With a full set of dentures, our team is able to rebuild your smile and help preserve your facial features too. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist takes a close look at how we design and place your prosthetic, and the difference between our removable and our implant-secured options.
The Changes Total Tooth Loss Brings
When you lose all of your teeth, or the vast majority of them, this could mean serious trouble for your smile. For example, you could be severely limited in what kinds of foods you can eat, denying yourself essential nutrients and your favorite meals. Trouble speaking is possible, which impacts how you interact with others, and you could also feel embarrassed about your appearance. Total tooth loss also causes a gradual breakdown in your jaw, one that could cause premature ageing. To avoid these problems and smile with confidence again, you need to obtain a full dental prosthetic.
Removable vs. Implant
The most common option is removable, which is held in place with suction for a lower arch denture, or with the assistance of an adhesive for the upper arch. These are effective, and provide tooth replacement that lasts about 5 to 10 years before requiring replacement. A replacement is necessary as the jaw ridge changes shape due the loss of mass and density that follows tooth loss. This also needs to be removed for cleaning and soaking. But with the implant option, we insert multiple dental implant posts into the arch. We then affix abutments to them and connect the denture. The prosthetic will never slip or require removal for cleaning or soaking. The prosthetic also helps stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue, preventing changes to the shape of the jaw ridge. As a result, the denture can last for decades to come, or even a lifetime in some cases.
Creating Your Dentures
The denture portion will always be custom-made to ensure a proper fit and a lifelike appearance. We design them based on detailed digital images and impressions we take of your smile. They consist of an acrylic base that looks like gum tissue, and a full row of ceramic teeth that can absorb bite forces and be shaded for a more natural appearance. We will decide which option is best for you, implant or removable, and help you smile with confidence again. If you have any questions about how we treat total tooth loss, then contact our team today.
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST’S OFFICE ABOUT CUSTOM PROSTHETICS
Our team wants to help you smile again with a new and custom-fitted dental prosthetic. If you would like to find out more about obtaining a full and beautiful smile, then contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.