Three Most Common Kinds of Complete Dentures
A complete denture is a removable appliance that replaces all of your upper or lower teeth at one time. The acrylic which recreates the area of gum tissue can be colored to coordinate with your skin tone, and the teeth on the prosthesis are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and shades.
Yet, there are different kinds of dentures to choose from. Here are a few of the types offered at Sachem Dental Group in Suffolk County:
1. Traditional Denture
With a traditional denture, the teeth are already missing and the gum tissues are shaped like they will be long term. Given there is a good bone ridge underneath, this type of denture is usually most adequate. In most cases, you will see our Long Island dentist 2-3 times over a period of a few weeks before your denture is complete. This process assures a well-fitting and attractive prosthesis.
● Advantages:
You will be able try in a denture, which will allow you to see what you’ll look like with it.
● Disadvantages:
You will be without teeth until the denture is finished.
2. Immediate Denture
We understand that there aren’t many people that are able to go without teeth, so an immediate denture may be the best option. As with a traditional denture, this is a multi-step process. However, not all steps may be able to be the same. A try-in isn’t always an option because there may still be teeth that have to be extracted.
● Advantages:
The biggest advantage of an immediate denture is not having to go without teeth.
● Disadvantages:
No try-in means there may have to be denture adjustments after you’ve healed following extractions. As the bone heals, gum shrinks, making your immediate denture loose. There will be a transition period where you will likely need to wear some adhesive in order to secure your plate. Once our dentist determines that you have completely healed and the gum will not shrink anymore, we will reline the inside of the denture, providing you with a much better fit.
3. Overdentures (With Implants)
This appliance will provide the best retention available for a removable prosthesis.
If you have enough bone to place implants, our dentist will usually insert somewhere between 2-4 of them. They have small abutments that extend past the gums, which are what the denture uses to snap securely in place.
● Advantages:
If you gag easily, we can help prevent this by removing the portion of the denture that covers the roof of your mouth. Doing so will also expose more tastebuds!
No denture adhesive is needed, because the implants stabilize your plate all day long.
● Disadvantages:
Implants and an overdenture are a larger time and monetary investment.
No matter which route you decide to go, it’s still important to remove the denture before going to bed at night. Proper hygiene and maintenance of your denture, gums and implants will ensure optimal oral health and longevity. When you visit Sachem Dental Group, we will ensure you are properly taken care of. Give us a call today!
