Dentures
Ferndale, WA
 As dentists, our primary goal is to give you a healthy and happy smile. We often work hard to ensure that you can keep all of your own, original teeth inside your mouth. Unfortunately, for some of our patients, this simply may not be possible. Due to advanced tooth decay, infection, or injury, a tooth does sometimes require extraction. When we here at Dentistry with Smiles encounter a patient who has lost one or more of their teeth, one restoration option we like to offer to them may include either complete or partial dentures.
Partial Versus Complete Dentures
Tooth loss is quite common, affecting nearly 180 million American adults. Some 23 million adults are missing all of their teeth, and 12 million are missing at least one arch of their teeth. For patients who are missing their permanent, adult teeth, a complete or partial denture can help give them a reliable and functional restoration option.
Both partial and complete dentures are good restoration options for patients who have lost one or more of their permanent, adult teeth. A partial denture is a good choice for a patient who still has many of their teeth remaining in their mouth, which means that they still have teeth on their upper or lower arch.
A complete denture, however, is for patients who are missing all of their teeth on either their upper or lower arch. They may even be missing all of their teeth completely, known as edentulism. A complete denture consists of a pink (or skin-colored) tray and prosthetic teeth.
Benefits of Dentures
There are many benefits to getting dentures. They are a non-surgical approach, which means that for those who are worried or disinterested in surgery to restore their smile, dentures can give them an attractive and functional restoration option. They can also be completed in a very short amount of time, leading to faster results with little downtime. They tend to be quite affordable, as well.
A set of well-fitting dentures can be quite comfortable and may not even require denture adhesive to keep it secure inside your mouth. If you take good care of your dentures, you can count on them lasting you many years. Many patients can keep their dentures for up to a decade. Relining may be necessary, however, to keep them secure and comfortable inside your mouth.
Dentures can not only restore your appearance and your confidence; they can also greatly benefit your quality of life. Missing teeth can lead to pain when trying to bite or eat, as you may be putting extra pressure on the surrounding teeth. When you lose teeth, your remaining teeth may try to shift or drift into the vacated spot. Partial dentures can help prevent further tooth loss, helping to keep your teeth stable in your mouth. Proper nutrition does require the ability to chew and eat, and dentures can give you that freedom once again.
If you would like to learn more about dentures and their benefits, or you are ready to set up an appointment with Dr. Ullsmith at Dentistry with Smiles, please give us a call at (360) 647-1715 today! |
