Dentures & Partial Dentures
Losing teeth can affect the way you eat, speak, and feel about your smile, but it does not have to be permanent. At Mt. Hermon Dental Care, we offer custom dentures and partial dentures designed to closely resemble your natural teeth and restore the form and function of your smile.
What Dentures & Partial Dentures Can Do
Modern dentures are a comfortable and affordable solution for replacing missing teeth and getting your smile back to looking and feeling its best. Whether you are missing a few teeth or all of them, we can create a custom appliance tailored to your needs. Dentures and partial dentures can:
- Replace some or all missing teeth
- Restore your ability to eat and speak comfortably
- Improve the appearance of your smile
- Support facial structure and prevent sagging
- Prevent remaining teeth from shifting
- Boost your confidence and quality of life
- Provide a removable and easy to maintain solution
- Serve as a foundation for implant-supported restorations
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth in the upper or lower arch are missing. They are custom-made to fit the unique shape of your gums and jaw, and are designed to closely resemble natural teeth in color, size, and shape. A well-fitted complete denture restores your ability to eat and speak with confidence and gives your smile a full, natural appearance.
There are two types of complete dentures: conventional and immediate. Conventional dentures are fabricated after the remaining teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has fully healed, which typically takes four to six weeks. During this healing period, you will be provided with a temporary appliance so you are not without teeth while you wait.
Immediate Dentures
An immediate denture is created in advance and placed the same day your remaining teeth are extracted, so you never have to go without teeth during the healing process. This can be an important consideration for patients who are concerned about their appearance or ability to function during recovery.
Because the gums and jawbone continue to change shape as they heal, immediate dentures will typically require adjustment or relining once the tissue has fully settled. We will schedule follow-up visits to monitor the fit and make any necessary modifications to keep your denture comfortable and secure.
Partial Dentures
A partial denture is used when some natural teeth remain in the upper or lower arch. It fills the gap created by missing teeth while also preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting out of position over time. Partial dentures are held in place by clasps that attach to the adjacent natural teeth, making them stable and easy to remove for cleaning.
Like complete dentures, partial dentures are custom-made to match the appearance of your natural teeth as closely as possible. They are a practical and cost-effective way to restore your smile when only some teeth need to be replaced. With proper care and regular dental visits, a partial denture can provide years of reliable function and a natural-looking result.
Implant-Supported Dentures
For patients looking for a more stable and permanent solution, implant-supported dentures offer the security of dental implants combined with the coverage of a full denture. Rather than resting on the gums, the denture attaches to a series of implants placed in the jawbone, eliminating the movement and slipping that can occur with traditional dentures.
Implant-supported dentures also help preserve the jawbone by stimulating it the way natural tooth roots would. This prevents the bone loss that commonly occurs after tooth loss and helps maintain the natural shape of your face over time. If you are interested in a more permanent denture solution, we will evaluate whether implant-supported dentures are a good fit for your situation.
Getting Your Dentures
Getting dentures generally requires several appointments over the course of a few weeks. During these visits, we take detailed impressions of your mouth and accurate measurements of your jaw, which are used to create your custom appliance in a dental laboratory. We work closely with the lab to ensure your denture is crafted to the highest standard.
How much do dentures cost?
The cost of dentures varies depending on whether you need a complete or partial appliance, which arch is being restored, and whether any extractions or preparatory treatment are required. We will provide you with a full estimate before treatment begins so you can review your options and make an informed decision. We also offer financing options to help make treatment more accessible.
Why dentures are better than living without teeth
Missing teeth do more than affect your appearance, they can make it difficult to eat a balanced diet, cause your remaining teeth to shift, and lead to bone loss in the jaw over time. Dentures restore the function and structure of your mouth and prevent many of the long-term consequences of untreated tooth loss. Replacing missing teeth as soon as possible is always the better choice for your overall oral health.
Will my dentures look natural?
Modern dentures are crafted from high-quality materials that closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth and gum tissue. We take great care in selecting the right color, size, and shape for your appliance so that it complements your facial features and looks as natural as possible. Most patients are pleasantly surprised by how lifelike their new dentures look and feel.
Why Implant-Supported Dentures Are Better Than Traditional Dentures
- Improved stability – Implant-supported dentures are anchored securely to the jawbone, eliminating the movement and slipping that can occur with traditional dentures.
- Preserve jawbone – Traditional dentures rest on the gums and do nothing to prevent the bone loss that occurs after tooth loss. Implant-supported dentures stimulate the jawbone the way natural roots would, preserving its shape and density over time.
- No adhesives required – Traditional dentures often require messy adhesives to stay in place. Implant-supported dentures attach directly to the implants, so there is nothing extra needed to keep them secure.
- More natural function – Implant-supported dentures restore chewing function much closer to that of natural teeth, allowing you to eat a wider variety of foods with confidence.
- Long-term solution – Traditional dentures need to be relined and eventually replaced as the jaw changes shape over time. Implant-supported dentures maintain their fit far longer because the implants help preserve the underlying bone structure.
- Improved comfort – Because implant-supported dentures do not press and shift against the gums, they eliminate much of the soreness and irritation that traditional denture wearers commonly experience.
Caring for Your Dentures
Proper care of your dentures is essential to keeping them clean, comfortable, and long-lasting. Dentures should be removed and rinsed after eating to clear away food particles, and brushed daily with a soft denture brush and non-abrasive cleanser to remove plaque and prevent staining. Avoid using regular toothpaste, which can be too abrasive and damage the surface of the appliance.
When you are not wearing your dentures, store them in a denture-soaking solution or plain water to prevent them from drying out and losing their shape. Never place dentures in hot water, as this can cause warping. Handle your dentures carefully when cleaning them, as they can break if dropped on a hard surface.
Even with dentures, it is important to continue caring for your oral health. Brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth each morning before inserting your dentures to remove plaque and stimulate circulation in the gum tissue. If you wear a partial denture, continue brushing and flossing your remaining natural teeth as you normally would.
Regular dental visits remain important even after you have lost all of your teeth. We will examine your gums, check the fit of your denture, and screen for oral cancer at every visit. Over time, the shape of your gums and jawbone will change, and your denture may need to be relined or adjusted to maintain a comfortable and secure fit.
Dentures that no longer fit properly can cause irritation, sore spots, and difficulty eating. If you notice any discomfort or changes in the way your denture fits, contact our office so we can evaluate the situation and make the necessary adjustments. Never attempt to adjust or repair a denture yourself, as this can cause irreparable damage to the appliance.
With the right care routine and regular professional visits, your dentures can provide years of comfortable, reliable function. We will provide you with detailed instructions at the time of your fitting and are always available to answer questions or address any concerns that come up as you adjust to your new appliance.
A Smile Worth Showing Off Starts Here
At Mt. Hermon Dental Care, we understand how much your smile means to you, and we are committed to helping you restore it with a denture that fits well, looks great, and lasts. Contact our Scotts Valley office today to schedule a consultation and find out which denture option is right for you.
