Dentures – Crown Point, IN

Effects of Missing Teeth

Many people are struggling with tooth loss, and there are numerous reasons that it happens. Some of the main causes involve gum disease, tooth decay, accidental injuries, and poor oral hygiene. Some systemic conditions can also increase the risk of losing teeth, such as diabetes.

Not replacing your missing pearly whites can lead to a variety of issues with both your smile and overall quality of life. For example, your jawbone can begin to deteriorate, weakening its structure, shrinking your facial shape, and risking the movement of your other remaining teeth. Of course, you’ll also likely have difficulties with eating, speaking, and feeling confident about your appearance. To avoid these issues, you’ll want to replace your lost teeth as soon as possible.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

The ideal way to know for certain if you’re qualified for dentures is by visiting us for an initial consultation and examination. We’ll look over your oral health and determine if this treatment is best for you. Dentures are typically a great option for those who are missing teeth as well as have a sensitive smile or are struggling with decay.

For your prosthetics to work, you’ll need to have healthy gums and an adequate jawbone to support them. You’ll also need to be committed to practicing good oral hygiene every day and taking care of your dentures. This treatment is also cost-effective, making it beneficial for those working with a budget.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you aren’t a good candidate for dentures, we’ll likely review other tooth-replacement options that can help you restore your bite. These include:

• Dental Bridges: With two dental crowns and pontics (artificial teeth) between them, you can effectively replace one to several missing teeth in a row. This does require altering the natural teeth on either side of the gap, as these will support the bridge.
• Dental Implants: Instead of relying on your gums or natural pearly whites, we can insert dental implants into your jawbone to anchor your restorations. Not only will this complete your smile, but the metal posts will also stimulate the jaw, promoting stronger bone growth and preserving a more youthful facial shape. With proper care, you can expect your results to last decades to a lifetime.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are comprised of two different parts: the base and the teeth. Here is what each component consists of:

• Denture Base: This is the structure that holds the replacement teeth in their places. It can be made from several different materials, including acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal. Full dentures are usually made with acrylic because they can be crafted to closely match your natural gum tissue. Partial dentures often use metal clips with an acrylic base to stay in place.
• Artificial Teeth: Replacement teeth are usually made from resin or porcelain because they both have an appearance similar to natural teeth. Porcelain is the most popular option because it looks and feels natural and durable.

The Denture Creation Process

Every denture is customized for the patient. The process takes multiple steps. Here is what you can usually expect:

• Step 1: Your dentist will begin by taking impressions of your upper and lower gums using a thick paste. Measurements of your jaw may also be taken. This is used to make a plaster model that is a replica of your mouth. The replica is used to ensure that your final prosthesis is the perfect size and shape for you.
• Step 2: The case is then sent to the dental laboratory. This is where your restoration will be made. They will create a wax version of your gumline using the impressions that your dentist took.
• Step 3: Artificial teeth are set into place using a mechanical device called an “articulator.” The lab technician will make minor adjustments by shaping and carving the wax to ensure that it looks like your gums.
• Step 4: Your wax dentures are sent back to your dentist for a fitting. If everything looks good, your dentures will be returned to the dental lab to complete the process.
• Step 5: Once the wax dentures are back at the laboratory, the technician will boil the dentures to melt away the wax portions. To do this, the dentures are placed in a holding device called a “flask.” Plaster is poured in to maintain the shape of your dentures. The entire flask is placed in hot water.
• Step 6: Holes are made in the replacement teeth so the material can attach to them. A liquid separator is added to the plaster layer to stop the acrylic from sticking to it. Acrylic is then injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: The lab technician will carefully remove the plaster using special lab tools. Your dentures will then be placed in an ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining plaster.
• Step 8: Any extra acrylic will be cut from the dentures. After trimming, the denture will be polished.
• Step 9: Once it is ready, you can return to the dental office for a fitting. If necessary, adjustments can be made to ensure that everything is working properly and comfortably.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Some discomfort is normal when you first start wearing your new dentures. Over time, your mouth will adjust to your new restoration, and they will end up feeling similar to your natural teeth. By sticking to softer foods and exercising your facial muscles you can speed up this process. If discomfort persists, give us a call so we can help.

