Dentures are a popular method for replacing lost teeth and can address both minor tooth loss and total tooth loss cost-effectively. This is especially true among patients with certain oral conditions and health problems that might not make them suitable candidates for dental implants.
Dental Depot provides custom-made dentures to replace lost teeth and improve the appearance and function of your smile. Millions of Oklahomans experience the loss of one or more adult teeth, and Dental Depot is committed to delivering the compassionate, informed care they deserve to restore their oral health. Suppose you or a loved one live with missing teeth or must have multiple teeth extracted. In that case, Dental Depot has the resources and solutions you need to make the best decisions for tooth replacement, including state-of-the-art imaging and equipment for customized dentures and dental professionals with extensive experience in prosthodontics and tooth replacement.
If you are missing one or more teeth, schedule an appointment with the Dental Depot nearest you. Our compassionate and experienced team of dental professionals work extensively with patients who have experienced tooth loss or who will need to have teeth extracted, and we know how intimidating it can be to seek help for your missing teeth.
At Dental Depot, we believe no Oklahoman should go without a full, healthy smile because of lack of access to care or inability to pay. Whether you need a Saturday appointment or an individualized payment plan that fits your budget, you’ll find the care and respect you deserve at any of our Norman, Tulsa, or Oklahoma City locations. In addition to SoonerCare and CareCredit, we accept most major dental insurance plans and will work with you to find feasible financing options. Don’t go another day without your smile; call Dental Depot today.
Although the term “dentures” broadly refers to a dental prosthetic device for replacing lost teeth, there is a wide range of types of dentures, from traditional to implant-supported, full or partial.
Traditional or conventional dentures. Traditional dentures—also called conventional dentures—rest on top of your gums. They are removed at night to soak and are held in place throughout the day with dental cement.
Implant-supported dentures. Implant-supported dentures, sometimes called “overdentures,” are permanently attached to dental implants—tiny titanium screws inserted into the jaw—via an abutment. Implant-supported dentures can be fixed or removable.
Partial dentures. Partial dentures are used to replace only a few missing teeth. These prosthetic teeth will be connected to banding concealed by the prosthetic teeth and the patient’s natural teeth. The prosthetic teeth attached to a partial will fit next to or between existing healthy teeth. A partial is supported by clasps that attach to natural teeth, and just like full dentures, partials are removed at night for cleaning and soaking.
Full dentures. A full denture replaces an entire arch of teeth missing in the upper or lower jaw. For completely edentulous patients, two sets of full dentures are required to give the appearance and function of a complete smile. Full dentures rest directly on top of the gums where the arched shape of the jawbone supports them. Full dentures are removed for overnight cleaning and soaking.
All dentures are made of acrylic and custom-made for each patient’s mouth to look, fit, and feel like natural teeth.
Only a dentist—preferably one experienced in dental prosthetics—can help you determine your best tooth replacement option and help you decide if dentures are right for you.
Dentures are typically best for:
Replacing all of the teeth in the lower and/or upper arches
Replacing an entire mouth of teeth
Replacing several adjacent teeth
Conventional dentures are usually recommended for people who:
Do not want to undergo the process of dental implants
Do not have the overall health or bone density to support dental implants
Prefer a removable option for their tooth replacement
Implant-supported dentures can be good for people who want a semi-permanent to a permanent solution for tooth replacement and who have the jaw density and health to support implants.
Permanent implant-supported dentures are cared for just like natural teeth. If you have any removable dentures, however, they should be taken out of your mouth every night, cleaned with toothpaste and rinsed, and soaked in a denture cleaning solution. It’s also important to brush your gums and any remaining natural teeth to help keep your dentures clean.
No matter what type of dentures you have, routine visits to the dentist are still important. These visits give your dentist a chance to check the fit and comfort of your dentures and the health of your mouth and gums. Even if no natural teeth remain, patients with dentures can still develop conditions like dental thrush (“denture sore mouth”) or periodontitis (gum disease).
Dentures can take some time to get used to, especially for patients who have been living with missing teeth for a long time. It’s normal to experience some minor soreness, tightness, or discomfort in the cheeks and jaw early on when the muscles in your mouth get used to speaking, chewing, and forming around the dentures. You may also have some difficulty making certain sounds or speaking comfortably at first, but with practice and time, you’ll be able to speak, chew, and smile as well as before dentures, if not better.
Except for implant-supported dentures, dentures do not stimulate the jawbone, so even though they can help preserve the shape and structure of your mouth better than a mouth without teeth, you will still experience some bone deterioration or atrophy. This can affect how the dentures fit in your mouth, making them feel loose or unsecured or causing them to irritate your gums. You must have your dentures adjusted, refitted, or replaced every few years to ensure they are still in good condition and fit properly.
