If you are missing a few teeth, you should consider restorative dentistry sooner rather than later. There are various ways to replace lost teeth. For instance, when missing two or three teeth in a row, you may benefit from a dental bridge. Another option is dentures that can help replace many teeth at once. Visit your family dentist in Northwest Albuquerque, NM, to understand if this is the right choice for you, but before that, learn more about dental types and benefits here.
Full dentures
Also called complete dentures, full dentures are used to replace all missing teeth on an arc. Most of us have seen old people, especially our grandparents, wear dentures that have prosthetic teeth and a gum-colored structure. Traditional full dentures are removable and should be cleaned at night.
Partial dentures
If you are missing only a few teeth, you will need a partial denture. While a partial denture looks similar to a full denture, the appliance also relies on your gums and bones for support. Partial dentures have clasps that hook to the remaining teeth for better stability.
Immediate dentures
Many patients need to go through extractions before getting dentures, and in such cases, dentists may offer immediate dentures. These are often temporary and will be replaced with final ones. Not everyone can get immediate dentures, and it is best to ask your dentist about it.
Implant-supported dentures
One of the biggest concerns with conventional dentures is how they move inside the mouth. Many patients feel embarrassed when their dentures slip and affect their speech. With implant-supported dentures, you don’t have to worry about all that. Today, you can get fixed implant-supported dentures, which aren’t removable and offer much better comfort. As long as you adhere to oral hygiene practices and see your dentist every six months, there is little to worry about. Many dental clinics also offer all-on-4 implant-supported dentures, which can replace all missing teeth with just four implant posts.
Procedure for getting dentures
Your dentist will do an oral exam and take X-rays to check your jawbone. They will then discuss restoration options, depending on how many teeth you are missing and other factors. If you want to get implant-supported dentures, you will first have to go through implant surgery. Implant posts are surgically inserted into the jawbone, and using a connector or abutment, your dentist fixes the dentures. It can take a few weeks or months for the jawbone to heal and for new bone to grow around implants.
In general, getting dentures involves the following steps:
- Dental impressions: Your dentist will create molds of your bite impressions, including your gums and remaining teeth. They may ask you to cooperate until they get the right impressions. In many cases, a dental technician may come to the clinic and create the molds with the dentist. These molds are used to create custom dentures.
- Fitting: You will have to return when the dentures are ready from the lab. Your dentist will check the fit and make necessary adjustments to ensure you feel comfortable. Some patients get their dentures immediately, while others may have to come back for additional visits.
- Follow-up: Usually, you will have to come for a follow-up, where the dentist will look at whether there are any issues with the dentures.
Final word
It can take a while to get used to dentures. You may experience some discomfort and more salivation with traditional dentures, but these are minor concerns that don’t last beyond two weeks. If you are more interested in implant-supported dentures, ask your dentist in Northwest Albuquerque about the procedure and how you can plan the implant surgery and recovery.
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