Dentures – Granger, IN

Effects of Missing Teeth

Understanding the consequences of leaving missing teeth unaddressed is crucial since you’ll want to replace any as soon as possible. Firstly, according to the American College of Prosthodontists, the most common causes of tooth loss can involve decay, gum disease, accidental physical impact, and poor oral hygiene. There are also bodily conditions that can increase your risk, such as diabetes.

Having some or all of your teeth missing can lead to various complications in your everyday life. Not only will you have difficulty eating and speaking, but your jawbone can begin to deteriorate, altering your facial shape. This can also negatively impact your self-esteem as well as your overall quality of life.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

The most telling factor that you’re eligible for dentures is if you’re missing any number of teeth. These prosthetics are ideal options for almost anyone suffering from tooth loss, as they’re cost-effective and can even help those who struggle with severe decay or tooth sensitivity.

Even so, our team will need to assess your oral health to verify if your gums are healthy and your jawbone density is sufficient to support the dentures. The kind of denture you’ll receive will also depend on the number of teeth that you’re missing. Based on your situation, you may get partial dentures, full dentures, or implant dentures.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Not a good candidate for dentures? No need to worry. Either our team will be able to help prepare your mouth to support the prosthetics, or we can review your alternative options for restoring your smile. These include:

• Dental bridges: This treatment is reserved for patients who are missing one or several teeth in a row. This method involves preparing healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the bridge, and the results can last around a decade before needing replacements.
• Dental implants: Before getting your dentures, you’ll have dental implants embedded into your jawbone to directly support your prosthetics. Though this procedure is more costly, your results will provide superior stability and can last several decades to a lifetime with proper care.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures are comprised of two parts – the base and the replacement teeth. Here is what each of them consists of:

• Base: The base is the foundational structure of the replacement teeth. It can be made from a variety of different materials, like acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal. Acrylic is the preferred material because it can be tailored to match your natural gum tissue.
• Teeth: The replacement teeth are generally made from resin or porcelain because they appear very similar to natural tooth enamel – even in the way that they reflect light. However, porcelain is a more popular option for full dentures because it is more durable.

The Denture Creation Process

Every denture is customized for the patient’s mouth. This requires a multi-step process for the most accurate result. Here’s what this usually looks like:

• First, your dentist will take measurements of your jaw and impressions of your upper and lower gums. This is used to make a plaster model of the mouth. It will be used to ensure that the final denture fits perfectly.
• The model is sent to the dental lab. This is where your dentures will be made. First, the teeth are set into place using a mechanical device called an “articulator.” Adjustments are made by a lab technician.
• The wax dentures are sent back to your dentist for a fitting. If everything looks good, they are returned to the dental lab to complete the process.
• After the dentures are returned to the dental lab, the wax needs to be replaced with acrylic. To do this, the lab technician places the dentures into a flask. Plaster is poured into the flask to maintain the shape of the dentures. Then, the entire flask is placed in hot water to melt the wax.
• The plaster is carefully removed from the dentures using dental tools. The dentures are placed into an ultrasonic bath to wash away the rest of the plaster.
• Any excess acrylic is cut from the dentures. Then, they are polished to perfection.
• Now that your dentures are ready, they are returned to the dental practice so you can try them on. If you and your dentist are happy with the results, you can leave showing off your new and complete smile to the world!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

After you get your dentures, you may experience some soreness, but this isn’t something to worry about. Temporary discomfort is normal and common as one adjusts to their new prosthetic. After some time, your dentures will begin to feel more and more natural. When you first get your dentures, it’s a good idea to stick to softer foods and exercise your facial muscles. If discomfort persists or you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Improves Nutrition

It can be quite difficult to eat a proper diet after losing many teeth. Many nutritious foods such as raw fruits and veggies, fresh meat, and nuts can be too tough, fibrous, or crunchy to handle without teeth, making many people vulnerable to malnutrition due to not eating the right foods or indigestion due to not chewing thoroughly. By improving a patient’s chewing ability, dentures can enhance their diet and overall health.