Dentures and dental implants are two very different forms of tooth replacement. Which one is right for you will depend on a variety of factors such as:
Dentures are removable prosthetics that sit on top of the gum, held in place by dental adhesive and suction. Dental implants are tiny titanium screws implanted into the jaw and covered with an artificial tooth. Dental implants are permanent replacements that are stable, function like natural teeth, and rarely, if ever, need replacement. Dentures can slip and affect how the wearer eats and talks, especially at first, and need to be adjusted and replaced periodically. Dentures do not stimulate the growth of gum and jaw bone like implants do and need to be taken out every night to be cleaned.
Dental implants are often preferred in many cases, but there are other instances where dentures may be the better option, especially for patients who cannot or do not want to go through the extensive implant procedure or whose jaws can’t support the implants.
If you are missing teeth, it is important to replace them to preserve your oral function, prevent atrophy in your jaw, and protect your overall health. Dental Depot Oklahoma offers a variety of restorative options to give you back a healthy smile, including dentures and dental implants. Our dentists and specialists can help you determine which solution is right for you.
Partial dentures are mounted on a metal frame that attaches to remaining natural teeth, and are a removable alternative to bridges for replacing a few missing teeth. Complete dentures consist of a flesh-colored acrylic base and a full set of artificial teeth, which fit over your gums and cover the roof of your mouth. Complete dentures are held in place with suction and/or oral adhesive.
Partial dentures are recommended when a patient has healthy remaining natural teeth; full or complete dentures are typically recommended when a patient doesn’t have any natural teeth remaining or needs to have any remaining teeth extracted.
At Dental Depot Oklahoma, our staff includes prosthodontists and periodontists who can help you determine if you could benefit from dentures and what type would be best for your unique situation.
It is only recommended that you sleep with dentures the night of your procedure, which allows the dentures to act as a bandage. All other nights it is highly advised that you do NOT sleep with dentures in order to give your gums and bones a rest and to properly clean your mouth and dentures.
When you are not wearing your dentures, you should soak them in a denture cleaning solution or water to prevent them from drying out.
Traditional dentures (either complete or partial) are typically removable, but there are two types of permanent or semi-permanent dentures: overdentures and permanent dentures.
Overdentures are implant-retained, snap-in that can be taken out. Overdentures usually require between two and six implants to be placed in the jaw and covered with abutments, to which the dentures are connected. Overdentures must be removed so you can clean the dentures, the abutments, and your gums.
Permanent, or fixed, dentures are implant-supported and can only be removed by a dentist. Permanent dentures typically require 6-8 implants in the upper arch and 4-6 in the lower jaw. Permanent dentures do not need to be removed to be cleaned; you can brush and floss them just like your natural teeth.
Neither overdentures nor permanent dentures will rub, slip, or pop out unexpectedly.
The type of dentures you have determines if and how often your dentures need to be adjusted, relined, or replaced. Your mouth and jaw will change shape as you age and your dentures will experience some wear and tear from normal use, so most types of dentures will need some kind of readjustment every four to seven years or so.
Signs your dentures need to be replaced, adjusted, or refitted include:
When a patient decides to receive dentures as their teeth replacement option, the process to fabricate them is very detailed and intricate so that his or her new teeth are customized to look and feel natural. Since everyone’s oral anatomy is unique, customization of prosthetic teeth is essential for increasing oral function and restoring smiles. From the size of one’s mouth to the shape and thickness of their jaws, dentures must be tailor made.
The process for creating dentures begins with taking pictures, X-rays and impressions (molds) of jaws and any existing teeth. Once this is complete, our dentists will determine the unique measurements of the denture(s). These specifications will then be sent to a dental laboratory where the full or partial denture will be created by skilled technicians.
In the interim, while patients are waiting for their new teeth, they may be given temporary prosthetics to wear. Once the dentures are ready, they will be sent to our office and patients will return for a final fitting, and if there are any issues with the way dentures fit, adjustments will be made.
In addition to being custom made, dentures are crafted from very high quality materials to help lend a natural appearance and improvement to one’s smile. Porcelain is used to mimic lost tooth structure while pink-colored acrylic is used to resemble gum tissue. The pink colored portion of dentures is important for creating a seamless transition from natural gum structure to prosthetics.
If you are missing one or more teeth, we strongly encourage you to schedule a teeth replacement consultation with one of our dentists at Dental Depot. We will help you determine the best tooth replacement option for you!
Call us or request an appointment online today!
