Losing your natural teeth can happen for several reasons. It could happen after severe oral issues like gum disease and cavities or after an accident. Living life with a missing tooth or teeth is not advisable. It could affect your teeth’s functionality, cause your other teeth to shift positions, and affect your bite, look, and feel. That is why cosmetic dentists offer a wide range of treatment options for missing teeth, which include dentures.
Dentures are removable prosthetics that dentists use to fill the gaps left by missing teeth. They are a cost-effective and prevalent way to replace missing teeth. You can confidently smile again and use your teeth generally after the replacement. But you need the help of a skilled dentist for a quality and adequate replacement for your missing tooth.
We first take our time to examine your teeth at The Lakewood Dentist to ensure that you are the right candidate for dentures. We then explain the treatment process, what you should expect during treatment, and possible results. We will ensure you understand the risk factors, possible complications, and advantages you enjoy with dentures. That helps you make an informed decision.
Thus, if you have gaps where you have lost natural teeth, we are available for professional advice, examination, and treatment in Lakewood, CA. Our goal is to help restore your beautiful smile and teeth’ functionality.
An Overview of Dentures
Losing one or more teeth can occur after an accident, a severe blow to your face, or due to severe cavities or gum disease. Dentists sometimes recommend tooth extraction, especially when dealing with a severely injured tooth. When you lose your natural tooth, a lot is at stake. Losing one tooth will not appear as a big deal for some people, but the remaining gap can significantly impact your remaining teeth and jawbone.
For example, when there is a gap, the adjacent teeth shift positions to occupy the space left by the missing teeth. That affects your tooth alignment, bite, and how your teeth appear and function. The jawbone also deteriorates since it does not support the tooth. After a prolonged period of not replacing the missing tooth, your face changes in appearance. It is because your teeth support the facial skin and give you a beautiful appearance. When you lose that support, your facial appearance changes to appear as if you are older than you are.
Dentists recommend replacing missing teeth immediately after you lose a natural tooth. Fortunately, they have a wide range of treatment options for missing teeth. Some options are more affordable than others, enabling everyone to find a solution to keep their teeth functional and jaws strong.
Dentures are recommended for patients who need to replace missing teeth but do not have the financial ability to pay for expensive cosmetic procedures. Many people wear dentures today. They enhance the quality of your life, restore your smile, and enable you to use your teeth as you would with all your natural teeth. But you must be the right candidate for dentures for your dentist to recommend them. They will first examine your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine your suitability for dentures.
You could be the right candidate for dentures if you have lost several teeth and need a cost-effective way to replace them. Your jawbone and gums must also be strong and healthy to support the dentures. If you only have one or two missing teeth, your dentist will use a dental bridge to ensure the denture will have adequate support after installation.
If you have a missing tooth or teeth, it is advisable to seek a dentist’s advice and help. They will examine your teeth, gums, and underlying structures to advise you on the best tooth replacement option for the missing teeth. If the dentist suggests dentures, they will explain what dentures are, the treatment process, and what to expect during and after treatment.
Your dentist can discuss tooth replacement options right before an extraction. For example, if you have a severely damaged tooth due to an accident, gum disease, or cavity, your dentist can advise you to have it removed. Then, they can immediately replace it with a denture. People with chronic gum disease, a shifting or loose tooth, or a painful toothache that could necessitate tooth extraction are likely to receive dentures. Remember that tooth replacement must happen almost immediately after losing your natural tooth. If you take a long time to replace the tooth, your remaining teeth will shift position, and your bone could deteriorate.
Types of Dentures
It is crucial to know that there are two main types of dentures. Your dentist will discuss your options to ensure you understand what each type offers. Then, you will make an informed decision. The two types are:
Complete Dentures
You can use these complete dentures to replace all your natural teeth. They cover all your gums and use the jawbone as the anchor for support. If you accidentally lost all your teeth and are unsure of what to choose to replace them all, your dentist can recommend a complete denture. But they must ensure that your gums and jawbone are healthy and robust enough to support the dentures.
Partial Dentures
If some of your teeth are missing, your dentist will suggest partial dentures to replace them. You can use partial dentures to replace one or more missing teeth, whether in one row or in different locations on your gums. The dentist must ensure that your remaining natural teeth are strong and healthy. They will then use a pink base and metal to hold the dentures.