Psychological Benefits

Missing one or more of your teeth can be detrimental to both your oral health and quality of life. Not only can it affect your bite and ability to speak clearly, but it can also lower your self-confidence in your appearance, which can sometimes lead to feelings of sadness and depression. By replacing your missing teeth with dentures, you’ll be able to regain your smile as well as improve your overall well-being.

Clearer Enunciation

People typically require all of their teeth to effectively enunciate words and phrases, as we press our lips and tongues against them to create certain sounds. Even missing just one tooth can significantly change the way you sound when talking. This can become even more challenging the further your tooth loss is. Dentures can provide the structure needed to enunciate properly, which can improve your ability to converse with others.

Improves Nutrition

While there are many nutritional foods out there, some of them can be quite tough to chew on. If you’re missing some or even one of your teeth, this can make it difficult to enjoy your meals in the long run. You may even have an increased risk of malnutrition and indigestion. By getting custom dentures, you’ll not only be able to regain a majority of your bite, but you’ll also be able to expand your diet to include more vitamin-dense options that can promote better and healthier gums and bone tissue.

Preserves Oral Health

Patients who still have some of their natural pearly whites remaining will need to address their missing teeth due to the heightened risk of dental shifting and further tooth loss. Although dentures are supported by the gum line, they can still act as placeholders for natural teeth. Additionally, these prosthetics can help share the pressure of chewing, which can prevent wear and tear on the rest of your smile.

Expands Opportunities

First impressions are incredibly important in both social and professional life, and your smile is one of the first things that people will notice about you. If you’re missing some or all of your teeth, then dentures can be one of the best solutions for helping you boost your self-esteem as well as your chances of success in your interpersonal relationships. By being able to show off a beautiful smile, others may end up perceiving your confidence as outgoing and attractive.  

Removeable Dentures

Remove After Eating

After every meal, remember to remove and rinse your dentures. Doing so will prevent a buildup of food, plaque, and other debris on their surfaces. From there, you’re less likely to have oral health issues.

Still, avoid using hot water for the rinse. High temperatures can actually warp denture material. Should that scenario happen, your dentures will cease to fit well. You’d then need to see a dentist for repairs or replacement.

Clean Your Restoration

Besides post-meal rinses, dentures also need (at least) once-daily cleaning. This step lowers your risk of gum disease and similar oral health issues.

Each cleaning starts by removing the dentures from your mouth. Next, brush the restorations with a soft-bristled toothbrush and hand soap. Standard toothpaste shouldn’t be used, as its abrasiveness can damage denture material.

If possible, put the dentures in a cleansing solution after brushing. This step keeps them from drying out and losing their shape. Lastly, rinse the dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.

Keep Your Dentures Safe

While durable enough, dentures aren’t invincible. They can and will break from excessive force. As such, you’ll want to keep them safe. Damage from external elements will cause them to stop working.

For instance, keep a towel handy during denture cleanings. Placing one beneath the prosthetics will cushion your appliance from falls. The dentures will then be less likely to chip or break.

Naturally, you could also store your dentures away from kids or pets. The latter groups, you see, are often rambunctious. They could damage your prosthetics quite easily.

Remove Dentures When You Sleep

Ultimately, it’s best to take out your dentures before bed. Keeping them in your mouth overnight has various downsides. Instead, store them in a glass of cleansing solution while you sleep. This habit will prevent the restorations from losing their shape.

You see, wearing dentures to bed puts your health at risk. For one thing, it restricts gum circulation, which can result in soft-tissue irritation. At the same time, it’ll increase your mouth’s gum and tongue plaque levels. Overnight denture use can even raise your risk of pneumonia.

Notice Changes

Of course, you should watch for changes in your dentures and mouth, too. (These can even include mouth sores, gum irritation, or signs of infection.) You may need to visit a local dental practice based on what you find.

Should your dentures start fitting poorly or get damaged, see your dentist at once. Attempting to fix them yourself could cause further harm. Meanwhile, a qualified dentist can refit, reline, or even replace the prosthetics.