Dentures

What are Dentures?

If you are missing one or more teeth, Westerville Dental Associates can create custom dentures that look and function like your natural teeth. For added stability, we can use implants to attach your denture - no slipping or discomfort!

Dentures do much more than improve your smile. They help maintain your face's proper shape and muscle tone and help make sure you don't experience difficulty in chewing and speaking. They also help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of alignment.

In certain situations, we can create your denture in advance and place it immediately after teeth are removed, avoiding a prolonged period without teeth.

Types of Dentures

Dentures can be complete or partial, fixed or removable. Our Westerville dentists will advise on the best option for your situation.

Complete Dentures

Full dentures are made of acrylic and plastic and completely mimic your gum tissue and teeth. A suction effect naturally works between your gums and the new dentures, keeping them in place while you go about your day. Simply remove them at night and place in a container to sterilize.

Dentures are unfortunately known to slip or move around in the mouth as they have nothing to anchor them into place and prevent movement. Implant-supported dentures can help with this.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Some patients may require or prefer to have implant-supported dentures.

If you do not have strong teeth or enough bone to support a false tooth, implants will stabilize your dentures. The implants are surgically inserted into the jaw bone and feature an abutment that will hold the denture in place instead of suction. An implant-supported denture is a complete denture and can be fixed or removable.

Partial Dentures

For those needing a less drastic solution, there are partial dentures. With partial dentures, a metal framework or flexible acrylic is built around your healthy, natural teeth while tiny screws and clasps hold your denture in place.

Denture Process

• Getting dentures will require several appointments.
• Highly accurate impressions (or “molds”) are then made from your teeth to create your custom dentures.Typically, several follow-up appointments are needed to adjust the denture’s shape, color and fit.
• At the final appointment, the finished denture is precisely placed and adjusted to make sure it fits and feels comfortable.
• Patients typically experience increased saliva flow, some soreness, and possible difficulties with speech and chewing when they first get their dentures. However, these conditions will go away as your muscles and tissues adapt to them.

Our team will provide you with complete instructions on how to properly care for your new dentures, including proper cleaning and oral hygiene practices and appropriate eating habits.