Smile Confidently with Full and Partial Dentures
Missing teeth can affect your confidence and oral health. Full and partial dentures are a popular restorative dentistry solution for completing your smile and improving your quality of life. Our dental team offers comprehensive denture services to help you achieve optimal oral health. In this helpful guide, Dr. Renee Miller explains the benefits of full and partial dentures and the process of getting your own custom denture restorations. We serve Grosse Pointe Woods and surrounding areas such as Eastpointe, St. Clair Shores, and Roseville, MI.
What Are Full and Partial Dentures?
Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are designed to replace all of your teeth. They rest atop your gums and rely on your palate or lower jawbone ridge for support. You may need to use denture adhesive to keep them in place.
Partial dentures are designed to replace some of your teeth. They consist of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is sometimes connected by a metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw.
Benefits of Full and Partial Dentures
- Improved Chewing Function: Dentures can help improve your chewing ability, allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods again.
- Restored Smile and Confidence: Dentures can fill in the gaps left by missing teeth, restoring your smile and confidence.
- Prevention of Facial Sagging: Dentures can help prevent facial sagging that can occur when teeth are missing.
- Affordable Solution: Dentures are an affordable solution for replacing missing teeth.
The Full and Partial Dentures Process
Initial Consultation
Before you’re approved for full and partial dentures, you’ll have an initial consultation with Dr. Miller. During your initial consultation, Dr. Miller will examine your mouth and discuss your options for dentures. She’ll also take impressions of your mouth to create a model of your dentures.
Preparation
If you’ve been approved for dentures, the next step is preparing your smile. In the case of full dentures, if you have any remaining teeth that need to be removed, Dr. Miller will perform the extractions before proceeding with the denture process. In the case of partial dentures, extraction may not be necessary.
Temporary Dentures
You may qualify for immediate dentures, which are placed immediately after extraction. However, immediate dentures are a temporary solution, as they’re not designed to match your smile or accommodate the changes your smile undergoes.
Design
Dr. Miller will work with you to design your full or partial dentures, taking into account factors such as the shape and color of your teeth and gums.
Fitting
Once your dentures are ready, Dr. Miller will fit them into your mouth to ensure that they fit comfortably and securely. She’ll also provide instructions on how to care for your dentures and how to adjust to wearing them.
How to Care for Full and Partial Dentures
Caring for your dentures is essential to making sure they last as long as possible. Dr. Miller offers these tips to ensure your full or partial dentures stay strong, so they can help you smile your best:
- Remove and rinse your dentures after eating to remove any food particles.
- Brush your dentures daily with a soft-bristled brush and denture cleaner.
- Soak your dentures overnight in a denture solution to keep them moist and clean.
- Handle your dentures carefully and avoid dropping them, as they can break easily.
- Do not clean your dentures with hot water or bleach, as this can damage them.
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care and maintenance, dentures can last up to 10 years. However, they may need to be adjusted or replaced over time.
Many dental insurance plans cover the cost of dentures. However, coverage may vary depending on the plan and the age of the patient. It’s best to check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage.
It may take some time to adjust to eating with dentures. However, with practice, you should be able to eat most foods. It is recommended to start with soft foods and gradually introduce harder foods.
Sleeping with full or partial dentures is not recommended due to the increased risk of infection, gum irritation, and slippage. Dentures can trap bacteria and food particles, creating a breeding ground for fungi, which can lead to a fungal infection called thrush. It’s generally recommended to remove them at night to allow your gums to rest and to prevent the risk of infection and other issues.
