Are you missing multiple teeth or full arches of teeth? Do you want to restore the form and function of your teeth? Dentures are a great option for patients who wish to speak clearly and bite and chew easily. Professional dentures and partials improve the quality of life.
Dr. Raymond Ribitch offers restorative dental services in his Mount Pleasant, Michigan, dental office, including dentures, to revitalize patients’ smiles. Below, learn more about why it is important to replace missing teeth and how Dr. Ribitch provides dentures to patients.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Dentures offer many benefits to patients for long-term oral health and overall wellness. A new smile can give you back your confidence and quality of life. Dentures can offer:
- Long-term durability
- Improve biting and chewing ability
- Better oral health
- Prevents facial sagging
- Improves speech
- Renewed tooth structure
- Reduces the risk of gum disease
If the gaps left by multiple missing teeth are not filled, several problems may arise, including:
- Shifting teeth
- Receding gums
- Facial sagging
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Misaligned bite
- Bone loss
Restorative options like dentures look great and improve the form and function of teeth and gums. Learn more about dentures and partials below.
Dentures & Partials: What to Expect
When getting removable dentures, we first examine whether they’re the right choice for you. We’ll need to treat any broken teeth or gum disease first. If we proceed with this treatment option, we’ll take impressions of your gums and any remaining teeth. We send the impressions to a lab to custom-make the denture or partial to fit you perfectly.
For a complete denture, suction attaches it to the gums. You may require adhesive to ensure the denture stays in your mouth properly. If you’re getting a partial denture, clasps or a metal framework will attach the partial to the rest of the teeth in your mouth.
We’ll place the restoration in your mouth and see how it fits. If there are issues, we’ll make any adjustments so that it fits comfortably. At later visits, we’ll ask about the dentures and how they fit to ensure they stay comfortable and functional.
Implant-Supported Dentures
First, we place implants to get implant-supported dentures. We place titanium posts in the jawbone to integrate with the bone and provide a stable base for the restoration. The implants take 3-6 months to heal and fuse with the jawbone. Then, we attach abutments to the posts to connect them to the final restoration, a full or partial denture.
Implant-supported dentures have many benefits over removable ones. Dental implants are the only option that replaces the tooth root. It stimulates jawbone regeneration and prevents further bone loss in the jaw. With traditional dentures, the jawbone continues to deteriorate. That means you’ll need to get your dentures readjusted or replaced multiple times over the years as your jawbone changes. This also eliminates the facial sagging that comes with bone deterioration.
Implants give the dentures more stability than other options. The restoration doesn’t slip or move when you’re eating and speaking, and you can eat a normal diet because you retain all of your bite function. Traditional dentures are prone to slipping and falling out, and don’t give you back your full bite pressure. You must eliminate certain foods because you can’t break them down properly.
They’re also easier to care for. Implant-supported dentures stay in your mouth, so you can clean them much like you would normal teeth. Removable dentures require you to take them out every night. You must clean off the adhesive properly and soak the denture to ensure it stays moisturized. This isn’t an issue with implant-supported dentures.
Denture and Partial FAQs
Dentures and partials have long been among the most popular choices to replace missing teeth. Read the answers to these frequently asked questions to learn more.
How long will it take for me to receive dentures?
Because each case differs, Dr. Ribitch will assess your needs and create a personalized treatment plan. The length of your treatment will depend on your overall condition, dental health, and gum and bone tissue health. Although it takes longer to receive implant-secured dentures than removable dentures, secured dentures offer far more benefits.
How long do implant dentures last?
With the right care, implant-secured dentures can last over 20 years, whereas removable dentures often have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Removable dentures also require more maintenance in the long run.
How many hours a day should I wear dentures?
You should wear removable dentures for at least eight hours a day. However, you should ensure you take them out overnight while sleeping or at other times to rest your gums. If you wear them constantly, they irritate your gums, and you can develop sores that make your dentures hard to wear. Implant dentures reside in the mouth permanently, and you don’t have to take them out.
What can’t I eat with dentures?
Implant dentures give you back almost 100% of your bite function so that you can eat nearly anything with them. With removable dentures, it’s different. Avoid biting things like hard candy because they can warp your dentures and mess up the fit. Chewy things may disrupt the dentures or stick to them. Be cautious when biting into sandwiches and similar foods, as dentures can slip. Try cutting them into small pieces instead.
Will people be able to tell I’m wearing dentures?
This is a common worry that patients have. Dentures have come a long way from their beginnings. Today, they’re slimmer and more natural-looking than ever. Most people won’t be able to tell that you’re wearing dentures. If you work to ensure your speech sounds normal and get comfortable using your dentures, it’ll be difficult to know if they’re dentures or real teeth.
Am I a good candidate for dentures?
You may not be eligible for dentures if you don’t have enough healthy gum and bone structure to support them adequately. Implant-supported dentures require sufficient bone structure to integrate with the implant posts. Removable dentures rely on your gums and bone tissue to support them and give them a sturdy foundation. We can explore options to build healthy gum and bone structures so you can get dentures in the future.
Get Your Dentures Today
Prevent further bone loss by receiving secure dental restorations. Call Mount Pleasant, MI dentists Dr. Raymond Ribitch at 989.200.3896. You can also schedule an appointment on our website. We will work with you to craft comfortable dentures that make it easier to speak and chew.