Missing teeth are more than unsightly. They impact your oral health and cause changes in facial shape, making you appear older.
There are many ways to replace lost teeth, but the right restorative or cosmetic dentistry option for you depends on how many teeth you’re missing, how quickly you’d like them replaced, and the extent of restoration you want to complete your smile. Dentures and partial dentures are a reliable way to restore teeth. Our dentists can help you determine if this type of restoration is right for you.
If you’re missing one or more teeth, please contact Highpoint Dental Care in Aurora, Colorado, today at 303-617-9100 to schedule your initial appointment. Dr. Baltz and Dr. Rowe offer free consultations to patients looking to restore their smile and serve the Aurora, Parker, Centennial, and Green Valley Ranch areas of Colorado.
The first step toward dentures starts with examining your teeth and gums. If our dentists believe this is the best way to restore your teeth, we will create one or several impression molds of your teeth to determine how your jaw moves and functions. Your impressions will help our technicians generate natural-looking and fully-functioning dentures in our dental lab.
Three Types of Dentures
We offer a variety of dental services and denture options: temporary, partial, and complete. Each choice has its benefits and drawbacks, and our dentists can help determine which type of denture will give you the best outcome.
- Temporary Dentures: Most men and women want to replace their teeth immediately to avoid bone resorption, declining oral health, and any embarrassment caused by missing teeth. Temporary dentures are meant to be worn for a few months and are often used in cases where one or more teeth have been knocked out while playing a sport or in an accident. They provide a short-term solution giving you a natural-looking appearance while you wait for permanent dentures, dental implants, or a dental bridge. They work much like a retainer as they’re secured using a metal wire and can be removed.
- Partial Dentures: If you have just a few missing teeth to replace, partial dentures could be your best option. They involve a plastic base that matches the color of your gums and a metal frame which secures the base, preventing them from coming loose and falling out.
- Complete Dentures: These dentures are only used when you’re missing all your teeth or require your remaining teeth to be extracted. They’ve greatly improved in recent years, offering a natural-looking appearance which can be done 8-12 weeks after removing or losing your teeth or immediately following. Fast-tracked dentures will need to be adjusted periodically because your jawbone and gums will shrink as they heal from tooth loss. We often recommend waiting the full 12 weeks to avoid denture adjustments but understand the importance of replacing your missing teeth immediately.
Full and partial dentures are non-invasive ways to replace your teeth. There’s no surgery required, and the temporaries can be created and used right away. They may not be the most natural-looking choice, but they are fast and easy. Dentures also require special care, and there’s a risk of them coming loose when you talk or eat.
Dentures must be rinsed every night along with thorough brushing with a denture toothbrush to remove food particle buildup from your day. You must clean your dentures before and after brushing and also brush the roof of your mouth, your gums, and your tongue with soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste. Remaining bacteria can be eliminated with antiseptic mouthwash, which also improves bad breath. Soak your dentures through the night and reapply in the morning.
Implant-Supported Dentures
There are also alternative procedures such as dental implants or implant-supported dentures, which offer additional benefits such as:
- Dental Implants: Dental implants have restorative and cosmetic benefits. They involve implanting a metal post into your jawbone to create a synthetic root, which is then connected to a dental crown. Implants look and act like your natural teeth, which makes caring for them as simple as daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing. They protect your jawbone from resorption and are made to match the shade of your existing teeth. We can fit you with temporary dentures while we create your implants.
- Implant-Supported Dentures: One of the pitfalls of dentures is that they can come loose during your everyday activities. Dentures held in place with implants is a great way to replace missing teeth. Our dentists use the metal posts involved in dental implants to secure your dentures, giving you the same stability.
Schedule Your Free Denture Consultation
If you’re interested in dentures or implant dentistry, please contact our experienced dentists at Highpoint Dental Care in Aurora today at 303-617-9100. We provide all forms of dentistry services to patients in surrounding Colorado areas including Parker, Centennial, and Green Valley Ranch.
