Am I a Candidate for Dentures to Replace Missing Teeth?

Getting dentures is an economical way to go about replacing missing teeth. These are artificial teeth in a framework that usually sits on your gums.

The two main types of dentures that a dentist might recommend are partial and complete. Partial dentures replace a few lost teeth on a dental arch, while full dentures are for patients who are missing most of their teeth.
 

Reasons and benefits of tooth replacement

The need for a tooth replacement can arise for a variety of reasons. Some people lose teeth due to a traumatic injury or an illness such as diabetes. Others develop problems with their teeth to the point where a dentist may recommend extraction. Whatever the cause, dentures offer several benefits as a tooth replacement option:

• Ability to continue eating a regular diet
• Confidence in your appearance
• Clear speech
• Oral health

Dentures and partial dentures can offer an effective solution for many problems missing teeth can cause. From the point of view of dental health, leaving gaps can promote bacterial growth, leading to cavities in the remaining teeth, gum disease, and infections. Neighboring teeth can also become weaker from the lack of structural support on the side of the gap.

Even when the missing teeth are closer to the back and not immediately visible when a person smiles, they can affect facial muscle tone over time. According to an article on dental health and headaches in the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the muscle strain from a missing tooth can cause ongoing headaches.

Good candidates for dentures

Dentures provide a non-invasive way to replace missing teeth, so most people are eligible for them. Here are a few factors that make someone a good candidate for dentures.

1. They are not eligible for implants

Dental implants are the closest oral prosthetic to a natural tooth, but not all patients qualify for them. These oral prosthetics are surgically inserted into the patient’s jaw after a dentist makes an incision into their jawbone.

Patients with health issues like diabetes and immune system disorders might not be healthy enough to recover from surgery. Such patients are evaluated individually to determine if they are eligible for implants. The dentist might recommend dentures or bridges if they deem implant surgery too risky for a patient.

2. They want a fast solution

Patients can complete the process of replacing missing teeth with dentures in as little as two weeks. During the first appointment, the oral professional takes an impression of the patient’s mouth and sends it to technicians who make dentures in a lab. The custom prosthetic should get back to the dentist in about two weeks.

Patients who choose implants might have to wait up to six months for the prosthetic to fuse with bone tissues. The process is called osseointegration, and dentists typically wait for it to be completed before placing restorations on implants.

3. They want an affordable solution

Dentures are an affordable teeth replacement option. A complete set of dentures often costs less than a single implant. However, people who want the best of both worlds can consider hybrid solutions, like implant-supported dentures. This way, they can afford to have their teeth functionality restored and get the bone-preserving properties of dental implants.

4. They want to restore the appearance of their smile

The artificial teeth that come with dentures look like real teeth, so patients can end up with a smile they can be proud of. These artificial teeth are also easy to replace or repair if they ever get damaged.

5. They want to restore the function of lost teeth

Dentures restore the function of missing teeth, enabling the wearer to enjoy a broader range of foods. They should avoid sticky or chewy foods that can dislodge the appliance.
 

Alternatives to dentures for replacing missing teeth

While implants are most likely to create the feeling of having a natural set of teeth, they are not always a feasible option. According to WebMD, gum and bone health is important for successful implants.

Another option is an implant- or tooth-supported fixed bridge. This option works similarly to the implant-supported denture but is not removable. Instead of clipping onto the teeth or implants, the bridge is affixed with cement or a screw. In addition to costing more than dentures, this option only works with some configurations of missing teeth.

In the case of missing front teeth, dentists sometimes recommend a resin-bonded bridge. However, it is not very durable, which is why it is not used to replace other types of teeth that typically take more strain when chewing. It consists of a tooth replacement held on two wings that attach to the insides of the natural teeth on either side.
 

Restore your smile

Our dentist can replace missing teeth with dentures and other teeth replacement options. Call us at (908) 516-3833 or visit our Summit clinic to set up an appointment.

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