Dentures are essentially removable replacements for missing teeth. Two types of dentures are available: complete, or full, dentures and partial dentures. Patients who need to replace an entire row of teeth use full dentures. On the other hand, partial dentures, or partials, are used when only a few of the teeth need to be replaced and some of the natural teeth are still intact. At the Family Dental Group, full and partial dentures are fabricated to resemble natural teeth as closely as possible while also taking into consideration the patient’s comfort when wearing them.
By establishing two implanted attachments to the lower jaw, an overdenture is able to sit securely in place to instantly increase retention, stability, and comfort. This is especially important in lower-jaw, full-denture situations where traditional dentures tend to have less adhesion due to a limited foundation and the tongue muscle dislodging the prosthetic teeth.
Over a period of time, your denture will need to be relined, remade, or rebased due to normal wear. Rebasing means making a new base while keeping the existing denture teeth. Also, as you age, your mouth naturally changes. These changes cause your dentures to loosen, making chewing difficult and irritating your gums. At a minimum, you should see your dentist annually for a checkup.
Natural Looking Cosmetic Dentures: Instead of traditional plastic prosthetic teeth, natural looking cosmetic dentures are made with modern ceramic porcelain teeth. The dentures are usually individually crafted, and look more like real teeth than the plastic variety. Cosmetic dentures also have a more natural looking support structure, and though they may cost a bit more than conventional dentures, they are truly difficult to distinguish from real teeth.
Dental implants are a permanent alternative to partial dentures and bring additional benefits that dentures cannot provide and will outlast normal dentures even under optimal conditions. Dental implants will actually replace the entire tooth (the tooth root as well as the crown) which eliminates bone deterioration and brings the same strength and durability as your original tooth.
Before I close, I'd like to add a word on fees as well. I almost hesitate to call this an affordable dental office, simply because they obviously put care first. All dental offices should do what this office does and provide options, but few do. It's that commitment to patient care and letting you choose what's right for you that makes them more affordable, versus the offices that cut corners to save you a buck. That's a major difference worth noting. They also have an on-site lab, which saves costs as well.
The denture itself is not very good. Again, I fault this due to a low paid lab worker, who is probably texting while he makes the denture. It clearly did not fit properly, too much in one area, too little in another. I am glad that I have had a partial for years and an upper for years, as I know what can be done to alleviate the pressure points. I had to remove material in several spots on the lower edges of the denture, to keep it from bruising my gums.
Partial dentures are an appropriate solution when the other teeth in your mouth are healthy. It is always preferable to keep your natural teeth, however, if this is not an option, a full denture may be the right solution for you. DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions also offers the All-In-One dental implant solution – a more permanent, implant-based solution that “fixes” your dentures in place. Learn more about the All-In-One Solution.
If needed, patients can get a full set of upper or lower dentures, but many patients get partial removable dentures and keep as many of their natural teeth as possible. Partial dentures can replace one or more teeth in the upper or lower set, allowing spaces for natural teeth. In other words, the teeth in partial dentures do not need to be next to each other.
When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. The teeth in the other jaw may also shift up or down toward the space. This can affect your bite and place more stress on your teeth and jaws. You may find it harder to clean teeth that have shifted, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. That is why it is important to replace missing teeth.
Most new denture issues are caused by gums adjusting to extractions and the placing of artificial teeth. These are not problems particular to me. My gums were ready for permanent partials, yet Affordable Dentures refused to provide them. At one point, Dr. **, in an effort to deflect responsibility for her inferior work, pointed to my natural tooth #22, and said, "It's this one that's causing all the trouble. This tooth gave us FITS!" Tooth #22 had nothing to do with the creation or placement of her shoddy partials. My #22 is perfectly normal and was not in the way of anything. Dr.** simply had to divert attention from her fraud by projecting away from herself.
Removable complete denture. This denture sits on top of the gums where the missing teeth were. It can be uncomfortable, affect your ability to experience the full taste of food, cause sore gums, and shift and click in your mouth when you speak, eat, smile, yawn or cough. While the initial costs are low, they only last an average of 7 to 15 years, and the replacement costs can be significant over the long term. They need to be removed regularly for cleaning, which can be a time-consuming hassle. Also, as with a partial denture, the natural bone underneath a complete denture may deteriorate over time, permanently changing the appearance of your smile and face.
