Options for Getting Dentures

Things happen in life that can cause you to lose teeth. Sometimes tooth loss could be a result of illness, sometimes it is from an unfortunate accident or injury, and sometimes it is the result of poor oral health or an advanced stage of tooth decay. Luckily no matter what the cause of tooth loss is, West Broad Dental provides various prosthetic options that will help you repair your smile to a beautiful, natural look and restore your mouth to its full functionality.

Dentures may be an option whether you have only lost some of your teeth or all of them. These are the most common and well-known replacements for your teeth and gums. However, dentures may not be suitable or preferable for all patients, so other, more permanent options are also available. West Broad Dental also provides Implant Overdentures and Fixed Implant Dentures, which employ permanent implants for a stronger, more secure binding between your gums and your dentures.

Traditional Dentures

Traditional dentures are artificial teeth made from hard resin, porcelain, or plastic. They are custom-made to fit your mouth and they rest on top of your gums as a removable structure. Traditional dentures can be full dentures, which replace all your teeth, or they can be partial dentures, which are designed to fit around your natural, remaining teeth. Full or partial traditional dentures are removable and are designed with supporting structures that will hold them in place to ensure functionality and maintain the structure of your mouth. These are also offered as either Immediate full dentures or Conventional full dentures.

As the name suggests, immediate full dentures allow you to have an immediate, full set of dentures as soon as your teeth are removed. This is done by measuring your mouth before your teeth are extracted in order to create dentures that will fit in your mouth just right. Conventional dentures, on the other hand, will require a month-long process for your gum tissue to heal after your teeth are extracted. Once your gum tissue heals, you can start wearing your custom dentures. With proper care, dentures can last 10 to 15 years before they need to be replaced.

Implant Overdentures

Implant overdentures are an excellent option for patients with missing or defective soft or hard tissue in the mouth that is needed to support traditional dentures. These are also a viable option for patients who have tried dentures and want something that adheres stronger to their gums and contours better to their mouth. These can also sufficiently preserve the jawbone, keeping it strong, and preventing sagging of the face. The implant overdenture procedure is done by putting permanent implants into the jaw, which bond and fuse to surrounding bone tissues. Overdentures are then secured directly on the implants.

The implants are made from titanium alloys and ceramic materials that are biocompatible to your body tissues. Even though the overdentures are removable, they still provide a more robust, improved bite and enhance your ability to chew and speak versus traditional dentures, as dentures will often loosen over time and may require an adhesive to secure them. Additionally, implants have greater durability than dentures, which need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years. On the other hand, implant overdentures and fixed implant dentures can last an average of 25 years to a lifetime with proper oral care.

Fixed Implant Dentures

Like implant overdentures, fixed implant dentures (or Fixed Implant Hybrid Prosthesis/All-on-4) utilize permanent titanium and ceramic implants surgically placed into the jaw, which is used to support dentures. However, fixed implant dentures are screwed onto the implants, so they cannot be removed by the patient like implant overdentures.

Fixed implant dentures will fully restore biting, chewing, and speaking functionality and contour closer to your mouth for the most natural feel. Unlike traditional dentures, All-on-4 fixed implants help prevent the loss of jawbone density, which can occur over time after tooth loss without the necessary pressure applied from natural teeth. The implants help to restore and maintain this needed pressure to keep jaw bones strong and dense.

Placing the implants requires a surgical procedure, but it is an outpatient surgery that uses local anesthesia. In most cases, all of a patient’s teeth can be removed, implants placed, and temporary teeth placed within a single visit. The dental implants will require a few months of healing so the permanent teeth can be produced, while the temporary teeth will serve as a guide to perfect the permanent teeth for an optimal custom fit.

Conclusion

Finding the right denture option is key to not only bringing back your smile but also boosting your confidence and enhancing your quality of life. Here at West Broad Dental, we get how significant the impact of tooth loss can be on both your personal and professional life. That’s why we’ve curated a wide variety of denture solutions to cater to the specific needs of our clients. Whether you’re considering traditional dentures, implant overdentures, or the more advanced All-on-4 fixed implant dentures, our aim is to deliver options that improve not just your dental function but also your comfort and the overall look of your smile.

Feel free to reach out to us at (703) 237-3516 or drop by our office at 800 W Broad St #304, Falls Church to discuss how we can assist in achieving a smile that’s not only beautiful but also tailored to fit your lifestyle. Working together, we’re confident we can identify the ideal dental solution for you, ensuring that your smile remains vibrant for many years ahead.