What Are Dentures?
Dentures are custom-made removable appliances that replace missing teeth and restore the appearance and function of your smile. Far from the one-size-fits-all solutions of the past, modern dentures are crafted with precision to match your unique facial structure and desired tooth shade, ensuring a natural and comfortable result. Whether you are missing several teeth (partial denture) or all the teeth in your upper or lower arch (complete denture), we can design a solution that seamlessly rebuilds your smile.
Why Dentures Are an Important Restorative Solution
Choosing to replace missing teeth with dentures is a significant step toward improving your oral health and overall well-being. Beyond just filling gaps, dentures provide critical benefits that can transform your daily life.
Eating and Speaking
Dentures restore your ability to chew a wider variety of foods and improve speech clarity for confident communication.
Facial Appearance
Dentures provide necessary support for your cheeks and lips, helping maintain natural facial contours and a youthful profile.
Quality of Life
Custom-fit, natural-looking dentures allow you to laugh, smile, and engage socially without self-consciousness about missing teeth.
Oral Health
Partial dentures prevent remaining natural teeth from shifting out of position, maintaining proper alignment and reducing future dental problems.
Who Needs Dentures?
Dentures are a versatile and effective solution for a wide range of patients. With Dr. Aylen’s specialized expertise in geriatric care, we are uniquely equipped to serve older adults and patients from retirement communities. You may be an ideal candidate for dentures if you:
- Have lost most or all of your teeth in one or both arches?
- Are you experiencing widespread tooth decay or advanced gum disease that makes saving your natural teeth impossible?
- Have multiple missing teeth and want to prevent the remaining teeth from shifting.
- Are you looking for a reliable and time-tested alternative to dental implants?
- Need an immediate solution to replace teeth that are scheduled for extraction.
Your Personalized Denture Treatment Plan
At Queen Anne Smiles, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We offer several types of dentures and will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your health needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Complete Dentures
Designed for patients who have lost all of their teeth in an arch.
- Conventional Dentures: Created and placed after your gums have fully healed from any necessary extractions.
- Immediate Dentures: Fabricated in advance and placed on the same day as your extractions, ensuring you never have to go without teeth.
Partial Dentures
An excellent option when you still have some healthy, natural teeth. A partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and attaches to your natural teeth with discreet clasps, preventing them from shifting.
Implant-Supported Dentures
For enhanced stability, your denture can be secured to dental implants placed in your jawbone. This option offers superior retention, eliminates slipping, and provides a biting force closer to that of natural teeth.
The Process of Getting Dentures with Queen Anne Smiles
1. Comprehensive Consultation and Evaluation: Your journey begins with a thorough consultation with Dr. Aylen. We will discuss your goals, evaluate your oral health, and use our in-office 3D imaging to get a clear picture of your jaw and facial structure.
2. Digital Impressions and Measurements: We use a state-of-the-art digital scanner to take highly accurate impressions of your mouth. This modern technology eliminates the need for messy, uncomfortable impression putty and provides the precise data needed to craft your custom appliance.
3. Wax Try-In and Customization: Before your final denture is made, we will create a wax model for you to try in. This crucial step allows you to see how your new smile will look and feel. We can make adjustments to the tooth shape, color, and positioning until you are completely happy with the aesthetics.
4. Final Fitting and Delivery: Once your final denture is ready, you will return for a fitting appointment. Dr. Aylen will make meticulous adjustments to ensure it fits securely and comfortably, checking your bite and making sure there are no pressure points on your gums.
5. Ongoing Support and Aftercare: We will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your new dentures. Our team is always here to support you, and we will schedule follow-up visits to ensure your transition is smooth and your smile remains healthy.
Denture FAQs
Adjusting to new dentures typically takes a few weeks. It’s normal to experience some initial soreness or awkwardness while speaking and eating. We recommend starting with soft foods and practicing speaking to speed up the adjustment period.
Dentures should be removed and cleaned daily with a soft-bristle brush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser. Soaking them overnight in a denture solution helps remove bacteria and keeps them fresh. Never use hot water, as it can warp the appliance.
Yes, but it may take some practice. Start with soft foods cut into small pieces and chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually reintroduce harder foods into your diet.
It is highly recommended that you remove your dentures at night. This gives your gum tissues a chance to rest and allows your mouth to stay healthy. Soaking them overnight also keeps them clean and hydrated.
Over time, your jawbone and gums can change shape, causing your dentures to become loose. A reline can reshape the underside of your denture for a snugger fit. With proper care, a set of dentures typically lasts between 5 and 10 years before needing replacement.