Dentures

While our dental experts do everything possible to save your teeth, sometimes it is necessary to remove teeth to minimize infection or other health problems. A denture replaces an entire arch of teeth, and a partial denture is used when three or more teeth are missing.

There are a few different types of dentures and partials that we offer at Seven Star Dental in Cincinnati:

A conventional full denture is a removable appliance that replaces all the teeth in a dental arch. It fits over the gums and is supported by the underlying bone structure. Dentures are meant to be used to chew and assist with speech. However, their function is 20% of natural teeth. Conventional full dentures last 5 or more years, depending on the material used and the integrity of the bone supporting them. Dentures need to be taken out every night to prevent gum sores.

It is also important to understand that dental checkups are still recommended to maintain the health of the oral tissue and to keep the dentures fitting well. Dr. Maria Bustamante in Cincinnati recommends annual checkups to ensure the health of your mouth and professionally clean your dentures. If you are looking for a solution to make conventional dentures more comfortable and one that supports your lifestyle, a Seven Star Dental team member will be happy to assist you!

Prior to having your teeth removed, Dr. Bustamante can measure and have dentures fitted for your mouth in Cincinnati. After removing your teeth, the dentures are placed in your mouth right away. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow-up visit at Seven Star Dental to refit your dentures because your jawbone will change shape as your mouth heals. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jawbone has healed, usually about three months after the extraction surgery.

Partial dentures are an option when not all of your teeth are missing or need to be removed. A partial denture has a metal base that sits on the gums and fits around the existing teeth for retention.

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The gum-colored base of the denture is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times, the denture might feel loose. While you are adjusting to your new denture, it will affect the way you eat and talk too. Over time, your mouth will adapt to eating and speaking with your dentures. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is certainly better than not having teeth.

Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. Brush them to remove plaque and food particles and then place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them. Be extra careful not to drop them. Additionally, never try to adjust your dentures yourself because you could ruin them.

When looking to significantly improve the fit, contour and function of a denture, a hybrid or implant-supported denture is the way to go. Two or more implants can be used as anchors to provide the support and stability to chew on a piece of steak or to have a more natural-looking smile.

Typically, our dental team makes a new custom-designed denture when we are creating the implant-supported dentures, However, in some cases, you may be able to convert your old denture into one that is stabilized by dental implants.

Call our Seven Star Dental team today to schedule a checkup and learn about denture treatment options to fit your needs and lifestyle.