Dentures
Denture Services in University Heights, OH
Restoring Smiles One Person at a Time
Dentures Explained
Dentures in University Heights, OH, are custom-made artificial teeth. They are removable oral appliances designed to replace your missing teeth. Dentures can be used on your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both.
What Are Dentures Made Of?
A dentist in University Heights, OH, will craft and custom-fit your dentures so they fit your mouth perfectly. Dentures are made from different types of materials such as porcelain, acrylic, nylon, resin, or metal. The type of material used will determine how much your dentures will cost. Another cost factor is whether you need a full set of dentures or partial dentures.
The Different Types of Dentures
The type of dentures you need will depend on your specific needs. The following are the most common types of dentures available.
Full Dentures
These are also called complete dentures. They rest on the top of your gums and replace an entire arch of missing teeth. Full dentures rely on your palate or the ridge of your jawbone to keep them in place.
Partial Dentures
If you don’t need a full arch of dentures, partial dentures might be the way to go. Partial dentures replace several missing teeth. They also rest on your gums and rely on your palate or jawbone for support. In addition, partial dentures have special clasps that are hooked around your natural teeth for even more support.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are not removable. Only your dentist can remove them. These are just like other dentures, except they rely on dental implants to hold them in place.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are most commonly used as temporary dentures. They are used after you’ve had a tooth extraction and are waiting for the extraction site to heal before getting your final dentures or implants.
How Dentures are Made
Crafting perfect-fitting dentures requires several steps.
- Your dentist will make impressions of your upper and lower jaws.
- Your dentist will then send those impressions to a dental lab. This is where a dental tech will use those impressions to develop a replica of your mouth.
- The replica of your mouth will be used to build wax registration blocks. A dental tech will use those blocks to determine where to place your artificial teeth. Then, the tech will build up the base of your new dentures and add the artificial teeth.
- Once your new dentures have been crafted, they will be polished until they look like natural teeth.
- You will then visit your dentist to have your new dentures fitted.
The Benefits of Getting Dentures
If you don’t want to risk jawbone loss and facial collapse due to missing teeth, dentures might be what you need. Here are some of the benefits of getting dentures.
- Dentures take the place of your natural teeth and help prevent jawbone loss and facial collapse (a sunken face).
- Dentures make it easier to chew.
- Having dentures makes it easier to speak properly.
- Dentures will improve your appearance versus not having any teeth at all.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
On average, most dentures last somewhere between seven and 10 years, if you care for them properly. However, your dentures will need to be relined every one to two years. Sooner if you notice changes in the way they fit. Relining is when your dentist adds material to your dentures to keep them fitting comfortably.
