At Cross Road Dental practice, we aim to provide healthy smiles to patients of all ages. For our older patients who suffer from loss of multiple teeth, we offer affordable dentures to bring back the smile and functionality, thus helping you eat and speak more comfortably.
Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth. Usually, the image that springs to your mind when you hear the word dentures may be a full set of replacement teeth. But there are also partial dentures available if you are missing only a few teeth.
Patients usually end up needing complete dentures because over the years they may have lost all or most of their teeth due to poor oral hygiene or other reasons. The remaining teeth that are left behind may not be strong enough to chew with, or may even not be strong enough to support partial dentures.
Periodontal diseases and tooth decay are the two main reasons for loss of teeth. Oral hygiene and regular dental visits can prevent teeth loss to a large extent, but some people are more susceptible to oral problems than others. For these patients, we suggest extra mitigating measures to ensure the health of the teeth.
Dentures are usually considered when the teeth are completely missing and the remaining ones are not salvageable. Depending on the extent of tooth loss, our dentists recommend partial or complete dentures.
With full dentures, replacement teeth are placed on a flesh-coloured acrylic base that fits snugly over your gums. The upper denture covers the roof of the mouth, while the lower denture is horseshoe shaped to accommodate the tongue.
Dentures are custom made in the lab after taking an impression of your mouth. The following denture options are available.
Conventional full dentures are used when the patient does not have any teeth left. When you come to the clinic with a few remaining teeth, we assess whether they are strong enough to support partial dentures. If not, it is preferable to extract them and wear full dentures after the gums and tissues have healed. Healing time may take a few months, and during this time you may have to manage without teeth if you choose conventional full dentures.
Understandably, you may not want to walk around without teeth for several months. Immediate full dentures would be a better option in this case. Immediate dentures are inserted immediately after the remaining teeth are removed. They may have to be relined again a few weeks or months after being inserted because as the gums and tissues heal after extraction, the bone structure may get reshaped and the dentures may not fit properly unless refitted.
Partial dentures are ideal if you have only a few teeth missing. They rest on a metal framework that is attached to the natural teeth. Adjacent teeth may need to be fitted with crowns to create strong anchors for the dentures. Partial dentures are like dental bridges, but they are removable.
Dentures may or may not be the proper choice for you – it depends on your budget, and aesthetic and functional goals. If you want to learn more about dentures, and find out if they are a suitable choice for you, please schedule an appointment with our dentists.
Just call our friendly staff and they will fix an appointment for you according to your convenience. We will be happy to answer all your questions and suggest the appropriate treatment for you.