Dentures — Brandon, SD
Re-Complete Your Smile with Comfortable, Lifelike Dentures
If there’s one word to describe life with missing teeth, it’s “limited.” You won’t be able to eat your favorite foods, and it will be harder to talk. Fortunately, with the right kind of tooth replacement, it’s possible to enjoy a full life again. Here at Neighborhood Dental - Brandon, Dr. Mauri and Dr. Woods provide natural-looking dentures that can restore your smile even when most or all of your teeth are gone. Interested in learning more about this tried-and-true tooth loss treatment? Call today to schedule an appointment with us for dentures in Brandon!
Why Choose NEIGHBORHOOD DENTAL - Brandon for Dentures?
- Tooth Replacements Fully Personalized for Each Patient
- Dental Implants Placed and Restored in One Location
- Highly Knowledgeable Dental Experts
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Our team can help you figure out whether or not dentures are a good treatment for you. Before we make any recommendations, we’ll examine your mouth and determine how many teeth are missing (or are damaged so badly that they need to be removed). Until your visit with us, here are some things for you to take into account.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Teeth are very strong, but they aren’t completely indestructible. Teeth can become damaged in a variety of different ways, including decay, gum disease, and trauma to the mouth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are numerous negative effects of tooth loss, including facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and low self-esteem. When you replace your missing teeth with dentures, you can improve all of these areas of your life.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are ideal for people who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth. Depending on the number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in the mouth, we can put together a custom plan just for you. It is important to have good oral health before getting dentures, so if you have gum disease or tooth decay, we can help you resolve those problems first. Once your oral health is in good shape, we can move on to your dentures.
Alternative Tooth Replacement Options
Dentures aren’t necessarily the best option for everyone. Here are some other tooth replacement options that we offer:
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth. The replacement tooth, also called the “pontic” is supported by two dental crowns that are placed on the adjacent teeth. This is ideal for patients who are only missing one or a couple of consecutive teeth.
- Dental Implants: A dental implant is a screw-like post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. This requires that the patient has a strong and sufficient jawbone. Dental implants cost more than dentures, but they are made to last for multiple decades or even a lifetime.
Types of Dentures
No matter what kind of denture you get, rest assured that it will be made to blend in with the rest of your smile and that we’ll design it to feel as comfortable as possible while you’re using it for chewing, speaking, and smiling. Here’s what you need to know about each kind of denture:
Partial Dentures
Sometimes, you might still have some teeth remaining, but there could still be large gaps that need to be filled. A partial denture is designed to fit neatly into these spaces to re-complete the arch. Many partial dentures have an acrylic base that is supported by a metal frame for additional stability.
Full Dentures
You’re likely familiar with full dentures, which are used when no natural teeth remain in the arch in question. The base of your full dentures will be made to resemble the soft tissues around them. It will sit directly on your gums and use natural suction to stay in place. (Denture adhesives are also available if you feel that you need them.)
Implant Dentures
We can combine full and partial dentures with dental implants in order to create a new smile that functions as naturally as possible. In many cases, implant dentures are fixed in place, so you never have to worry about taking them out of your mouth and possibly dropping them.
The Benefits of Dentures
Having a full set of teeth again thanks to dentures can make your life easier in a variety of ways. There are the immediate benefits of being able to chew a variety of foods and speak normally. Other advantages include:
- Being an affordable way to replace multiple teeth.
- Helping you look younger.
- Requiring only simple maintenance.
- Being able to last for many years (assuming that you’re taking good care of them).
Dentures Aftercare
Dentures have been a tried and true solution for replacing missing teeth for decades now. With these lifelike and durable prosthetics, you can be sure to make the most of your restored bite and smile. Still, you’ll need to implement certain measures to ensure that your dentures last as long as possible. Even if you don’t have any natural pearly whites left, it’s important to visit your dentist regularly for checkups so that they can address any underlying issues they might detect with your mouth and prosthetics. Until then, here are several tips for caring for your dentures.
Remove After Eating
Once you’ve finished enjoying a meal or munching on your favorite snacks, it’s best to take your dentures out and rinse them. This will effectively remove any buildup of debris, food particles, and plaque that might accumulate on your prosthetics. Just be sure not to use hot water, as this can end up warping your tooth replacements, making them ill-fitting and causing you to need new ones prematurely.
Clean Your Prosthetics
Whenever it’s time to clean your dentures, always take them out of your mouth beforehand. Not only will this allow you to wash the rest of your mouth, but you’ll also be able to brush the underside of your prosthetics, which is where bacteria can easily develop. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild hand soap or denture cleanser to clean your dentures. Toothpaste can often be too abrasive for the material. Not going to wear them right away? Store them in a container of water or cleansing solution to keep them moist and bacteria-free. Make sure to rinse them off thoroughly before putting them back in, as you won’t want to ingest any cleaning materials.
Keep Your Dentures Safe
It’s usually a good idea to practice safety measures to keep your dentures from becoming damaged or compromised. That’s why, if it’s time to clean them, be sure to place a soft towel under them on the sink or the floor beneath you. This can help break their fall in case they slip from your hands, significantly reducing the chances of them getting chipped or cracked. Make sure to also place them in a space that’s out of reach of pets or small children.
Remove Dentures When You Sleep
Before going to sleep, remember to take your dentures out. Leaving them on for too long can increase the risk of gum irritation, as your tissues might not get enough circulation or receive the necessary nutrients to keep them healthy. You can also raise the possibility of accumulating bacteria. Those who leave their dentures on even have a higher risk of pneumonia and gum/tongue plaque. To avoid these issues, store your dentures in denture solution to keep them safe and fresh until you wear them again.
Notice Changes
Be sure to watch out for any changes you might notice so you can notify your dentist about them. This can involve gum irritation, mouth sores, or even signs of infection, which can become problematic if left untreated for too long. Also, if you find any damage to your dentures, do NOT try fixing them on your own, as household products can just make the situation worse. If you notice any shifting, clicking, or other indications that your prosthetics aren’t fitting well anymore, visit our team so we can have them relined or replaced.