the rest of their lives. They also require much less maintenance and are more convenient.

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However, dental implants are much more expensive than dentures, especially if you need a full mouth of implants. They also take longer, with a total treatment time of 6-9 months in most cases. Also, not everyone qualifies for implants since your jawbone must be strong enough to accommodate them.

Materials Used For Dentures 

Partial and full dentures are usually made out of high-quality acrylic resin. This includes both the false teeth and the gum-colored base. Acrylic resin is very strong, durable, and stain-resistant. And thanks to digital design techniques, today’s dentures look more realistic than ever.

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Implant-supported dentures are typically made from an acrylic base with porcelain (ceramic) teeth. This makes them even more durable and long-lasting, and helps enhance their appearance since porcelain looks very similar to natural enamel in color, shine, and translucency.

Denture Care & Maintenance Requirements

Not sure how you’ll care for your new smile? Denture maintenance is pretty simple, although it may take a little bit of time to adjust to your new routine. Here’s what you can expect:

• Rinse after eating – Whenever possible, you should take your dentures out and rinse them after you eat meals. This helps prevent food and bacteria from building up on your new teeth.
• Brush once per day – Once a day, you should brush your dentures with non-abrasive dental cleaning cream. Don’t use toothpaste, since this could scratch or damage your dentures. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean your dentures thoroughly to remove any food particles, debris, or denture adhesive.
• Soak your dentures at night – At night, you’ll need to take out your dentures and soak them in a denture cleaning solution. This cleans and sanitizes your dentures and allows your gums to rest, too.
  
• Adjustments and relining – It’s pretty common for the shape of your jawbone to change after you get your dentures. If this happens, your dentures can be adjusted or relined by your dentist at Grove City Smiles. If you notice that your dentures are slipping or you notice “hot spots” where they're irritating your gums, a denture adjustment or relining may be necessary.
• Repairing dentures – If your dentures ever break, you won’t be able to repair them yourself. You’ll need to come into Grove City Smiles for a visit with your dentist to fix them or get a new set. You should be especially careful when handling your dentures above the sink or a tile floor. They're delicate, and dropping them could cause serious damage.

Visit Grove City Smiles To Explore Tooth Replacement Options

If you’re looking for affordable dentures and expert care in Grove City, OH, Dr. Michael Pappas and our team are here to help. At Grove City Smiles, we can help you explore all of your options for tooth replacement including partial dentures, dental bridges, implants, full dentures, and more.

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Our team is not here to judge you. We’re here to help you explore your options, deliver personalized care, and help you love your smile once again. Give us a call at (614) 350-5300 or get in touch online to book your consultation right away.

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