Dentures and Partial Dentures: What You Should Know

At John M. Chaves, DDS, we can provide you with dentures and partial dentures designed to replace your teeth without looking obvious. We understand dentures have a questionable reputation. Many people associate dentures with false teeth that look fake. This is no longer the case. As a cosmetic dentist, we can ensure any prosthetic you have will look and behave like natural teeth. While there will be a few things to adjust to, we can help make your experience with prosthetics a pleasant one.

Why Dentures Are Needed

If a patient loses a tooth due to an accident, decay, infection, or age, it is important to replace it right away. The best way to do so is with dental implants since an implant can replace the root system and tooth. However, if the patient does not want a surgical procedure, dentures are an excellent solution. Dentures are dependable and highly functional. Keep in mind that early replacement is key because it can minimize the amount of resorption that occurs and helps the overall appearance remain intact.

Dentures and Partial Dentures: The Difference

A full or complete set of dentures is the best choice when the patient has lost all of his or her teeth or all the teeth on the upper or lower palate. Partial dentures are necessary when the patient has only lost a few teeth, but still, has remaining ones the denture can secure to. Full or complete dentures secure in place by surrounding the gums. By matching a patient's exact measurements, the dentures will remain securely in place.

Partial dentures, on the other hand, are secured to the other teeth using wires or clasps. In both cases, the fit will be precise, so the denture will not move when eating or speaking. Some people find that their complete dentures need additional security and elect to use a denture adhesive to assist with this. We can discuss all these options when the patient visits our dental office.

Temporary Dentures

Many of our patients will wear dentures and partial dentures on a temporary basis while undergoing cosmetic procedures to permanently replace missing teeth. For example, if a patient decides to get dental implants, the total treatment time can be several months. To preserve the appearance of the smile during this process, a temporary denture will be available.

Other patients wear dentures while trying to decide which treatment route they want to take. Doing so gives patients the flexibility to make decisions without feeling like they have to rush into something. The one thing to keep in mind is that the longer patients go without replacing the lost tooth or teeth, the more the body will experience resorption. Even if the patient only replaces the lost teeth with a temporary set of dentures, it will help.

Once your jawbone stabilizes, John M. Chaves, DDS can fit the patient with a permanent set of dentures that will fit well and continue to do so. In other cases, we can provide patients with a dental bridge or dental implants as a permanent replacement solution.