Dentures – New Baltimore, MI
Rebuild Your Grin After Tooth Loss
Tooth loss is a common problem that can lead to a host of unpleasant oral and overall health consequences like dental misalignments, gum injuries, trouble eating, malnutrition, and low self-esteem. Thankfully, dentures from Great Lakes Dental Excellence can be a fantastic way to restore your smile with artificial teeth that look and function like the real thing. Here’s a quick look at how dentures work and who can benefit from them from our friendly dental team in New Baltimore.
Why Choose Great Lakes Dental Excellence for Dentures?
- Advanced Dental Technology Produces Amazing Restorations
- Friendly and Compassionate Dental Team
- Flexible Financing Options Available
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you are struggling with moderate to severe tooth loss, we have good news for you: you may be a candidate for dentures. The best way to find out is by scheduling an appointment with our dental team in New Baltimore. However, if you want to learn more on the topic in the meantime, including the negative effects of missing teeth and the qualities that we look for in a good dentures candidate, then read on.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Oftentimes, patients assume that the negative effects of tooth loss begin and end with low self-esteem. In reality, that’s just the beginning. The gaps in your smile can also make it difficult to chew thoroughly, enunciate clearly, and maintain a healthy smile. That’s why it’s so important to explore your treatment options, like dentures in New Baltimore. If we determine that you’re a good candidate, then we can have a custom restoration made to restore your confidence, bite strength, and speaking patterns!
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
There are a few qualities that we look for in a good dentures candidate, including healthy gums and a willingness to break harmful habits, like smoking. However, if you don’t initially meet this criteria, you shouldn’t get discouraged. After all, our team at Great Lakes Dental Excellence can provide the restorative dentistry that you need, like gum disease treatment. Then, once the infection has been eliminated, they can begin working on your custom denture.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
While dentures can be used to replace several or all of a patient’s teeth, another restoration option may be better if you are only missing a few. At our New Baltimore dental office, we also offer:
- Dental Bridges – Dental bridges can replace one tooth or up to four teeth consecutively. The replacement tooth or teeth are secured in place with two dental crowns, one on either side of the gap. Since the entire restoration is custom-made, yours will look and feel extremely natural.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants can replace any number of missing teeth. They are considered the gold standard in tooth replacement because they offer several unique advantages, including that they can replace the entire structure of the missing tooth.
If you are interested in learning more about your treatment options, including if you’re a good candidate for dentures, then take the next step: schedule an appointment with us. That way, we can complete a comprehensive oral exam, answer any questions you have, and begin the process of rebuilding the look of your smile and the strength of your bite!
Types of Dentures
There are several types of dentures available, and we’ll be happy to help you determine the best one for you during your consultation at our New Baltimore office. After examining your oral health, our dentist may recommend:
Partial Dentures
Large gaps between teeth can leave the gums vulnerable to injury and lead to the smile drifting out of alignment. Partial dentures are designed to replace one or more teeth, and they usually incorporate metal clips to hold them in place.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are designed to replace a complete arch of lost teeth and hold their place in the mouth through natural suction. Each of these appliances will be completely customized to fit the patient comfortably.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures are anchored to the jawbone with titanium posts, which allows them to exert maximum chewing power. These devices can be an excellent and long-lasting option for patients who are frustrated with the limitations of traditional dentures.
The Benefits of Dentures
Dentures can provide a range of impressive benefits like:
- An incredibly comfortable fit.
- Lifelike appearance.
- Improved diet.
- Supporting facial structure so you can maintain a youthful appearance.
- Cost-effective way to address extensive tooth loss.
- Easy appliance hygiene requirements.
Denture FAQs
Do Dentures Break Easily?
Regardless of how many teeth went missing, our compassionate team in New Baltimore can provide a lifelike set of dentures to restore your smile’s appearance and function. These replacement teeth are strong enough to withstand the force of daily eating and speaking, and often last anywhere from 5 to 10+ years when cared for correctly.
But that doesn’t mean they’re invincible, and they can become chipped, cracked, or broken if they no longer fit correctly, are dropped, or fall from a great enough height, or are poorly made and have minuscule defects in the base. You can help protect your new teeth by handling them carefully when removing and reinserting them and placing a towel or cushion beneath you when you wash them, as they can become incredibly slippery when wet.
What Should I Do if My Dentures Break?
Many patients assume they can fix their own damaged dentures with superglue or other household supplies, but these products are not intended for oral use and can be toxic if ingested. You might think it’s safer to use supplies from a denture repair kit, but even if you have the right materials, you might make matters worse by placing them incorrectly, causing your restoration to fit poorly.
Meanwhile, our team has the experience and state-of-the-art technology to safely repair, reline, or help you replace your prosthetics while protecting your dental condition.
Am I Too Young to Get Dentures?
Did you know that tooth loss is more common in older adults? For instance, sources estimate nearly 66% of people who are between 40 and 64 years old are missing at least one tooth compared to only approximately 33% of those between 20 and 39 years old. As a result, some younger patients worry that they’re not a good candidate for dentures.
But tooth loss can potentially occur at any stage in your life, and thankfully, there’s no age limit or restriction associated with this treatment. Whether the gaps in your grin resulted from gum disease, tooth decay, physical trauma, or another cause, our team can provide a lifelike set of replacement teeth that look and feel natural.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures In?
You’re not alone if you’re wondering if it’s simpler and easier to sleep with your new teeth inserted, and while it might not cause too much harm if it happens once or twice, it’s typically not recommended.
This is because dentures rely on a firm suction against your gums to remain in place all day, which reduces circulation to the tissues. As a result, you’re more likely to develop gum disease or sores that make it uncomfortable to continue wearing your prosthetics.
Our team recommends removing your restoration to thoroughly brush all their surfaces at night, then place them in a glass with a special soaking solution or room-temperature water while you sleep. This gives your connective tissues a chance to rest and recover, and helps kill germs while retaining the shape of your dentures.