When you’re a child, losing a tooth is an exciting prospect, but once our permanent teeth come in, missing a tooth is not a cause for celebration. Losing several teeth, whether due to age, illness, decay, or other issues, can be devastating. While dental implants are an excellent restoration option, they can be costly – especially when dealing with several missing teeth.
Dentures offer an affordable alternative that can restore your ability to talk and chew and give you an improved aesthetic after tooth loss. Whether you need partial dentures to replace sections of missing teeth or full dentures to replace an entire arch, our Yuma dental office is ready to help.
Partial Dentures
If you still have some of your teeth but have experienced some tooth loss, you may opt for removable partial dentures for your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. Partial dentures are replacement teeth with a pink, gum-colored foundation, usually attached to a metal base. The metal base may include clips and clasps that fasten onto and around your remaining teeth, offering additional stability for your denture.
Full Dentures
If you have lost most or all of your teeth in a single arch, complete dentures can replace these teeth. Full dentures are usually made of a pink acrylic to match your gums, with prosthetic teeth to restore your natural teeth. Full dentures are designed to hold in your mouth through natural suction. Like partial dentures, you can opt for upper, lower, or a set of both arches for full dentures.
Implant-Retained Dentures
If you are looking for a more secure solution than traditional dentures, you may want to consider implant-retained dentures as a more cost-effective solution than a full set of implant-supported crowns.
Implant-retained dentures consist of specially designed posts attached to implants surgically placed in your jaw. The denture structure snaps onto these posts, allowing you to talk and eat with more confidence. The dentures can remove at night for cleaning.
Caring for Dentures
When you first get your dentures, Dr. Carroll may advise you to leave them in while you sleep. It is to identify any sore spots so the denture can be adjusted appropriately to fit your mouth. Once the fit is assured, you should take your dentures out at night to clean them and allow your gums to breathe.
When cleaning your dentures, make sure you are using cleaning products specifically designed for denture use. Ordinary toothbrushes and toothpaste can scratch or damage dentures. When the dentures are not in your mouth, keep them wet by soaking them in a container of cold or lukewarm water. Allowing them to dry or using hot water can cause the dentures to warp, sometimes beyond repair.
When handling your dentures, it’s best to do so over a folded towel or a basin full of cold water. Dentures are fragile and can chip or crack if you drop them onto a hard surface. If your denture becomes damaged, call our office as soon as possible. Broken or damaged dentures can be a magnet for bacteria and can cause sores on your gums.
Restore Missing Teeth Affordably With Dentures
If you are missing teeth and are interested in exploring your denture options, call today to schedule a consultation at 928-504-4531 or Schedule an Appointment
