Do you have a full upper or lower arch of missing teeth? Are your missing teeth impacting your bite? In our Lansdale, PA dental office, patients can receive restorative dental care with dentures and partials.
Dentures may be partial or full. Partial dentures replace rows of missing teeth, while full dentures can restore one or more arches of teeth. At Brookwood Dental Associates, our dental professionals work with patients one-on-one to find the right treatment to meet their needs and goals.
Removable vs. Implant-Supported Dentures
You can get multiple types of dentures to replace your missing teeth. Learn more about the options we offer at Brookwood Dental Associates.
Removable Dentures
These are what you think of when someone says dentures. Traditional dentures are removable. They’re made up of a resin and metal base that supports false teeth and relies on suction to stay in your mouth. You usually need an adhesive so dentures stay in if suction alone isn’t enough. You get removable dentures faster and at less cost than implant-supported ones.
But while removable dentures don’t cost as much upfront, mystery costs come into play down the line. Your jawbone continues to change and deteriorate without jaw bone support. Because of this, you’ll have to pay to get them readjusted or replaced multiple times throughout your lifetime. Ill-fitting dentures are harder to use and can cause sores and pain in your mouth.
You also have restrictions on what you can eat. Removable dentures only give you back around 30-40% of your bite function. You can’t eat certain foods with dentures. You risk them falling out of your mouth when you’re eating or speaking in public because they rely on that suction to your gums to stay in your mouth. They will shift and move in your mouth if this seal isn’t tight.
You should only wear removable dentures for about eight hours each day. If you leave them in too long, they can irritate the gum tissue and cause sores. When you take them out, you must take care of them properly. Dentures require certain cleaners and utensils to clean the adhesive properly. Sometimes, you’ll have to soak them to remove bacteria and debris.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are a restoration that stays put in your mouth. As few as four dental implants support a full arch of missing teeth.
Implant-supported dentures attach to dental implants in your jaw to keep them stable. This strong connection helps them handle everyday chewing and speaking without slipping.
Implant-supported dentures take longer to get than removable ones because they involve surgery. We place small metal posts, called implants, into your jawbone. After that, your mouth needs about three to six months to heal before we can finish placing the dentures.
But implant-supported dentures come with a ton of benefits. Though they cost more upfront, you won’t need to rebase or replace them as often. The implants stop jawbone deterioration, so your jaw won’t continue to wear down and change throughout your lifetime.
You won’t need to get them adjusted or replaced as often. With implant-supported dentures, you can count on a comfortable fit for years.
Implants offer many benefits not available with other restorations. Since they replace the tooth root, they give you more stability than other solutions, even when you don’t have implant posts for every missing tooth. You can rely on them and don’t have to give up foods in your diet because implant-supported dentures should be able to process just about anything. They won’t slip around in your mouth, either.
Implant-supported dentures are always in your mouth; you never have to remove them. They don’t require any adhesive or special maintenance, either. You just have to brush your teeth as you would normally and continue to visit the dentist every six months.
Treatment with Dentures in Lansdale, PA
If you are missing teeth and want to restore your smile, you have a few different denture options to choose from. Depending on your needs, you may get either removable dentures or implant-supported dentures. Here’s what to expect from each type of treatment:
Removable Dentures
These are a good option if you need to replace several or all of your teeth. A full denture is used when all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw are missing. It stays in place using suction and a special adhesive.
A partial denture is used when you still have some natural teeth. It attaches to your remaining teeth, which may be capped with dental crowns to hold the denture in place. To make your denture, we’ll take impressions of your mouth for a good fit. You’ll return to our office once your permanent denture is complete.
Implant-Supported Dentures
These dentures are more stable because they are attached to dental implants placed in your jawbone. Before treatment begins, we will take detailed X-rays and use special tools to plan the best spots to place the implants. You may need pretreatments like periodontal disease treatment or bone grafting.
Once we confirm that your mouth is healthy enough, our team will place the implants during a surgical procedure. After your gums and bone heal and the implants are secure, we attach a custom-made denture to the implants.
All-On-Four Dentures
This is a special type of implant-supported denture. With All-On-Four, just four implants are placed in the jaw to support a full arch of teeth. In many cases, patients can have a tooth extraction and receive a temporary same-day denture. Once the implants heal and fuse with the bone, we place your permanent denture for a natural and secure fit.
We offer additional restorative dentistry services for our patients in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
Dentures and Partials FAQs
Learn more about dentures and partials in Lansdale, PA, with answers to these common questions:
What type of dentures look the most natural?
Dentures made of porcelain materials look like natural teeth. In the case of partial dentures, the porcelain materials may be color-matched to the remaining natural teeth. The porcelain will match your desired tooth shade if you get complete dentures. Dentures are also shaped like natural teeth for the most aesthetically pleasing look.
What is a better option than dentures?
Dental implants can secure dentures to ensure they feel and function like natural teeth. Implants anchor dentures like tooth roots, allowing patients to speak and eat more naturally. Implant-secured dentures also last longer than traditional removable options.
What dentures don’t need adhesive?
Implant-secured dentures do not need adhesive to stay in place. Dental implants integrate with the jaw bone underneath the gums to create a stable foundation for dentures. That means our dentures will not slip.
Do dentures hurt?
Implant-supported dentures should not hurt. However, many patients with removable dentures can experience irritated and sore gum tissue. Traditional removable dentures lay on top of the gums, often creating sores due to the friction of speaking and eating.
Can dentures get cavities?
Dentures themselves cannot get cavities. However, if harmful bacteria build up on or around them, you can get cavities in the remaining teeth. For this reason, you should clean your dentures, gums, and remaining teeth twice a day. We can also examine your dentures at routine appointments.
What do you do if your teeth all decay?
If root canal treatment cannot save all your teeth, we’ll recommend a tooth extraction. Then, we can provide you with dentures. They’ll restore the comfort and appearance of your smile.
Can I eat normally with dentures?
You can bite and chew comfortably if you get implant-supported dentures. These dentures use the support of dental implants securely placed in your jawbone. This makes them more stable and less likely to move around when you eat. You can enjoy many of your favorite foods, including tougher or chewy items like steak or apples.
Can I talk normally with dentures?
Yes, you can talk normally with implant dentures because they are more stable than regular dentures. This stability makes it easier to speak clearly, and you won’t have to worry about them slipping or shifting like traditional dentures might. It may take a little time to get used to speaking with them. However, most people find they can talk just as they did before once they adjust.
Schedule a Dental Appointment
Contact our office for dentures treatment in Lansdale, PA, today at 267-651-7247. You may also request a dental consultation with us online. Please let us know if you have more questions about restorative dental options. We’ll be happy to help.