It’s easy to overlook the importance of strong oral health until you no longer have it. Fortunately, dentures can be a reliable, long-term solution to replace missing or damaged teeth. Our team at RSN Dental PC can install dentures and partial dentures to help improve your dental health and quality of life. Contact our office today to find out if our denture services are the right fit for you.
Resorption and tooth loss
Following the loss of one's teeth, resorption will begin to take effect. Adult teeth stimulate the jawbone, sending signals throughout the body. Once teeth fall out and stop stimulating the jawbone, the body will absorb the calcium in the jawbone to distribute to other areas of the body. Due to this, many people will experience a change in facial structure after losing some or all of their teeth.
This is a main reason for why we recommend partial or full dentures to replace missing teeth. People who do not replace teeth will notice sagging or an indent in their cheek due to the jawbone weakening. While there are a variety of aesthetic changes, people will also find physical issues with missing teeth, including:
- Difficulty eating and speaking
- Sensitive areas of the mouth where the tooth used to be
- Risk of gum disease
- Need for more frequent visits to the dentist
Contrary to popular belief, people who try to live with a missing tooth or teeth will still risk contracting oral infections such as gum disease. Normally, plaque will catch between the teeth and spread infection if left untreated. Without teeth, people are still at a risk for acquiring an infection. The best option for many patients is to seek customized dentures from a professional.
What are the types of dentures?
There are three main types of dentures: temporary, partial dentures, and complete dentures.
Temporary Dentures
Temporary dentures are common among those waiting for a dental operation. We can provide temporaries for those waiting for permanent dental implants or dental bridges. This is a standard solution when a tooth gets knocked out during a sporting event or in an accident. Metal wires help secure the temporary denture in place, working similarly to a retainer. You can take out the denture whenever you like.
Partial Dentures
When only a few teeth are missing or damaged, partial dentures can be an excellent long-term solution. Unlike a complete set of dentures, these are held in place by a plastic base. This base is chosen to match the color of your gums. If you still have healthy, functioning teeth, this is a better option than a full set of dentures.
Full Dentures
A complete set of dentures is often the best option if all of your teeth are missing or damaged. Technological advances make full dentures more comfortable and natural looking than ever. We will work with you during each step to ensure the dentures fit your gums perfectly.
Staten Island Dentures and Repair
Complete Denture
When all of your teeth are missing, complete dentures can replace them. This is the type of dentures that you typically see in cartoons and movies. Technology has improved in recent years, making them more comfortable and natural looking than ever. We can determine if this is the best way to replace your teeth or if an alternative solution will help you to achieve your goals. If you proceed with getting a complete set of dentures, your gums will be healed and ready in eight to 12 weeks after your teeth have been removed. Following teeth removal, the bones and gums will start to shrink. By waiting for up to 12 weeks, you can be sure that your set of complete dentures will fit securely. Many patients throughout New York prefer not to wait and get immediate dentures. This solution does not require a waiting period, but there will be adjustments later on after the gums and bone have settled into their permanent size.
How are dentures made?
In order for dentures to be created, patients in Staten Island need to schedule a dental appointment. At this time, the dentist will examine your gums and other teeth to determine if dentures are the best solution for you and if so, what type. A mold will then be taken of your teeth and gums so that the dentures can be created in a dental lab. Typically, several molds or impressions will be made so that the dentist can determine how your jaw functions and moves. Using these impressions, the lab will make a set of dentures that looks natural and fits perfectly. If necessary, adjustments will be made. We can discuss the process in more detail during a consultation.
Benefits of Dentures
Patients throughout the Staten Island area like how convenient dentures are. Whether you need a full or partial set, dentures can replace teeth in a non-invasive way. There is no surgical element to worry about, and temporary dentures can be fitted immediately. This provides a quick and easy solution. If, however, you are looking for something that feels more natural, you should consider a cosmetic dentistry procedure.
Negatives of Dentures
The biggest challenge with dentures is that they do not feel like natural teeth. Patients of RSN Dental PC tend to agree that while they are functional, you still have to take care of them as a separate appliance. Other cosmetic dentistry procedures make it easy to forget you ever lost a tooth in the first place. Modern techniques have made dentures more secure and comfortable than they used to be, but they are still a foreign object in your mouth and can become loose when eating or speaking. If you are currently experiencing this problem, call RSN Dental PC at (347) 802-8371 for a consultation.
What to Expect When Getting Dentures
While we can customize dentures to fit a patient's teeth perfectly at RSN Dental PC, there are still a few key factors that patients need to understand before getting dentures. Fortunately, advancements in dental technology allow for this process to be easier than ever before.
The Dentures Process
There are different types of dentures, two of which are removable dentures and implant dentures. Removable dentures are a more traditional option that requires the patient to remove them at night when they sleep. Implant dentures are not removable since we attach them directly to the jaw. We will not recommend implant dentures unless the patient is healthy and if the patient does not have any teeth left to use.
