Dentures

By the time we reach 50 years of age, most of us will have lost at least several of our natural teeth, and we may have needed considerable dental work to maintain the others. Despite our best efforts to take care of our teeth for as long as possible, they don’t last forever and it’s actually fairly rare to make it to middle age with a full and complete smile. Tooth loss may be common, but this doesn’t lessen the impact that it has on our lives. Whether it’s affecting the way that we form sounds and speak words, or stopping us from eating normally, missing teeth can be frustrating to live with. They can also affect the way that we feel about our smile, with gaps often causing embarrassment and issues with self-esteem. Fortunately, there are restorative treatments that can help. For those people who have lost the majority of their teeth either their upper or lower arch, dentures can provide the perfect solution.

What are Dentures?

Dentures are removable artificial teeth that are used to replace partial or full arches of missing teeth, that have been lost due to damage or decay. Their basic design has been used for centuries, but modern dentures are now more comfortable and natural in appearance than ever before. When you choose dentures to replace your missing teeth, you’ll receive a device that restores both the appearance of your teeth and their function so that you can continue to bite, chew, talk clearly and smile day to day. Dentures also help to eliminate many of the potential problems that can occur when you have missing teeth, such as the migration of any healthy teeth.

Dentures are usually made from either acrylic or nylon, and the design of an upper denture differs from that of the lower arch of the jaw. An upper denture comprises of custom-designed artificial teeth that are attached to a plate that sits across the roof of the mouth, ensuring that it remains stable and secure. However, since the lower denture has to accommodate the tongue, this is created in a horseshoe shape instead. Full dentures are then further secured using special denture adhesive, while partial dentures use tiny brackets hidden on the reverse to attach them to the remaining healthy, natural teeth still present in the jaw.

What are the Benefits of Dentures?

Dentures are an extremely successful and popular solution for replacing missing teeth. Some of the benefits of choosing dentures to restore the function and appearance of your smile include:

Dentures restore your ability to use your teeth normally. Most importantly, getting dentures helps you to get back to living life to the full. This is because your dentures will look and act just like regular teeth, enabling you to eat, drink, laugh, and talk as you did before.

Custom designed. Modern dentures are comprised of artificial teeth that have been custom-designed specifically in the best shape, size, and color needed to look as natural as possible when in place. They are then placed into a flesh-colored mold that has been created to sit perfectly over your gums. This makes dentures a very comfortable solution that is also very difficult to tell apart from natural teeth.

Prevent future problems. When you have missing teeth, your other teeth can start to shift to take advantage of the extra space. This can cause tiny gaps to open up between any remaining teeth, increasing your risk of decay and gum disease. By filling the gap with artificial teeth, it’s possible to prevent this from happening and stop further issues from occurring.

Easy to clean. Another great thing about dentures is just how easy they are to clean. Simply remove them and brush them carefully with your usual toothbrush and toothpaste and pop them into a glass of water with your recommended cleansing tablet overnight. You can then clean your gums and go to bed feeling fresh.

Boost your confidence. Missing teeth can cause your confidence to take a blow, but dentures can help you to rediscover your smile, inside and out!

We are delighted to be able to offer dentures here at our Midtown Dental Center in Atlanta, GA. To find out more or to schedule a consultation to see if you are a good candidate for dentures, please contact our dedicated dental team today.