Dentures in Glendale, AZ
Missing teeth affect not only appearance, but oral health as well. If you’ve lost some or all of your teeth because of trauma, periodontal infection, or decay, dentures are one of the options which can offer you a healthier, more attractive smile.
A denture is an appliance that can replace a few or all of your teeth. Full and partial dentures:
- Allow improved and clearer speech
- Support cheeks and lips, making patient look younger
- Make chewing and eating easier
- Prevent remaining teeth from shifting out of place
- Improve self-confidence
- Create a more natural-looking smile
Types of Dentures
Conventional dentures: Conventional full dentures are created after the gums and jawbones have healed post-extraction, which usually requires several months. Temporary dentures can be used during the healing period.
Immediate dentures: Immediate dentures are fabricated in advance before any necessary extractions occur, and can be placed right away, without waiting for the gums and bone to heal. Because the gums and jawbone can shrink after tooth loss, it might take several months of adjustments to create the most comfortable fit. Immediate dentures are often used as a temporary denture.
Partial dentures: Partial dentures replace multiple missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Most of them require healthy adjacent teeth for secure placement. Unlike bridges, which are fixed permanently to adjacent teeth, partial dentures are removable, and are held in place with different types of attachments.
Implant-retained dentures: Dental implants are first surgically placed in the jawbone where they fuse with the bone over a period of months. Once the implants are secure, removable dentures are fabricated which clip onto the implants. (Fixed dentures are also an option, attached to the implants using special screws that can only be removed by a dentist.) This type of denture is very secure, and, because implants stimulate jawbone tissue like natural tooth roots do, helps prevent bone loss.
Dentures at Paseo Family Dental & Dentures
When it comes to your denture treatment, Dr. Chugg will be there for every step of the process. Plus, we use a local lab for quick turnaround, so you can get back to smiling faster. Our office’s small-town, caring feeling allows us to offer individualized treatment to every patient we see.
Depending on the type of denture you and Dr. Chugg decide is best, your treatment at our Glendale dental office will usually take three to five appointments.
For conventional dentures, this is what you could expect:
- The first appointment: Impressions are taken then sent to the lab.
- The second appointment: The case is returned with a wax rim. The rim is placed in the mouth to determine midline, size of teeth, and vertical height of teeth. This allows your dentures to look as much as possible like your natural teeth.
- The third appointment: The teeth seated in the wax allows us to test the bite, phonetics, and verify size and placement of teeth.
- The fourth appointment: Delivery of your denture.
Once the denture is delivered, it is normal to have a few appointments to adjust the dentures for comfort and fit.
Life with Dentures
Eating with Dentures
Dentures are not natural teeth, and each person adapts to them differently. Harder and chewier foods tend to be more difficult to eat, while softer foods are easier. Usually, Dr. Chugg advises patients that six to eight weeks is needed to adapt to dentures; sometimes more sometimes less.
Denture Care
Dentures, like natural teeth, require daily care. We will provide a soft brush and a storage container in which to soak your dentures overnight. Dentures should be removed at night to allow the gums to rest. We recommend a non-abrasive cleaner and soaking solution to remove plaque, bacteria, and debris.
To discover if dentures are the best choice for you, discuss your questions, concerns, and options with Dr. Chugg at our Glendale dental office.