At our Spring, TX dental office, we provide a range of tooth replacement options to suit your needs. Historically, the word denture refers to any type of tooth replacement. Since most of the time that meant removable tooth replacements in the past, our perception of the word denture came to refer to this type of tooth replacement. Often, when we speak about a fixed tooth replacement, we might call it a dental bridge, and sometimes, that’s how people refer to implant dentures.
Removable dental appliances come in two types: partial and complete dentures.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures don’t replace a full arch of teeth; they can restore anything from one tooth to most of your teeth. At a certain point, the benefits of keeping your remaining teeth may not be worth the trouble and health risks, making it advisable to transition to complete options by extracting the remaining teeth.
Partial dentures generally depend on your natural teeth for support. Their appearance and function can vary widely. Most are attractive enough to give you a confident smile but may not be functional enough for biting and chewing like natural teeth.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures replace an entire arch of teeth, either the top or the bottom. It’s possible to have complete dentures for one arch but not the other.
A traditional dental prosthesis rests on your gums and are held in place by suction, which depends on the quality of the fit but can be supplemented with cream. In general, suction is not a strong force for maintaining stability, and your gum tissue isn’t robust enough to support your full bite force. This combination often leads to dissatisfaction with the function, as many people experience issues with them sliding out of place and not allowing effective eating.
Denture Process
Getting dentures can take a while because the process requires several steps, some of which might be several months long. Here’s a list of the steps in the process:
- Impressions
- Bite registration
- Extractions and/or implants
- Temporary denture
- Healing
- Definitive denture impressions
- Try-in appointment
- Definitive denture delivery
We’ll give a brief description of each step below.
Impressions
Your denture dentist will take impressions of your teeth and/or gums. This will help design the new dentures to fit, whether you keep some of your teeth or not.
Bite Registration
Bite registration, sometimes called recording jaw relation, is similar to taking impressions, but the goal is to understand how your bite works so the lab can design dentures that don’t change your bite. In addition to changing your bite–and possibly leading to painful temporomandibular joint disorders–dentures that don’t fit your bite will have difficulty staying in place.
Extractions and/or Implants
Next, you will have surgery if you need teeth extracted or if you are getting dental implants. Extractions and dental implant placement can happen in the same appointment unless you need a bone graft.
Temporary Denture
After your extraction and/or dental implant procedure, you will get a temporary denture, also called a healing denture. The temporary denture will foster healing. If you have dental implants, the temporary denture might attach to the dental implants. Other times, the implants might be concealed under your gums during the healing period. Both approaches can encourage different types of healing. Which is appropriate for you depends on the health of the implants and the procedure.
With All-on-4 implant dentures, for example, your denture is almost always attached to your implants. The procedure is famous for giving you a completely new smile in one day.
Healing
After extracting your teeth and/or placing dental implants, your body will be allowed to heal. The healing time and degree of function will depend on your procedure. With All-on-4 implant-supported restorations, you can start eating solid food again after about two weeks, but full healing might take up to six months. With traditional options, you may need to wait up to two months (8 weeks) before eating solid food, but you will receive your definitive set soon after.
Definitive Denture Impressions
When you are ready for your definitive set, you must have new impressions made. These are sometimes referred to as your “permanent dentures,” but nothing in life is permanent, including dentistry. Depending on the type and quality, they may last a few years or up to 30 years.
The process of extraction and healing will have changed your mouth. The new impressions will ensure that your final restoration fits your new oral structure. Hopefully, your bite hasn’t changed significantly, so in most cases, there’s no need for new bite registration.
With All-on-4, this is when you will decide whether fixed or removable versions are best (more on this below).
Try-in Appointment
Getting the fit right on your definitive set is so important that it’s a good idea to try on a mockup before the lab manufactures the final version. This is sometimes referred to as the wax try-in because the mockup is often made of wax.
Definitive Denture Delivery
Manufacturing your definitive set takes a week or two, depending on the quality and how busy the lab is. Once your restoration is complete, you will try it on to ensure it fits as well as the mockup. If you’re happy with the fit, you can leave with your new, definitive option.
Caring for Dentures
If you take care of your restoration properly, it will last much longer. You’ll receive care instructions specific to the type you have when you get your definitive option. However, some general care principles apply to most types.
Get Dentures in Spring, TX
If you need dentures or think you might need them in Spring, TX, let our dentists help. We offer a wide selection of quality dentures and will help you find the option that’s best for you. Please call us today at (281) 320-2000 or use our online form to request an appointment at either of our locations in Cypresswood or Auburn Lakes.