The Process of Receiving Dentures
Before taking you through the tooth replacement, your dentist must prepare you for what to expect during treatment. They must discuss the treatment process with you to keep your mind at ease and help you understand what to expect during and after treatment. After the process, you will also be one of the many people living with dentures. It helps to work closely with a skilled dentist to ensure the process is smooth and your dentures are of good quality. Here are some of the steps you could go through before receiving dentures:
Emergency Dental Care
In most cases, losing a tooth happens in an emergency. You could have fallen or been in an accident where you lost one or more teeth or severely injured your teeth. Or, you could have a severe toothache, necessitating urgent extraction. If you have encountered an emergency, the dentist will handle the matter with the urgency it deserves.
For example, if you have a severe toothache, they will first administer painkillers to alleviate your pain and allow them to examine the tooth. You will undergo emergency tooth extraction if the tooth is severely damaged and cannot be saved. The exact process will follow if you have severely damaged your tooth in an accident.
Once the tooth is out, the dentist will discuss tooth replacement options for you. They will not replace the tooth immediately after extraction but will start the process right after the treatment before your remaining teeth shift positions to occupy the space left by the missing tooth.
Dental Examination
Your dentist will examine your damaged tooth first to recommend the best treatment option. They recommend extraction and restoration if they cannot save the tooth. The dentist will also examine your gums and jawbones to determine whether they are strong and healthy enough to support the dentures.
The dentist will also consider your treatment history when developing a treatment plan. It is essential to let your dentist know of any treatments you have had in the past, the medications you are taking at that moment, and any allergies you have. Discuss your worries and concerns, and ensure you agree to their treatment plan if you are convinced it is in your best interest.
You could require up to five visits to the dentist’s office to receive dentures. Typically, the dentist’s primary focus during the examination will be on:
- Your past and current medical and dental treatment history
- Your oral and dental health, including the health of your gums, jawbones, and underlying structures
- Developing a treatment plan that will meet your needs and restore your smile, confidence, and oral health
Pre-Treatment Process
The dentist will treat you for any underlying dental or oral issues before preparing your teeth and installing dentures.
For example, if your tooth is severely damaged due to a cavity and its root is decayed, the infection could spread even after installing a denture. In that case, the dentist must remove the infected structures to stop the infection.
You would need to undergo a surgical treatment to remove an infected pulp. It entails opening up the gum to access the tooth’s underlying structures. Once the infected pulp is removed, the dentist will clean the treatment site, fill it with dental filling material, return the gum to its original position, and seal it completely.
If the damage extends to the jawbone and has caused the jawbone to deteriorate, you could need bone grafting. That will restore its structure and strength.
A skilled dentist will explain all treatment processes to you to ensure you understand why you need them and what they entail. That will keep you relaxed throughout the treatment process until you have your new dentures.
The Treatment Process
The installation of dentures must occur on a completely healed gum. Thus, the dentist will give your gum time to heal after tooth extraction or pre-treatment. In the meantime, they will prepare your dentures to ensure they are ready when your gum is ready to receive them.
The first step in creating your dentures is to generate the initial impressions. Your dentist will first determine how you want your dentures to appear. They will then take impressions of your mouth using a prosthetist to make a custom mold of a denture that will perfectly fit you. Your dentist will also guide you in choosing the best material for your dentures according to durability, strength, and cost.
When creating the initial impressions, the dentist will aim to create a denture that closely mimics your natural teeth. They can use your previous pictures or a close family member’s ideas. If you are satisfied with the initial impression, the dentist will create a second one.
The dentist will create a second impression on your second visit to their office. The process will take about 40 minutes. The dentist will measure your mouth’s anatomy during this session using unique, customized trays. They could require you to bite into a piece of wax to determine your bite to ensure that your new dentures will allow your upper and lower teeth to come ideally together when you bite down.
Once they have the correct measurements, your dentist will create a trial denture that imitates the location of teeth and contours of what the finished denture should look like. You can now choose the color and quality of your dentures.
When the second impressions are ready, your dentist will call you back to their office to try them out. This will be a short visit to the dentist’s office and could take about 20 minutes. The dentist must ensure the dentures fit your mouth perfectly before creating the final product. They will use the wax-based dentures in your mouth to assess how they fit and whether their appearance suits you. It is necessary to express how you feel and whether or not the impressions meet your expectations because the dentist will use these exact molds to create the final dentures.
When your dentures are ready, your dentist will call you back to their office to pick them up and wear them. They will initially feel unusual until your mouth, tongue, and facial muscles adapt to them. You will also experience difficulties when eating, smiling, or speaking. But you should feel comfortable with time. Your dentist can adjust the dentures if they do not appear as expected.
If you are satisfied with the dentures, the dentist will give you a few tips on caring for them and your oral health. For example, they will require you to continue brushing and flossing your teeth to keep your mouth clean and infection-free. You could remove your dentures when cleaning your teeth to ensure you reach all parts of your mouth. The dentist will also demonstrate cleaning your dentures using a soft brush. You must contact your dentist immediately if you experience any changes or damage after wearing the dentures.