In order to determine the best type of dentures for the patient, we will conduct a thorough examination of the patient's teeth and current level of oral health. From there, we will continue through other steps in the process for a patient who is interested in getting dentures. Below is a list of the steps in the process.
- A dental examination: The first step is for our team to examine the patient's teeth and determine the state of the patient's oral health. During this examination, the dentist will search for any signs of infection, tooth decay, previous dental work that can hinder the denture process and search for any other teeth that may need removal prior to placing the dentures.
- Making the dentures: After the consultation, the dentist will take a mold of the teeth and measurements to ensure that the dentures fit the remaining teeth exactly. We will then send these results to a dental lab that will build the dentures to the specifications.
- Fitting the dentures: Once we complete the dentures, we will bring the patient in for a fitting to ensure the dentures fit without issue. We will make sure that the individual can use the dentures without pain or issue. If necessary, we will make adjustments to the dentures during this appointment.
- Adapting to dentures: While there will not be any pain, it may take some time to adapt to wearing the dentures. It may take some time to adapt to eating and speaking with the dentures, but the patient will eventually have the same function and control as with regular teeth.
For more information on the denture process and if dentures are the right choice for you, give us a call at (347) 802-8371 to schedule a consultation today.
Alternative Options
Patients may enjoy the benefits of alternative options to dentures. There is a procedure that combines implant dentistry with dentures. Those that need complete dentures can benefit by having a secure way to hold their dentures in place. If you live in the Staten Island NY area, we can examine your gums and let you know if you are a good candidate for the procedure. In this scenario, an impression is taken of your mouth in order to create a denture that will be secured in place using implants. Once created, metal posts will be implanted under your gums, and the dentures secured to it. This way patients get the benefits of how quickly dentures can be created and the convenience of the stability that can only come from using implant technology.
Solutions for Common Denture Problems
Speaking and eating
Problem: Dentures can make it difficult when eating or speaking
Solution: Patience, practice and proper care
- People who acquire new dentures will find that speaking and eating are more difficult than they realize. We recommend that patients take it slow and practice pronouncing any words that are difficult to say quickly. It may take some time and practice but the patient will eventually speak without difficulty.
- When it comes to eating with dentures, the patient needs to start by eating softer foods for the first few days after getting the dentures. If the patient experiences any pain when eating certain foods, it is best to avoid said foods and eat something softer for the time being. Patients can also chew with both sides of the mouth to prevent the dentures from moving forward uncomfortably.
Proper denture care
Problem: Unsure of the best way to keep dentures clean
Solution: Use a specific denture-cleaning solution
- Proper denture care is crucial for the lifespan of dentures. If a patient uses regular toothpaste on the dentures, then the toothpaste will begin to erode the material on the dentures and the dentures will break. The best form of care is to remove the dentures and run water through them to clean out any bits of food.
- After, the patient can use a specific brush for cleaning the dentures and soak the dentures overnight. We can go over the proper cleaning regimen during the fitting appointment. It is important that the dentures do not dry out overnight.
Loose Dentures
Problem: Dentures become loose over time
Solution: Seek professional adjustment at our office
- Over time, dentures will begin to loosen due to the gums and bones changing. Since there are no longer teeth within the jawbone to stimulate the jaw and the body that teeth are still there, the body will go through a process known as resorption. This process leeches calcium from the jaw bone to other areas of the body in need. Fortunately, we can adjust modify or replace denture as necessary with regular appointments.
- When the dentures feel loose, it will not always be a noticeable amount. In some cases, it will begin as a slight shift that the patient may not even notice. However, even if the dentures are only slightly loose, it is crucial to seek repairs from our office.
Irritation in the gums or mouth
Problem: Irritation in the gums or mouth
Solution: Proper care and professional treatment
- If the dentures do not fit properly, they can cause irritation on the gums or within the mouth. In cases where the dentures begin to loosen after several months of use, there is a higher chance that the gums will begin to hurt. If the patient continues to feel pain or irritation, then give us a call and schedule an appointment.
- The best solution is prevention, if at all possible. By taking the proper precautionary steps, patients can prolong the life of their dentures. When the gums continue to experience irritation, we recommend scheduling an appointment for us to examine the mouth and see what is wrong.
Traveling with dentures
Problem: What to do when traveling with dentures
Solution: Bring the proper cleaning supplies
- While one will not need a traveling case for taking the dentures on a flight or car ride, it is crucial to have the proper cleaning tools for the trip. Traveling with dentures can be easy if one brings the proper cleaning fluid and container/glass to soak the denture in overnight.
- Similar to bringing a toothbrush, patients need to bring whatever solution or brush they use to clean their dentures with them. Even though one is on vacation, keeping dentures in the best shape possible is important for one's overall health.
Call us today
If you are interested in dentures or are experiencing issues with your dentures, give us a call at (347) 802-8371 today. We will schedule a consultation and recommend the best course of action to help you solve the problem and continue to live a healthy life.