Dentures–East Gwillimbury

Effects of Missing Teeth

Tooth loss is an unfortunately common problem, and it can be caused by factors like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral injuries. In addition to lowering one’s self-esteem, the loss of many teeth can lead to facial sagging, difficulty with chewing, trouble with speaking, and even further oral injuries or infections. The teeth are designed to share the burden of chewing with one another, and the loss of one can cause the others to bear more force than they can handle, which can lead to injuries and more rapid erosion of the enamel. To make matters worse, extensive tooth loss can make it much harder to enjoy the wide variety of tasty foods that the body needs for adequate nutrition.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Almost anyone can receive dentures to treat their extensive tooth loss. The patient will need to have sufficiently healthy gum tissue and jawbones as well as a commitment to proper oral hygiene. Dentures can be partial or full, and which one is right for you will largely depend on how many teeth you are missing.

While dentures are generally more affordable than other tooth-replacement methods, some patients may receive dental implants to hold their dentures in place, creating a sturdy hold that maximizes stability during chewing and speaking.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

While dentures are both incredibly comfortable to wear and so fantastically lifelike that casual observers won’t even notice them, other tooth replacement options such as bridges or dental implants can be better choices for some patients.

• Dental bridges are used to replace one or several missing teeth in a row. They consist of a few dental crowns which are usually anchored to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. However, some patients have their bridges supported with implants.

Dental implants are the ideal solution to tooth loss because they are surgically placed directly into the jawbone and host lifelike dental crowns that work just like real teeth. They require the patient to have healthy jawbones, and while they are more expensive than traditional dentures, they are permanent.

What are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are generally made of two components:

• The Base: This is the gum-colored structure that is created to hold your new teeth. The denture base is typically constructed out of acrylic, which can match seamlessly with your natural gum line. Partial dentures are often created out of acrylic along with metal clips that are used to clasp onto nearby healthy teeth for support. The base can also be created with nylon or resin.
• The Artificial Teeth: Your new teeth can usually be made out of acrylic or porcelain depending on the type of prosthetic being made. While both materials are tooth-colored, partial dentures often use acrylic because they aren’t very abrasive against natural teeth. For full dentures, porcelain is more popular, as it is incredibly durable.

The Denture Creation Process

There are multiple steps involved in constructing your prosthetics. Here’s a brief look at the creation process:

• Our team will first take detailed impressions of your gum line that will be used to construct the wax replica of your smile.
• Your impressions will be sent to a dental lab where they will begin the process of creating a model of your gums. Afterward, they’ll place your artificial teeth onto the base.
• Once the wax replica is shaped and sized to match your smile, it will be sent to our team for a fitting. If all looks well, we’ll send it back to the lab for completion.
• The lab technicians will then boil the dentures to melt off the wax while simultaneously replacing the plaster with acrylic to retain the shape of your prosthetics.
• The team will finally trim and polish the dentures completely before sending them back to us for the last fitting.
• You’ll return to our office to try on your permanent dentures. If they fit properly and you’re satisfied with the results, you’ll be free to enjoy your brand-new smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It’s quite normal for most patients to feel some discomfort when first wearing their new dentures. The good news is that your mouth will get used to the prosthetics with time. During your adjustment period, you’ll also want to practice using your new teeth for chewing and talking, as it will take a while before they start to feel normal for you. If you notice any changes or issues with your dentures, make sure to notify our team so we can help.