A complete smile is an essential element of long-term health. Missing teeth negatively impact your smile’s appearance and can decrease quality of life — and many patients are surprised to learn that people with missing teeth don’t live as long as those with a complete, healthy smile. To give you the strong, beautiful smile that you deserve after tooth loss, Drs. Jancy Parkerson-McGovern and Daniel McGovern design and fit natural-looking dentures at Chattanooga Dental Arts.
Full & Partial Dentures
Full & Partial Dentures
FULL & PARTIAL DENTURES
What Are Dentures?
A denture is a replacement for missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Designed to look just like your natural smile, a denture is made out of ceramic or acrylic teeth set into a base with a metal frame covered in plastic that closely resembles your gum tissue.
Your Options in Dentures
You have three main options in dentures, and the one that is right for you depends on the extent of your tooth loss, your budget, and the state of your oral and overall health.
Full dentures contain complete upper and/or lower rows of lifelike prosthetic teeth. The dentures we create look natural and enhance comfort and function. You will experience newfound freedom to smile, laugh, and speak with confidence with a full denture. Traditional dentures are held in place with natural suction and the help of an over the counter adhesive, as needed.
Implant-retained dentures eliminate the need for adhesive with the help of sturdy dental implants inserted in the jawbone. Drs. Jancy Parkerson-McGovern and Daniel McGovern will attach a special fixture to your new or existing denture. The fixture snaps onto the implants to hold your replacement teeth firmly in place. Implant-retained dentures halt the bone loss associated with missing teeth and help patients enjoy all the benefits of a confident, long-lasting smile.
Partial dentures restore smiles that have gaps scattered among healthy teeth. Custom-made partials prevent existing teeth from drifting out of position, improve articulation, and help you eat what you like without difficulty. We use a special clasp to anchor your partial to healthy neighboring teeth or to dental implants. You may qualify for a precision partial, which uses an inconspicuous attachment that fastens to teeth prepared with dental crowns.
Benefits of Dentures
Regardless of which type of denture you choose, you can look forward to a beautiful smile. Each prosthesis is crafted with your specific needs in mind, and the result is a set of teeth that complements your facial structure and gives you a youthful smile.
Dentures enable you to eat a balanced, nutritious diet. With non-implant dentures, you might need to take certain precautions when you eat (for example, cutting your food into small pieces), but it shouldn’t take you long to adjust to your new routine.
Dental insurance is often willing to cover at least part of the cost of dentures.
As long as your dentures fit well, they should be quite secure in your mouth. You won’t need to be overly concerned that they’ll slip out while you’re eating or speaking.
Candidates for Dentures
The vast majority of individuals who have suffered significant tooth loss are candidates for dentures.
- Candidates for full dentures have lost all or most of their teeth. If they have any remaining natural teeth, they may need to get them extracted. These individuals have healthy gums that will be able to support their new smile.
- Ideal candidates for implant-retained dentures have a strong and thick jawbone, are free of gum disease and other serious oral health concerns, and do not smoke.
- Candidates for partial dentures have suffered tooth loss at various places throughout the mouth and prefer dentures over bridges or other tooth replacement options.
Full & Partial Dentures Q & A
When you first receive your prosthesis, it might take you a few days to get used to it. Wear your denture as much as you can during this adjustment period so you can practice speaking and eating. You might want to stick to consuming soft foods for a time until you get the hang of chewing with your new teeth. Also note that you might produce extra saliva at first; you can cope with this by sipping plenty of water and sucking on sugar-free candy to encourage regular swallowing.
Of course, if you run into any significant problems or you have any questions about how to get used to your dentures, feel free to call us — we’re always happy to help!
When you receive your denture, we will talk you through maintenance steps to ensure you care for your new teeth properly. Non-implant dentures will need to be replaced every five to seven years to ensure they continue to fit well. Dentures that are retained by dental implants require fewer adjustments and relines.
Clean your denture at least daily, and make sure you brush and remaining teeth as well as your gums, tongue, and soft tissues with a soft-bristled toothbrush to reduce bacteria buildup and keep your smile healthy.
Do not expose your denture to hot water; doing so could cause it to warp and lose its fit. Notify your dentist as soon as possible if your denture breaks, becomes loose, or if you notice oral sores.
Full & Partial Dentures Q & A
The cost of your dentures in Chattanooga will depend on several factors, including the specific type of denture you are receiving and the material used to make the teeth. For example, a full set of dentures cost more than partials, implant-retained dentures cost more than non-implant dentures, and porcelain teeth comes with a higher price than acrylic. On average, dentures tend to cost at least a few hundred dollars (implant-retained dentures may cost thousands). When you come to our office for your denture consultation, we’ll crunch some numbers with you and work with your insurance company to help you fit your new smile into your budget.
If you are dealing with a loose or ill-fitting denture, or if you would like to benefit from the very best in tooth replacement, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Parkerson and Dr. McGovern. We’ll always take your unique needs into consideration to design a completely custom dental solution! Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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