Dentures and Partial Dentures: Information You Should Know

We can replace your teeth using dentures and partial dentures. Tooth loss is one of the most challenging and embarrassing things a person can deal with because of how obvious it is. Every time you speak or smile, people can tell whether or not you have all of your teeth. Losing even one can influence your ability to speak or eat normally. This is why our LaGrange dentist office suggests replacing your lost tooth or teeth right away. We have several cosmetic dentistry solutions for doing so, including dentures and partial dentures. Some of our patients use dentures as a permanent solution while others wear them temporarily while deciding what they want their permanent replacement solution to be. In any case, we can provide you with a set of new teeth that fits securely and looks as natural as possible.

The Difference Between Dentures and Partial Dentures

If you have lost all of your teeth or most of your teeth, we may recommend a full or complete set of dentures. If you only have one or two teeth left, we can extract them and give you dentures once your gums have healed. This new set of teeth will be secured around your gums, with a fit that is comfortable and snug. The one thing we recommend is considering getting a temporary set first. This is because after you lose teeth, your jaw will go through the process of resorption, where calcium is taken from the jaw to be used elsewhere. When this happens, the size and shape of your jaw changes. Whatever denture you get right away may not fit a year later, so starting with a temporary set and moving to a permanent one is highly recommended.

Partial dentures are used when you have some remaining teeth. The teeth you have lost can all be in a row or in different places within your mouth. The partial set we create will address any teeth you have lost and secure them in place using wires and clasps. They will remain secure during the day and need to be removed at night, just like a full set would be. If you are looking for a more secure solution, you may want to consider a dental bridge. This is the same concept, where new teeth are secured to a base that looks like gums. The difference is, they are permanently held in place using dental crowns that are placed on your remaining teeth.

Other Options

If you want to replace your teeth, but do not feel that dentures or partial dentures are right for you, consider dental implants. This is the only surgical solution for replacing teeth. In this procedure, we will implant a titanium post under your gums and secure it to your jawbone. Through the process of osseointegration, the post and bone will fuse together, creating a durable root system for your new tooth or teeth (crowns) to be secured to. Our LaGrange dental office can discuss all these options when you schedule a consultation.