In our last blog, we looked at how our custom dental bridges can help address minor cases of tooth loss. But what if you have several missing teeth, or have lost all of them? In these situations, you may need a set of dentures. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about our full and partial dentures.
The Dangers of Total Tooth Loss
We could lose most or all of our teeth to injuries, cavities, or infection, but in most cases, this is due to periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. When we lose our smile, this can severely limit our meal options and nutritional intake, and even impact how clearly we can speak. The jawbone will also gradually lose mass and density due to tooth loss, which can cause an aged appearance over time. But with dentures, we can help return your smile to optimal health, function, and beauty once again.
Partials
Partial dentures can take on cases of tooth loss too complicated for a bridge or a full set of dentures. These are cases in which you have several gaps of missing teeth spread out across your smile. We will take detailed images of your smile with digital technology and use them to design a prosthetic that contains new teeth. These teeth fit in the gaps to complete your smile, and are held in place with metal clasps that attach to natural teeth. The custom denture will look natural and be able to handle daily bite forces and pressures. On average, the removable partials tend to last about 5 to 10 years before requiring replacement.
Fulls
If you have lost most or all of your teeth, you may need a full. We will gently remove the last few teeth and take images and impressions to design your custom prosthetic, which is held in place with suction or adhesives. The prosthetic contains a complete row of durable and lifelike teeth, and can help you smile with confidence again. Thes also require replacement as the jaw ridge changes shape, and can last about 5 to 10 years.
Implant Placement
With dental implants, we can offer more severe and longer-lasting dental implants, as we insert new posts into the jaw that act as roots, stimulating the growth of new structure so your bridge doesn’t change shape. This means your prosthetic can remain in place for decades to come, and never slip or require removal for cleaning or soaking. They will look and function like natural teeth! If you have any questions, give us a call!
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROSTHETICS
We want to help you maintain a full smile by addressing your tooth loss with a prosthetic. To find out more about treating tooth loss, you can call Dr. Browne in Prairie Village, KS, at 913-901-8585.
