Losing teeth from decay or other causes leaves you with less functionality, making it more difficult to talk and chew food. When you have multiple teeth missing, dentures can help restore speaking and chewing abilities. At Innovative Smiles, our dentists in University Heights, OH, offer different kinds of dentures to replace several missing teeth.

Why You Might Need Dentures

Certain tooth and gum problems can cause you to lose several teeth — or even all of them. Some of these include:

• Severe tooth decay in several teeth
• Advanced gum disease with loosened teeth
• Severe injuries or trauma to the mouth

If you have many teeth missing, different types of dentures are available to replace them.

Full Dentures

This type replaces all teeth on the bottom arch, top arch, or both arches. These removable dentures are made to sit on your gums.

Partial Dentures

These dentures only replace some teeth rather than entire arches. They offer a bit more support than full dentures since they can be attached to natural teeth.

Immediate Dentures

These aren’t made to be permanent. In most cases, they’re a temporary set of dentures you wear after tooth extraction. Once your gums heal, you can get full or partial dentures.

Implant-Supported Dentures

This type uses dental implants to hold dentures in place. Since they’re not removable, they can offer more support than traditional dentures.

Visit Us for Dentures!

Need to replace a few or more missing teeth? At Innovative Smiles, we offer dentures in University Heights, OH, that can restore your smile and help you chew and speak better. Our dentists can make sure you pick the right dentures for convenience, comfort, and functionality!

Getting new dentures in University Heights, OH is certainly a big life event. If you’ve never had dentures before, you’re likely wondering what you can expect. Dentures remain one of the most effective solutions for missing teeth. They restore, not only appearance, but functionality of the teeth that were lost. After you get dentures, you’ll be able to eat your favorite foods again, chew and speak as before. Here’s what to expect with dentures.

Consultation and Prep

The first step to getting dentures is a consultation with your dentist. During this consultation, the dentist will take digital images and get impressions of your mouth. This information will be passed along to a dental lab, where your dentures will be manufactured according to the specifications that your dentist dictates.

Different Kinds of Dentures

You may not realize it, but there are different kinds of dentures. You and your dentist will figure out which kind is best for your needs. There are:

• Implant-supported dentures
• Partial dentures
• Full dentures

In addition, there are different materials that dentures can be made with. The various materials used will inform the appearance, with higher-end materials looking the most natural. Talk to your dentist in University Heights, OH to learn all about it.

The Fitting

Once your dentures come back from the dental lab, your dentist will examine them to make sure they meet specifications. If so, then you’ll be contacted to return to the office for a fitting. During this visit, you’ll try out your new dentures for the first time. The dentist will carefully examine the fit, making any necessary adjustments. The goal during this visit is to ensure comfort, fit and function.

Getting Used to Dentures

Adjusting to dentures can take some time. Initially, they may feel strange or bulky in your mouth. You might experience increased saliva production and minor irritation. Eating and speaking with dentures will require practice. Start with soft foods cut into small pieces, and gradually introduce harder foods. Talk as much as you can to get used to speaking while wearing your dentures.

With patience, you’ll begin to feel like your dentures are a natural part of your mouth. To get started with your new dentures, contact your dentist in University Heights, OH today for an initial consultation!

Lost teeth are a frustrating, unsightly situation. Not only do they make it hard to chew and talk, but they can also derail your confidence, leaving you frustrated and uncomfortable. At Innovative Smiles, we offer dentures as a solution to missing teeth, but many patients aren’t aware that we offer multiple types of dentures. Here’s a closer look at the four most common types of dentures our University Heights dentists offer.

1. Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are the type of dentures to choose when you have just some teeth missing. They sit on your gums and use your remaining bone as support, but they also have hooks that connect to your remaining teeth to provide more security.

2. Full Dentures

For patients with extensive tooth loss, we may recommend removing the remaining teeth and fitting them for full dentures. Full dentures replace all of the teeth with a new set. They rest on the gums and use the underlying bone structure for support.

3. Implant-Supported Dentures

Patients who don’t want to mess with denture glue to keep dentures in place can choose implant-supported dentures. These hook to a dental implant in your mouth to keep them in place without glue. They can be removable but more stable than dentures using adhesive.

4. Immediate Dentures

For most dentures to fit securely, they must be custom-fitted. If you’ve had oral surgery or an extraction, your gums need time to heal before measuring your mouth for these dentures. Immediate dentures, also known as temporary dentures, are used during this time before you get measured for your custom dentures.

If you find yourself missing teeth, you aren’t alone. This is a common problem, especially as people age and the health of their gums and bones decreases. Thankfully, dentures provide a solution. Our trusted dental professionals will help you determine which type of dentures are best for your long-term health and comfort, and then we will custom-fit you for your new teeth. If you need dentures in University Heights or a surrounding community, speak to our dental team for help.