Clearer Enunciation

The teeth play an important role in speech, and losing a few or many of them can make pronouncing certain words difficult. Since dentures act as your lost teeth, they can make it much easier to speak clearly. While you may lisp for a little while after receiving dentures, this problem will diminish as you get practice and eventually fade away completely.

Preserves Oral Health

Tooth loss deprives the jaw of the exercise it needs to stay healthy and strong, causing it to atrophy and pull the remaining teeth out of alignment. Replacing lost teeth with dentures can brace the remaining teeth so they don’t shift as much while also distributing the pressure of chewing more evenly, reducing dental wear and tear. Dentures are also simple to clean, making it easy to prevent oral infections while wearing them.

Psychological Benefits

Tooth loss can take a heavy toll on a person’s ego, resulting in side effects such as diminished self-esteem, a lack of social activity, sadness, and depression. Restoring your smile with dentures can help you feel confident in your smile, making it easier to engage socially while not worrying about speech difficulties, problems chewing, and showing missing teeth in your grin.

Expands Opportunities

People often report that a person’s smile is the first thing that they notice about them, and this makes a visually pleasing grin a valuable asset in the professional world. People who are confident in their smiles are more likely to show them off, which makes them appear friendlier, more trustworthy, and more approachable to the people around them. This can make it much easier to ace a job interview or land a juicy promotion, and it can also help you meet interesting people at social events and make lasting friends.

With dentures in Granger, we can help you regain a functional, reliable smile. However, it’s only natural to have some questions when considering the best way to replace your missing teeth. During your consultation, we’ll be happy to answer all your questions personally and walk you through the entire process so you can make a well-informed decision confidently. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get about dentures below so you can learn more. If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

How Long Do I Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Having My Teeth Pulled?

We’ll always do everything we can to preserve your natural teeth. However, if the tooth has become irreparably damaged or infected, then it may be necessary to extract it. If you need to have one or more teeth extracted before being fit with dentures, you’ll need to wait a little while so your gums can heal. This will also ensure that we’re able to take accurate impressions. Typically, you’ll need to wait six to eight months after your tooth extraction to get dentures, but your time may be longer or shorter depending on your health and other factors.

Can I Sleep with My Dentures?

No one wants to be caught without their teeth! However, we strongly discourage sleeping with your dentures in. When you first begin wearing your dentures, we’ll likely instruct you to wear them all day every day to help your mouth adjust. After the first week or two, you’ll need to begin taking them out every evening before you go to bed. Soaking your dentures overnight is the best way to clean out the plaque and bacteria hiding in the nooks and crannies. Additionally, it will give your gums a chance to rest, which will help you avoid gum tissue irritation.

What’s the Average Age for Getting Dentures?

Severe tooth loss can happen at any age, but it’s no secret that it becomes more likely to occur with age. Recent surveys suggest that of the 23 million Americans who have no natural teeth left, the majority are over the age of 65. 90% of those without teeth wear dentures. Other findings show that patients are most likely to need their first set of full or partial dentures over the age of 40. Fortunately, there is no upper or lower age limit for dentures. Naturally, dentures are not typically recommended for children, but they are often an ideal choice for adults of any age who are dealing with moderate to severe tooth loss.

Does It Hurt to Get Dentures?

While dentures are one of the least invasive methods for replacing missing teeth, you can still expect to feel some slight discomfort. After all, your gums need to get used to supporting your new smile. It’s normal to experience some gum irritation or soreness, but this should be easily manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. Your mouth will take some time to adjust to your dentures, so make sure to minimize the side effects by eating softer foods and chewing evenly on both sides of your mouth. While every patient’s adjustment period is different, you should begin to feel back to normal within a month or so. If you don’t, or if the discomfort seems to be getting worse, don’t hesitate to call us right away for assistance!