What are dentures?

Dentures are a removable dental appliance used to replace missing teeth. They are custom made from impressions taken of your mouth. Dentures can be made to replace all missing teeth, or they can be a partial denture used to replace a few missing teeth. Dentures can also be secured using dental implants.

Traditional dentures are secured using suction. The denture fits snugly over your gums and jawbone. Your jawbone will slowly change shape over time, and your denture may loosen as a result.

Dentures may be supported by dental implants. Dental implants are titanium rods that are surgically inserted into your jawbone. The rods fuse to your jawbone, and they serve as artificial tooth roots. A denture may snap onto these implants. The implants also help keep your jawbone strong, so you won’t have to deal with loose dentures.

What are partial dentures?

Partial dentures are one of many different types of dentures, which are artificial teeth that replace missing teeth. Partial dentures are used when there are one or more missing teeth, but they do not replace all of the teeth.

Partial dentures can either be removable or fixed. Removable partial dentures are held in place by clasps. Fixed partial dentures are held in place with dental implants.

What are full dentures?

Dentures are a removable replacement for missing teeth.

Full dentures are used to replace all the teeth in a dental arch. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

Permanent dentures explained?

Permanent dentures are also known as full dentures and are used when there are no teeth remaining. In cases of severe tooth loss, the patient may need to use full dentures. Full dentures are removable and are made out of a hard acrylic plastic. The acrylic material allows the dentures to be strong and durable.

Dentures vs. bridges.

Dentures can take the place of your entire set of teeth, while bridges will only replace one or a few missing teeth.

Dentures vs. implants.

Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Implants are strong, durable, and feel like natural teeth. Dentures, on the other hand, are removable tooth replacements that are held in place by denture adhesive.

While dentures can replace multiple teeth, they are only beneficial when all of the natural teeth are missing from the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures are also only beneficial when some of the natural teeth are still present.

Dr. Lofton provides both dental implants and dentures at his Austin, TX dentist office. If you would like to learn more about your options for tooth replacement, call Dr. Lofton’s office today at (512) 306-0057 or schedule online.

Caring for dentures.

Dentures are fragile. They require extra care, and even if you are taking great care of them, they can break. If your dentures break, call your dentist. In the meantime, follow these tips for caring for dentures:

Clean your dentures regularly. Brush them to remove food debris and plaque. If your dentures have metal clasps, brush them with a soft toothbrush.

Soak your dentures overnight. This will keep them from drying out.

Keep them moist. Don’t keep your dentures in a solution with a high concentration of chlorine.

Don’t let your dentures dry out. Keep your dentures moist when you’re not wearing them.

Don’t use hot water to clean your dentures. The hot water will warp your dentures.

Alternatives to dentures.

Dentures are an affordable and highly effective way of replacing missing teeth. However, dentures are not the only option. Depending on your individual situation, other treatments may be better suited to fit your unique needs.

Alternatives to dentures include dental implants, bridgework, and partial dentures. All three options have pros and cons, and can help restore function and esthetics to your bite.

Dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone and capped with replacement teeth, which look and function just like your natural teeth. However, it can take months for the implants to fully integrate with the bone, and during that time, you won’t have full use of your teeth.

Bridgework and partial dentures are more similar to dentures in that they are removable. However, they are fixed using adjacent teeth for support. Bridgework uses dental crowns to fill the gaps between teeth, while partial dentures use clasps to attach to natural teeth.