What To Expect With Dentures
Dentists have a wide range of materials for making dentures. Some materials are stronger and more durable than others. How long your dentures will last will depend on the durability of the material used in making them. Typically, dentures can serve you for ten years or more. But you must take proper care of them to enjoy a long service. You must also modify or fix them if they become damaged or loose. You can visit your dentist regularly for regular checkups and to ensure that your dentures work as they should. If need be, your dentist will recommend a new set of dentures to keep your teeth functional and your smile bright.
Before your mouth is used to the dentures, you could experience discomfort or pain when eating or speaking. It is not advisable to remove them. Keeping them on will ensure that your mouth adapts to the new restorations quickly enough. Here are some recommendations your dentist will make to ensure you recover well after dental restoration:
- Ensure you have enough rest after receiving new dentures — This is crucial, especially if you underwent oral or dental treatment before receiving new dentures. For example, if you had surgery to remove an infected tooth’s roots, you must allow yourself enough time to rest and heal. You could take time off work and your regular schedule to rest. You can heal quickly and rejuvenate for a more productive working period.
- Your dentist will recommend changing what and how you eat — You could do that for a few days after treatment since you will likely experience pain or discomfort. For example, you can switch to liquids and soft drinks before you can comfortably chew with the dentures.
Additionally, you can avoid hard and sticky foods. These can interfere with your recovery.
- Take good care of your teeth and mouth — Keep up with the good oral hygiene recommended by dentists, including brushing at least twice daily and flossing to remove stuck food particles from your teeth. Keeping the dangerous bacteria out of your mouth for good oral hygiene and overall well-being is necessary.
- Your dentist can recommend preparing a mouthwash to rinse your mouth every time you eat something — You can use saline water instead of store-bought mouthwashes that can hurt or irritate your healing wounds. Saltwater is safe and effective.
The Benefits of Choosing Dentures
Dentures have several advantages to offer people who have lost their natural teeth. Here are some of the benefits to consider when choosing them:
You Can Smile Again
Dentures make you smile better after losing your natural teeth. Your teeth are naturally beautiful, giving you a beautiful smile and confidence. Your smile and confidence are affected when you lose one or more teeth. Dentures restore your beautiful smile and confidence, making it possible for you to smile again. They give your confidence a second chance. You can socialize and enjoy life without worrying about missing teeth. Since dentists can create natural-looking dentures that resemble your other teeth, no one needs to know that you have artificial teeth.
They are Easy to Clean
The greatest challenge people experience with dental restorations is keeping them clean. How clean you keep your dentures affects your oral health and general well-being. Fortunately, dentures are super easy to keep clean. Removable installations you can remove, clean, and wear back. You can clean even the hard-to-reach areas where the dangerous bacteria thrive. You only need a soft brush and a denture cleanser; you will never worry about your oral health.
They Are Easy To Maintain
Dentures are also very easy to maintain. You do not need to do much to keep them functional and beautiful. Your dentist will only recommend cleaning them regularly, rinsing your mouth with a safe mouthwash, and being careful not to break the dentures. If you take good care of your dentures, you can enjoy up to ten years of excellent service.
They Are Designed to Fit Comfortably
Dentures are custom-made to fit comfortably in your mouth. The dentist will first take impressions of your mouth to create a mold for your dentures. Before making the final product, they must ensure that the impressions match your mouth’s shape and contours. They also adjust if the final product does not fit as it should.
At first, you will experience discomfort and pain, but your mouth will adapt to them with time. For example, you could experience difficulties when chewing, biting, or speaking a few days after the installation. But it becomes easier to use them with time.
Find a Skilled Cosmetic Dentist Near Me
If you have or are about to lose one or more of your teeth, your smile, confidence, and tooth functionality will be highly impacted. You must consider how to replace the lost teeth to maintain a beautiful smile and confidence and keep your mouth functional. Dentists recommend several ways of replacing lost or missing teeth.
Dentures are an easy, cost-effective, and excellent way to replace missing teeth. They are custom-made removable artificial teeth that the dentist can create in the lab to fit the space left by the missing teeth. Dentists create dentures to match the color and shape of your natural teeth.
We have extensive experience dealing with all kinds of dentures at The Lakewood Dentist. We have the information you need regarding dentures to make an informed decision. Our skilled dentist can walk you through the treatment process and explain the benefits and risk factors. We will also walk the treatment journey with you until you are satisfied with the results. Call us at 562-423-1441 for consultation and treatment in Lakewood.