Complete Dentures
Charleston, West Virginia
 The loss of all teeth in your upper or lower jaw can have a substantial impact on your life. It becomes a huge challenge to eat and speak. In addition to what happens to your smile after tooth loss, you also experience changes in your facial aesthetics. After tooth loss, your skin loses support, leading to sagging, wrinkles, and a sunken, aged appearance. At Revive Dental and Implant Center, we can help by replacing your missing teeth with a complete denture.
What are Complete Dentures?
Complete dentures, also just called dentures, are the traditional method for replacing a full arch of missing or failing teeth. The denture can be used on your top arch or bottom arch. If you lose all of your teeth, it is possible to replace both arches using complete dentures. This particular treatment is removable, meaning that you can take them out and put them back in at will. It has been used as a treatment for tooth loss for a few centuries now. Dentures today, however, are designed to be much more realistic, less bulky, and more comfortable.
Your denture is made from a dental impression. The teeth are made from acrylic resin or a porcelain material, both of which offer a much more natural look. The teeth are supported by a base made of gum-colored acrylic that rests directly on your gums, using the tissue for its necessary support.
Following Denture Placement
While dentures are more natural and less bulky, you may find that they feel unusual at first. Some discomfort is perfectly natural and should subside the longer you wear them. It is important to keep in mind that if the pain does not go away, or becomes worse over time, you should give us a call right away as an adjustment may be needed.
It may take some time to get used to a foreign object in your mouth, but you can help to make getting used to them easier. It is recommended that you start by maintaining a soft food diet. This will avoid too much pressure on your gums. As you get used to eating with your complete denture, you can add back in more of your favorite foods. You can also practice speaking with your complete denture so that you can talk normally with them in your mouth
What Should I Know About Denture Care?
Your denture requires daily care to ensure its effectiveness and a healthy mouth. This care includes daily brushing and letting it soak overnight. While you should use a toothbrush to clean your denture, do not use toothpaste. Toothpaste can leave microscopic scratches on the teeth or base, which can then allow bacteria to grow more easily. Soaking your denture overnight is essential for giving your gums a chance they need to rest. It is also important for keeping the denture moist. If it dries out, it can change shape, which then prevents it from fitting properly.
It is also important to keep in mind that your denture is not a permanent solution. It cannot prevent bone loss, so your jaw continues to change. Because your denture is rigid, it will not change as your jaw does. Once you begin to notice changes in how your complete denture feels, you should call our office right away.
Alternatives to a Complete Denture
Today, dental implants provide an additional option for replacing missing teeth. Implants use surgically placed titanium posts to support your restorations. There are a few different types of implant options for replacing all teeth in a single arch. These options include a complete fixed bridge, the All-on-4® Treatment Concept, and overdentures.
If you have lost a full arch of teeth, a complete denture is an effective choice for restoring the functions of your mouth, improving your facial aesthetics, and giving you your life back. For more information, and to discuss your options for replacing an arch of missing teeth, contact Revive Dental and Implant Center at (304) 467-4265 today. |
