The dentists and the professional healthcare staff at Town & Country Dentistry, located near you in Granville, Ohio, want to educate its patients, current and new, about dentures.
Generally, dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. Complete dentures replace all teeth, and partial dentures replace the missing teeth between natural teeth.
Complete dentures are either conventional or immediate, and the distinctions pertain to their readiness to wear. Conventional dentures are worn after all teeth have been extracted. Patients can begin utilizing conventional dentures within 8-12 weeks after the extractions when the gums and the bone structure are healed.
Immediate dentures can be utilized by the patient after the teeth have been extracted and before the gums and the bone structure are healed. Although the patient does not have to be without teeth during the healing period, immediate dentures are a temporary solution until conventional dentures are fabricated and the oral cavity is healed. The gum tissue and the jawbone will shrink during healing requiring several appointments for adjustments.
A partial denture, or a bridge, can either be removal or cemented into place. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. The replacement teeth are attached to a gum-colored base connected by a metal framework to hold the bridge in place.
The bridge serves two purposes: 1) to fill the space created by missing teeth; and 2) to prevent the remaining, natural teeth from changing position.
Dental implants, the permanent replacement of a tooth’s root implanted into the jawbone, may be used to support a bridge. However, not all patients are candidates for dental implants. Your dentist in Granville will consult with you on this alternative.
Your dentist, or a prosthodontist specializing in teeth replacement and restoration, will create models, wax forms and plastic patterns for impressions of your jaw line. After several fittings and a final measurement, the denture is cast. There will be several appointments for adjustments to the final cast.
Even with the use of denture adhesives, it is natural for all new dentures to feel odd and loose as the facial muscles and the cheeks adjust to the dentures. There will be soreness, minor irritation and excess saliva produced during the first few weeks. These issues will diminish over time as the oral cavity and the face adjust to the dentures.
Until you become used to the dentures, it will be difficult pronouncing certain words and a soft diet is advisable during the first weeks.
Since dentures are made to replicate natural teeth, your smile will improve and your facial features will be fuller.
The dental professionals at Town & Country Dentistry have been serving the area of Granville, Ohio, for more than 40 years. The team is trusted and highly recommended, and all have dedicated their careers to providing services for denture, general, cosmetic, and surgical procedures and treatments with the application of modern and innovative technology.
Please contact Town & Country Dentistry today for your consultation.
We want you to have a great experience at Town & Country Dentistry. We value your time and look forward to seeing you soon!
