Dentures - Complete, Partial, & Custom
 Have you sustained tooth loss, either complete or partial? Are you experiencing nagging feelings of shame and embarrassment due to your missing teeth, even going as far as refusing to smile and have your picture taken because of the gaping holes in your smile? If you’re missing teeth, you’re in good company; nearly 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and 36 million of them have absolutely zero teeth remaining in their mouth (known as being “edentulous”). If you’re suffering from the side effects of missing teeth, including a sagging, prematurely-aged face, impaired ability to eat, and cuts and lacerations inside your mouth from sharp foods, then we here at Ranches Family Dental would like to work with you on getting fitted with either a partial or a complete set of dentures.
Could Full or Partial Dentures Help Me?
We all probably have memories of accidentally stumbling upon one of our grandparent’s sets of dentures soaking in a glass on the bathroom counter and most likely stared at them in rapt shock and fascination.
Fortunately, dentures have come a long way since the days of our elders, lending a natural and beautiful restoration for any missing teeth in our mouths. Unlike the cheaply made, poorly fitting dentures of yore, we’re able to custom fit our patients here with high-quality, nicely secured dentures that won’t slip or cause chafing on your soft gums.
If you’re missing all of your teeth, then there’s a good chance that you’d be a good candidate for a complete set of dentures. On the other hand, if you’re only missing a few of your teeth and your remaining teeth are healthy, then partial dentures may benefit you. Please know that if you require extraction of unhealthy teeth during your appointment, that may push back your fitting for dentures, as we’ll need to give your gums time to health after the extraction. This could take up to twelve weeks, depending on your baseline health and how well you heal.
Partial dentures are great for patients who are only missing a few of their teeth. If your surrounding teeth are healthy, we’ll be able to use them for support for your partial. Many people may hesitate about considering a partial denture, as they may think that it’s just a cosmetic consideration. The reality is that having gaps between your teeth can cause lasting damage to your remaining teeth, causing them to shift and tilt to fill the vacant spot left behind by a missing tooth – eventually leading to further tooth loss. Partials can improve your bite and your ability to chew as well as your jaw alignment. You can choose between cast-metal, flexible nylon, and hybrid as a material for your partial denture.
Complete dentures are ideal for patients who have already lost all or most of their teeth. However, as we noted before, if you require a dental extraction, this can lead to delays in getting your dentures. We do not want to rush into fitting you with complete dentures before your gums are fully healed. Also, if you have active gum disease or bone loss, we may need to treat that first before moving forward with your dentures. While you wait for your permanent set of dentures, we may fit you with temporary (or “healing”) dentures to hold you over. You can count on your dentures lasting around ten years, until your gums shrink due to age, requiring you to be fitted with a new set.
It may take time to get acclimated to your new dentures, and don’t be surprised if you’re feeling a little bit sore at first, or your mouth feels cramped, or you notice that you’re drooling when you wear them. These unpleasant sensations should pass fairly quickly.
If you’re missing any teeth, a complete arch, or nearly all of your teeth, then you may have considered getting complete or partial dentures. If you have any questions about this routine and easy procedure, do not hesitate in giving us a call here at Ranches Family Dental at (385) 374-0500 to help answer any questions you may have or to schedule you a dental exam with a consultation for them. |
