Dentures – Melbourne, FL
A Reliable Way to Rebuild Your Grin
Missing teeth can detract from your life in several ways. You rely on a complete set to perform basic functions like chewing your food and enunciating words to communicate. Not only that, but you might feel so self-conscious about the spaces in your smile that you avoid spending time with others.
Fortunately, Dr. Rose offers a reliable way to rebuild your grin with dentures. Regardless of how many natural teeth you have remaining, our team can provide a comfortable, customized prosthetic to replace them. Continue reading to learn more about these restorations, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Dr. Rose and the rest of our team are happy to help provide a one-of-a-kind prosthetic to restore your smile’s function and appearance, regardless of how many teeth you've lost. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean this treatment is the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs.
Our team must examine your mouth before proceeding to ensure you’re a good candidate for this service. Continue reading to learn more about who can benefit from dentures so you can make a more well-informed decision to rebuild your grin!
Effects of Missing Teeth
Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is the leading cause of permanent tooth loss in adults and occurs when bacteria in your mouth infect your connective tissues. They eventually recede if your condition goes untreated for too long, leaving the roots of your teeth exposed and potentially causing them to become destabilized or dislodged. With that said, it’s also possible to lose them to severe tooth decay, damage, or physical trauma.
Whatever the cause of your missing teeth, the gaps they leave behind can make once-basic tasks much more challenging. For instance, you might struggle to chew food sufficiently, which can contribute to gastrointestinal concerns. You might also develop changes in your speech patterns or feel so self-conscious about the changes to your appearance that you avoid spending time with others.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are the tried-and-true solution for rebuilding after tooth loss, but they may not be the best way to meet your individual needs. We might recommend this service for those who have suffered significant tooth loss or are experiencing sensitivity due to missing teeth, but you must have healthy gum tissues and a strong enough jawbone to support them.
Our team will examine your teeth and gums and treat any pre-existing concerns, such as decay or disease, that could interfere with your prosthetics. Then, based on how many teeth went missing and your current dental condition, we can provide a more detailed treatment plan to rebuild your grin.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If Dr. Rose finds that you’re not a good candidate for dentures, don’t lose hope! You might still benefit from one of the following alternative treatment options:
- Dental bridges. These oral appliances can replace one or several consecutive missing teeth. They contain the required number of teeth and a dental crown at each end that is attached to healthy abutment teeth or dental implants positioned on either side of the space in your smile.
- Dental implants. This is the only treatment option that involves surgically placing the required number of biocompatible support poles into your jaw, which eventually fuse with the bone to become a more permanent part of your mouth. Anywhere from two to eight implants can be used to anchor a lifelike set of dentures.
Types of Dentures
Dentures are incredibly versatile and are customized at every stage of their creation to your unique needs. After Dr. Rose confirms that this is the best treatment option for you, she’ll recommend an appropriate type from one of the following options:
Partial Dentures
These are ideal for patients who have lost multiple teeth sporadically throughout their mouths. They contain the correct number of pontics (teeth) set in an acrylic base that includes metal clips that anchor to healthy teeth in your mouth.
Full Dentures
These prosthetics are the tried-and-true solution for rebuilding entire arches. They’re made with lifelike materials, like an acrylic, gum-colored foundation and durable porcelain pontics. These dentures form a tight bond against your gum tissues to stay put.
Implant Dentures
If you struggle with poorly fitting dentures or are seeking a more permanent solution than removable prosthetics, you might be a good fit for implant dentures. This involves placing four to eight titanium rods in your jaw. These eventually fuse with the bone, then are capped with specially designed dentures that aren’t intended to be taken out.
The Benefits of Dentures
You shouldn’t force yourself to learn to live with multiple missing teeth. After all, an incomplete smile can make it harder to speak clearly, chew properly, and maintain your confidence. Getting dentures to replace your missing teeth can improve your everyday life in a variety of ways. Below are some of the advantages that these time-tested prostheses have to offer.
Psychological Benefits
The impact that missing teeth can have on your mental well-being shouldn’t be overlooked. Some people with extensive tooth loss are more anxious in social situations, and others experience increased depression. Dentures let you reclaim a complete smile, which can ultimately help you feel better about yourself. It can also make it easier to talk and eat confidently in front of others.
Clearer Enunciation
Your teeth, lips, and tongue all need to work together in order to clearly pronounce certain words. As such, if most or all of your teeth are gone, you’re very likely to have trouble enunciating well. Luckily, a well-made set of dentures can help solve this problem. Once you’ve had a chance to practice speaking with your new prosthesis, it won’t be long before you’re speaking fluently in front of others again.
Improves Nutrition
It goes without saying that missing teeth can severely limit your diet. You will likely have to give up certain foods altogether, which can make maintaining a balanced diet significantly more challenging. On top of that, the inability to chew your food properly can lead to indigestion. Replacing your missing teeth with dentures will restore your ability to chew as thoroughly as you need to, and it will allow you to eat more kinds of nutritious foods, including a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Preserves Oral Health
Not only do dentures enhance your ability to speak and chew, but they can also help you avoid a number of oral health issues. For example, when there’s empty space in your mouth, any remaining teeth can potentially shift out of position. Partial dentures provide support to the teeth you still have in order to ensure that they stay in place. Also, your dentures will endure some of the pressures of biting and chewing, which can protect your natural teeth from excessive wear and tear.
Expands Opportunities
When it comes to your career, a great smile is essential for making a positive first impression when it counts the most, whether it’s during a job interview or an important sale. Obviously, it’s much easier to leave the sort of impression you want when you have a complete smile that you can show off without hesitation. As such, replacing your missing teeth with dentures could ultimately help you find more success in your professional life.