All About Dentures

Gum disease, injury, and tooth decay can lead to tooth loss. Dentures are one of the options for replacing missing teeth along with fixed bridgework and dental implants. Depending on how many teeth you have lost, a full or partial denture may be the solution to deliver a smile back on your face.

Dentures are dental appliances that provide a set of artificial teeth that replace your original teeth. Dentures are often associated with elderly people and messy adhesives, but with modern dentures, we can customize them to fit perfectly.

If you still have some of your original teeth, a partial denture may be the right choice for you. They act in the same way a bridge does, however they are removable. They prevent shifting and erupting of other teeth by reserving the empty space with artificial teeth that match the color of your own teeth.

Due to underlying dental issues, sometimes removing all your teeth may be valuable to your overall oral health. Replacing these with a full denture can provide you with a new smile that you are proud of.

What to Expect When Getting Dentures

Both full and partial dentures consist of a gum-colored base made of plastic resin that fits over the remaining bone ridge that holds your teeth. The prosthetic teeth attached to the artificial gum are designed to act as your natural teeth would. Dentures stay in place with a suctioning effect against the bone ridge so need to be properly fitted. The top denture has the added support of the mouth’s roof which helps stabilize the dentures.

An accurate impression or mold of the bone ridge on the top and bottom of your mouth is needed to provide a stable base for the artificial teeth. We then work together to decide on the right tooth shade, shape, and size to create a natural-looking smile that suits you. The dentures are made in a dental lab so once they are ready, we will invite you back to our dental office in Herndon to have them fitted.

You may find that at first, your dentures may take some time to get used to, however over time, your muscles, nerves, and ligaments in your mouth will learn to work in new ways to allow these functions to occur effortlessly.

There are a variety of different types and forms of dentures to suit your lifestyle, so if you are looking for a beautiful new smile through the use of modern dentures and dental implants, we are here to answer all your questions and help you begin your journey to a new and improved smile.