At the Frederick Center for Dentistry, Dr. Sahil Goyal provides a wide variety of restorative dentistry solutions to many common dental problems. Dr. Goyal, along with Dr. Anshu Goyal and Dr. Politimi Mantzouranis, has extensive experience in treating patients who need to replace missing teeth. Dentures and partials are popular types of restorations to restore teeth. We offer several types of dentures in Frederick, MD that will replace lost teeth and the surrounding tissue.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Missing any number of teeth can affect your appearance and self-esteem. Many patients with tooth loss find it embarrassing and avoid smiling and speaking. However, tooth loss can impact your health is many ways. Replacing your missing teeth offers many benefits.
- Restores Function: Teeth are vital for biting and chewing food. With any number of missing teeth, it will be difficult to eat certain foods properly. Also, if you cannot chew your food adequately, then you will have issues digesting it. Your speech is also affected. Replacing missing teeth will allow you to bite and chew your food properly and communicate effectively.
- Maintains Oral Health: Missing teeth can contribute to additional oral health problems. The teeth adjacent to the gap may shift or tilt into the empty space. This can cause misalignment, bite problems, and potential jaw joint issues. Additionally, missing teeth will lead to bone loss in the jawbone. When you replace your teeth, you help to maintain proper dental alignment and prevent bone loss in the jaw.
- Prevents Overload of Remaining Teeth: When a tooth is missing, the remaining teeth endure extra stress and pressure to compensate for the gap. This may lead to excessive wear and tooth damage. Replacing missing teeth will distribute forces, such as chewing and biting, evenly.
Over time, natural teeth shift to fill in gaps between teeth, which can lead to overcrowding. It is difficult to clean between crooked and overcrowded teeth, which means patients are more prone to problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Bone loss in the jaw will eventually lead to facial sagging and an overall aging appearance. Restorative care is more like preventative care in some cases as it can prevent more serious problems down the road.
Benefits of Dentures
- Restored Function: Dentures help restore your ability to chew and bite properly, allowing you to eat a wide range of foods comfortably. They improve your digestion by enabling efficient chewing, which contributes to better overall nutrition and health.
- Improved Speech: Dentures provide support to the lips, cheeks, and tongue, helping you articulate words more clearly and improving your speech.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: Dentures will improve the appearance of your smile. They replace missing teeth, hold the natural structure of your face, and provide support to the lips and cheeks. This will enhance your facial appearance and restore a natural and more youthful look.
- Boosted Self-Confidence: Dentures can restore a complete smile, leading to better self-confidence and a positive self-image. They allow individuals to engage in social situations without worrying about gaps in their teeth.
- Customized Fit: Dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly. Dentists take impressions of your mouth to create dentures that are specifically tailored to your mouth, providing optimal function and stability.
- Support for Facial Muscles: When teeth are missing, the facial muscles can sag and lose their tone, leading to a sunken or aged appearance. Dentures help support the facial muscles, restoring a more youthful facial structure and maintaining proper facial aesthetics.
- Cost-Effective Solution: Dentures are a more affordable tooth replacement option compared to dental implants and bridges. They offer a cost-effective solution for restoring a functional and attractive smile.
- Flexibility and Adjustability: Dentures are removable, making them easy to clean and maintain them. They can be adjusted or relined as needed to ensure a proper fit over time. This flexibility allows for potential changes in the mouth, such as gum tissue shrinkage, without requiring extensive dental procedures.
Types of Dentures
Full dentures are a great option for patients with full arches of missing or lost teeth. Patients who have multiple consecutive missing teeth often benefit more from receiving partial dentures. However, full dentures are secured with dental implants for a more stable and permanent end-result.
Implant Dentures
Fixed hybrid dentures Implant secured dentures are the preferred restoration for patients with multiple missing teeth. Dental implants will help to maintain bone structure while securing the denture in place so there is no risk of slippage. In some cases, an existing denture can be converted into an implant-supported denture, saving the patient some of the costs associated with this option.
Full Dentures
A tradition full set of dentures will replace an entire row of teeth on the upper or lower jaw and some of the gum tissue. They are made out of an acrylic base with the false teeth attached to it. The piece will remain in place with suction or denture adhesive. Complete dentures feel very bulky in the mouth for some patients. It is hard to adjust to wearing them for this reason. Patients will need to relearn how to talk and eat while wearing them. This adjustment period can last up to a few months.
Partial Dentures
Made of metal or acrylic, partial dentures consist of replacement teeth on a plastic base with a metal framework. The metal clasps will snap on to the remaining teeth to hold the partial in place. This treatment option works best for patients with multiple consecutive missing teeth. The downside to a partial denture is the extra strain it places on the anchor teeth. This makes them more susceptible to damage and decay.
Partials & Dentures FAQs
Dentures are an effective tooth replacement option for patients missing multiple teeth. Read through our frequently asked questions about dentures to learn more about them. Feel free to contact our dental practice if you have further questions.
Can you drink coffee with partial dentures?
Avoid both gum and coffee because of their potential to stain dentures. Patients should avoid foods like nuts and seeds, as they may become lodged under the denture and cause irritation or discomfort.
How is a partial denture held in place?
Metal clasps are used to attached most types of partial dentures. These fit into the spaces between teeth by clipping onto the teeth on either side of the space. By preparing a slot in the crown of the supporting tooth, a connector can be inserted into the tooth to hold your denture in place.
How long can you wear partial dentures?
If cared for properly, a partial denture has a lifespan of 5-10 years. However, they may occasionally need adjusting because the aging process causes changes in your gum ridges and the underlying bone.
Can you brush your dentures with toothpaste?
It is common to assume that toothpaste is the best option for cleaning dentures. This is not true. Avoid brushing your dentures with toothpaste at all costs. Denture cleaner is a much safer alternative.
How many hours a day should you wear partial dentures?
Generally speaking, you should wear your dentures for at least eight hours each day. In order for your gums to rest, we recommend that you remove them at night. Taking them out will let you properly brush, floss, and eat.
Can partial dentures be left in overnight?
At night, both partial and full dentures should be removed. This provides a much-needed relaxation period for your gums and jawbone. This is also an excellent opportunity to clean and sanitize your dentures!
Can you eat normally with partial dentures?
Yes, you absolutely can. However, as you adjust to the unfamiliar feeling in your mouth, it can take a few weeks. It’s a good idea to temporarily restrict your diet to soft foods and recipes that don’t demand a lot of chewing and jaw activity.
Call The Frederick Center For Dentistry
If you are missing multiple teeth and believe you would benefit from denture treatment, contact our Frederick, MD dental office. Following a consultation and examination, we will help you find the dental solution that fits your personal needs.
Receive restorative dental care for missing teeth today by calling 301.264.5680. Request a dental exam with our dentists on our website.