How to Find the Best Dentures After Tooth Loss

Losing one tooth is upsetting, but losing the majority of the teeth in your mouth can devastate your self-confidence and quality of life. Modern dental technology makes it possible to use dentures after tooth loss for a comfortable, functional solution.  

Dentures offer a popular way to replace your missing teeth and reclaim the confidence you once had. They once had a reputation for being a simple one-size-fits-all solution, but not anymore. The truth is that dentures have evolved into a fully customized tooth replacement option that can naturally mimic the look and feel of your real teeth. 

You don’t have to settle for dentures that are merely “okay”. Explore this list of options for the best dentures after tooth loss. You deserve to find the option that helps you smile, chew, and talk without hesitation. 

What Are the Best Dentures?

Dentures are dental devices used to replace missing teeth without the need for implants, bridges or crowns. If you are currently experiencing any of the following elements of tooth loss, dentures could be a great tooth replacement solution for you:

• Difficulty speaking clearly
• Pain while chewing
• Digestion issues when food isn’t chewed fully

Dentures were once an unsophisticated one-size-fits-all tooth replacement option. But today, modern dental technology has reinvented dentures as dynamic, flexible, and customized. They’re available in many different forms to meet your unique smile reconstruction needs.

Full-Arch Dentures After Tooth Loss

Standard full-arch dentures use a high tech plastic base to replicate gum tissue. The “gum tissue” supports a full set of durable, natural-looking teeth. Dentures stay in place by forming a seal with the existing natural gums, which makes it possible to remove the dentures at any time. 

Many patients prefer regular dentures because they are so simple and removable. As soon as they are placed in the mouth, regular dentures create the appearance of a full, healthy, and attractive set of teeth once again. 

Immediate full-arch dentures are installed into the mouth as soon as all teeth are extracted. Since most patients do not want to spend an 8 to 12 week recovery period living without any teeth at all, immediate dentures make it possible to still talk, chew, and smile normally during that time. Gum tissue is likely to shrink and change as it heals. Immediate dentures need to be adjusted as a result. 

Long-term full-arch dentures aren’t placed into the mouth until the gum tissue has spent a few months healing. Full-arch dentures are designed to fit the new form of the gums and provide a full set of teeth that offers the functionality of a real set of teeth. 

Partial Dentures After Tooth Loss

While complete dentures help patients who need all teeth replaced, partial dentures replace a smaller number of teeth using the same type of device. The smaller base is designed to match the color of the gums. Your new teeth are created to closely resemble existing teeth in the mouth. 

A few different techniques are used to install permanent or removable dentures. 

Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures are different than regular dentures. They don’t just replace your missing teeth by resting along your gum line. Implant-supported dentures are actually attached to implants inserted into the jawbone itself. A titanium implant is surgically placed into the jaw to fuse with the bone and replace the tooth roots removed during extraction of your real tooth. Your full set of dentures is affixed to the implants and designed to be removed by your dentist when needed. 

Using implant-supported dentures offers a multitude of benefits for your smile and overall oral health. 

They Strengthen Jawbone

The jaw requires continual stimulation from the teeth to remain strong. That stimulation becomes nearly impossible once you start losing teeth. Over time, if you do not replace your missing teeth, your jawbone begins to weaken and erode, causing your cheeks to sink in and your jaw to collapse inward. 

Implant-supported dentures prevent this damage by using titanium screws to stimulate the jawbone and prevent degradation. 

They Don’t Shift

Standard dentures, especially along the lower gum line, are infamous for shifting, moving, and coming loose. Implant-supported dentures eliminate this problem since your dentures that are firmly attached to implants within the gum. The implants serve as anchors to the dentures, allowing you to smile, chew, and talk without any difficulty or hesitation. 

They Look Natural

You want your replacement teeth to look natural and attractive, and implant-supported dentures achieve that goal. They are designed and installed as a perfect replacement for your missing teeth. This makes it possible to smile confidently without thinking twice. 

Snap-In Dentures After Tooth Loss

This type of implant-supported denture system is removable for easy cleaning and maintenance. They “snap-in” and snap off for convenience and ease. This is a popular solution for patients who want the benefits of implant-supported dentures with ready access to remove them as needed. 

The snap-in denture process takes about three to six months to complete:

• Consultation
• Extraction of remaining injured or dead teeth
• Placement of dental implants
• Tissue healing
• Placement of snap-in dentures

When you use snap-in dentures after tooth loss, you can expect to enjoy all of the benefits of regular implant-supported dentures. This tooth replacement option is secure, comfortable, and easy to use. They also protect your smile by stimulating healthy jawbone growth. It’s the best of both worlds!

Find a Dentures Expert in Mission Valley, CA

You deserve a dentist who understands the intricate details of each denture type. One who can evaluate your oral health to help you find the best tooth-replacement option. At Cassell Dentistry in Mission Valley, CA, Dr. Jon Cassell and his team provide personalized dental care with advanced technology and beautiful results. 

Call (619) 220-7475 today to schedule your consultation and get the dentures you need to live your life to its fullest.