Dentures – “The New Beginning”
How many different stories have you heard about people’s experiences with dentures? Everyone who has ever received or just considered them has a story to tell. As if tooth loss and dental issues weren’t stressful enough, the whole thing can cause uncertainty and confusion.
Let’s cut through the noise. Here are the essential facts and considerations you need to know about dentures from a dentist in Flagstaff.
Tooth loss is a serious issue
Dentures are an option for addressing the serious implications of tooth loss for your health and everyday life.
Do you tend to avoid eating fruits, vegetables, and meat because chewing them is more difficult without teeth? If so, you’re sacrificing essential nutrients that will affect your health. Replacing them with carbohydrates that are easier to chew does not compensate for the loss if you’re still eating those hard to chew foods — but by not chewing them adequately — you’re putting increased strain on your stomach and digestive system.
Do you hide your lack of teeth by refusing to smile? Teeth are an important part of your appearance and self-confidence. But the importance of teeth is not just a matter of vanity. The lack of teeth can cause the muscles in your face to sink and lose definition, causing premature aging and loss of strength.
Do you censor yourself because pronunciation is hard without teeth? Trying to speak without teeth changes your ability to pronounce words, which can affect your ability to communicate, your apparent credibility, and your persuasiveness.
Dentures in Flagstaff can help address each of those issues.
What type of denture is best?
A dentist in Flagstaff will help you to identify the best type of denture for your mouth and lifestyle. There are four types of dentures.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are for patients without any remaining teeth on the jaw where the dentures are worn. Complete dentures are made of acrylic and supported by the hard and soft tissues on and around your jaw.
Partial Dentures
If you have some remaining natural teeth, partial dentures supplement them by replacing the missing ones. In this way, they are similar to bridges. Bridges, however, are anchored to the patient’s remaining natural teeth. Dentures can be removed and replaced.
Partial dentures can be made from three types of materials: metal; acrylic; and flexible materials.
Metal dentures are the thinnest, strongest, most durable, and most expensive option. Because they cover less surface area in your mouth, they’re easier to keep clean and to adjust.
Acrylic dentures rest on your natural teeth via metal extensions. Acrylic dentures are rigid and need to be designed carefully to ensure that they do not damage your gums and remaining natural teeth.
Flexible dentures are a new version of acrylic dentures that are made from a thinner, lighter, and more fracture-resistant material. Unlike traditional acrylic dentures, they do not use metal extensions.
Immediate Dentures
You receive immediate dentures “immediately” after your teeth have been removed. For a time after tooth removal surgery, your gums will shrink as they heal. Your immediate dentures need to be adjusted and corrected to accommodate the changing shape of your gums.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Traditional dentures lay on top of a patient’s gums. Implant-supported dentures are supported by and attached to implants that are embedded in and bonded to the patient’s jaw bone. Implant-supported dentures offer the most permanent and natural-looking solution for the loss of all teeth.
How to choose the best denture option
The first step to choosing from these options is to consult with a dentist about dentures in Flagstaff. With the benefit of a full medical history, an assessment of your general and oral health, and a review of your goals, the dentist will help you to choose the best fit.
If you are ready to take the first or next step toward resolving your tooth loss issues with dentures, doing so is as easy as arranging a consultation with a dentist near you.