WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DENTURES

When a person loses teeth, they may experience a variety of problems. The person may have difficulty speaking or eating certain foods. Losing teeth can also lead one to become less confident in their smile. This makes one look for an alternative to remaining confident, and one of the options is dentures.

Dentures are custom-made appliances used to replace a person’s missing teeth and restore the lost appearance and oral functions. It can either be a complete denture that occurs if a person has lost all their teeth or a partial denture that occurs when someone has some teeth.

What Are the Different Types of Dentures?

Dentures are either complete or partial.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are made of a plastic base colored to replicate gum tissue and support a complete set of plastic or porcelain teeth. Traditionally, full dentures were held in the mouth by sealing the tooth with the gums. Nowadays, dentures can also be held in position by attaching them to dental implants through surgery. This treatment is much more expensive than the traditional complete denture compared to traditional treatment.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are made with a plastic base or a metal framework to support the number of teeth needing replacement. This denture is held in the mouth using rests and clasps keenly adapted around your natural teeth.

Partial dentures that still use metal frameworks are traditional. This is due to the rigidity and strength of the metal. Mainly, partial plastic dentures are generally used as emergency or temporary replacements of missing teeth, allowing the gums and bone to heal before a well-defined restorative solution is obtained.

What Are the Alternatives to Dentures?

Apart from dentures, one can still bring back their smiles with bridges or implants.

• Implants are metal posts that can either be forced into the lower or upper jawbone. The post is then used to replace a single tooth by attaching a crown to it or multiple teeth by attaching a bridge to multiple implants. Although Implants are the most expensive option for tooth replacement, they simulate natural teeth better than any other option.
• Bridges are considered fixed or permanent dentures since they are cemented in place. A bridge is used to substitute for the missing teeth by placing crowns on the teeth next to the space. This is done by attaching a fake tooth to both of the crowns. Bridges can be made from gold and porcelain fused to gold, all-porcelain, or zirconium. However, this might not be the option for an individual who has all missing teeth since they can only replace about two to three missing teeth in a row, depending on the location.

Schedule an Appointment to Learn About Dentures

Losing your teeth can be devastating, but at Cochran Family Dental, we can restore your smile with traditional or implant supported dentures. We serve the cities of Leesburg, Ashburn, and Purcellville with modern and comprehensive dental care services. To learn more about dentures, your options, and the other services we offer, call us today to schedule an appointment at 703-771-9034, or email us using the contact form on this page.