Losing teeth is a part and parcel of life. It is a natural phenomenon that you can't avoid. However, it does come with its setbacks. When you lose a lot of your natural teeth, the facial contour begins to droop and the facial muscles start sagging. It simply adds years to your face and you lose your youthful appearance.
Dentures help you restore your youthful appearance by replacing all or a few missing teeth. A denture consists of artificial teeth connected to a gum-colored base that snugly fits over the gum tissues. It is removable in nature and can be taken out while sleeping or cleaning.
Dentures are fabricated in dental laboratories and the denture fabrication process takes several weeks and two appointments. Below is a step-by-step guide to how dentures are made.
First visit: Examining, tooth extraction, and impressions
Step 1
The dentist examines your mouth to determine the kind of denture required for your case. After carefully assessing your mouth, he sketches out a treatment plan.
Step 2
Sometimes, the patient loses all his teeth but a few natural teeth remain on the dental arch. These teeth require extraction to make place for a complete denture.
If any such teeth are present in your mouth, the dentist will prepare for tooth extraction. The extraction site will be numbed using a local anesthetic. It keeps you from experiencing pain or discomfort during the procedure.
Step 3
Special dental tools like forceps and elevators are used to extract the teeth that need removal for a successful denture installation.
Step 4
Impressions of your jaws are obtained. Measurements of how your jaws relate to one another and come together are also secured. Wax models or plastic patterns are created in the exact shape and position of the denture to be fabricated. You will also be asked to try these models several times to assess the perfect color, shape, and fit.
The recorded data is then sent to a dental laboratory. Using these impressions and measurements, a denture is custom-designed to mimic your natural teeth.
Step 5
The permanent denture will arrive at your dentist's office in two to three weeks. For the time being, a temporary denture is installed in the mouth to restore the basic functions like chewing and talking.
Second visit: Receiving the permanent denture
Step 6
During the second visit, the temporary denture is collected and a permanent denture is handed over to you. Your dentist will also brief you on how to care for and maintain your denture.
There are two types of dentures:
1. Complete dentures
Complete dentures or full dentures are the traditional way of replacing missing teeth. They are used when a patient has lost all the natural teeth on a dental arch. Complete dentures are of two types:
Partial dentures
A partial denture is used when a few natural teeth are remaining on the dental arch. It is used to replace one or more missing teeth on the upper or lower jaw. A partial denture consists of one or more artificial teeth connected to a gum-colored base. The gum-colored base fits snugly over the gum tissues and the artificial teeth fill in the space left by missing teeth. It is held in place with metal clasps and can be removed for cleaning purposes.
The advantages of partial dentures are:
At Jones and Hindbaugh Dental, the art and technology of modern dentistry are tactfully employed to systematically restore the damage and improve the cosmetic appeal of your smile. Dr. Erica Hindbaugh Jones' and Dr. Russel Jones specialize in creating a coordinated treatment plan to give you a complete smile makeover. Book an appointment with us today for a more youthful and healthy smile.
