Dentures - Oklahoma City, OK

Effects of Missing Teeth

While the cosmetic concerns stemming from several missing teeth are obvious, what is often overlooked are the short-term and long-term health complications that can occur. Because more gum tissue is exposed, this can cause it to undergo unprecedented pressure when someone chews, leading to pain and redness. They are also more likely to develop gum disease, which unfortunately is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Being unable to chew properly can also prevent a patient from eating nutritious foods like cooked meats and fibrous vegetables, meaning they have to switch to a lower-quality diet. This can increase the risk of conditions like diabetes and obesity because easy-to-chew foods tend to be highly processed, rich in sugar, and low in satiety (in that you have to consume a lot of calories to feel full). Also, patients often experience digestion issues because the food is not fully broken down in the mouth.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

As touched on above, we typically recommend dentures for patients who are missing several or even all of their teeth. A good rule of thumb is that if your life is affected by tooth loss, whether you have concerns about your appearance or have to alter your diet, then you should schedule an appointment with our office.

All a denture patient needs before receiving their prosthetic is relatively good oral health, in that their mouth should be free of any lingering infections or cavities. If you are dealing with any of these issues, we will resolve them before replacing your teeth, which will drastically increase your comfort and long-term success.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

While bridges and dental implant crowns are the go-to solutions for a single missing tooth or a small number of teeth, for patients who could benefit from dentures, dental implants should be discussed as well. A custom-made denture can be affixed to the jawbone using just four to six dental implants. This has the benefit of making the new teeth more stable compared to a traditional removable prosthetic, plus the implants stimulate the jawbone from within. This prevents the bone from shrinking (which always happens after tooth loss). Over time, maintaining the jawbone will enable the denture to keep its best fit for much longer, plus a full jaw will help a patient enjoy a healthier and more youthful appearance.

When you come to see us, we will discuss all of your options so you can easily decide which one would best suit your needs.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

You probably remember hearing about how George Washington’s dentures were made out of all sorts of materials, but thankfully, dentistry has come a long way since then.

Today’s dentures are made up of two parts—the base and the teeth themselves. The base is what sits against the gums and is designed to resemble gum tissue to give it a lifelike appearance. It can be made of acrylic, nylon, porcelain, or resin. It is shaped to match the contours of a patient’s mouth, and with partial dentures, there may be a metal skeleton underneath that has clips that attach to nearby natural teeth for support.

The teeth themselves are often porcelain because it is extremely strong, durable, and can be shaded to perfectly match the color of remaining teeth (if necessary). The goal is for them to be both aesthetically attractive as well as functional, enabling a patient to eat a wide variety of foods with ease.

The Denture Creation Process

Whether you and your dentist decide that a full, partial, or implant denture would be right for you, the process will begin with a consultation that will involve your dentist examining your mouth, taking some scans and measurements, and discussing your goals. Primarily, they want to make sure that your mouth is healthy enough to support the prosthetic, in that it is free of any infections or damaged teeth. Gum disease treatment, tooth extractions, or dental implant placement might be recommended before you get your denture to ensure it has the best chance of success.

When your dentist decides that your mouth is ready, they will take a digital impression of your gums/teeth and bite. This will be sent to a dental lab that will use the information to design a mockup of your denture to try on, plus they’ll create a temporary denture so you have teeth as soon as possible.

You’ll return to our office to try on the mockup, and any adjustments necessary will be noted and conveyed back to the lab. You’ll leave the first appointment with your temporary denture, and once you and your dentist love the look and feel of your mockup, it will be used to cast your permanent denture using the materials we touched on above.

All of this usually takes a matter of weeks to complete, and when your denture is ready, you’ll return to our office one final time to have it fitted into your mouth. Your dentist will check your bite and a few other aspects before you’re all good to go.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

It’s important to know going into this that your dentures won’t feel exactly like your real teeth starting on day one. People typically require about three to four weeks of adjustment to get used to eating and speaking with them. Thankfully, sticking to a soft food diet at first, cutting food into smaller bites, and practicing by reading aloud (or singing in the shower!) is all that’s needed to help a patient start to be comfortable. Of course, if the denture still doesn’t fit well or is causing some soreness weeks after someone has gotten it, they are always welcome to reach out to us so we can make adjustments if needed.