Dentures
Losing your teeth doesn’t have to be the end of your smile. Removable dentures help you regain confidence in your smile and restore your ability to speak and eat properly. Our dentists are happy to offer custom-made removable partial and full dentures for patients in San Diego, CA. Learn how you can get your smile back and improve your dental health by setting an appointment with Dental Express.
Overview
Dentures renew your smile and allow you to eat and speak with full confidence again. This restorative solution is an excellent choice if you need to replace missing teeth. Dentures also support the jaw and cheekbones, preventing them from deteriorating due to the lack of teeth. At Dental Express in San Diego, CA, we provide partial, full removable, or implant-retained dentures. If you need an entire arch (or both) replaced, full dentures are the ideal restoration. Partial dentures are a great choice if you have natural teeth that can be used as a support system for your restoration.
Additionally, implant-retained dentures are secured to a dental implant and can replace both upper and lower teeth to give you a more secure fit. At your exam, we’ll help you choose the solution that’s right for you and your smile. If you’d like to learn more about dentures or schedule an appointment, contact us at one of our San Diego, CA locations.
Best Candidates For Dentures
If you’ve lost several teeth or more and you find yourself hiding your smile, you might be a good candidate for removable dentures or implant-retained dentures. But they’re not available to everyone. Patients must have healthy gums and a strong jawbone to provide the right foundation for dentures. If you have natural teeth, they may be removed for a full denture or kept with a partial. At your preliminary exam, we’ll check to see if dentures are right for you and go over potential treatment options.
What to Expect
Your dentist may need to extract one or more of your natural teeth before taking dental impressions. We use your impressions to create a custom set of dentures as unique as your smile. If you need partial dentures, we can color them to match your remaining teeth and give your smile a natural look.
Once your dentures have been created, we’ll contact you and set up an appointment to fit them. At the fitting, we’ll make sure that they sit comfortably and securely in your mouth and make any necessary adjustments.
For implant-retained dentures, patients usually require two appointments to complete the process. We place the implants into the jaw during the first treatment and cover the area with a temporary denture. In five to six months, after the implants have healed and fused with your jawbone to create a sturdy base, you’ll come back in to have the permanent denture placed.
Whichever treatment you get, we’ll teach you how to take good care of your custom dentures at home.
Follow-Up
It may take some time, but eating and speaking will become easier. Be patient. You might notice yourself salivating more for a little while, and your mouth may be sore for a couple of weeks, but over time you’ll get more comfortable with your new dentures. To help yourself adjust quicker, it might help to practice speaking with your dentures in. If the full, partial, or implanted dentures feel loose, let us know. We’ll adjust them for you as soon as possible.
Dentures need daily care, just like regular teeth. Clean your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush or specialty denture brush two times every day. Hard-bristled toothbrushes can damage your dentures, so steer clear. Whenever you take your dentures out, make sure to soak them to prevent them from drying out or warping.
Oral care is just as important when you have dentures. Your gum and bone tissue are the bedrock that your dentures are built upon, and maintaining a healthy mouth keeps them strong. Be sure to brush your gums and everywhere in your mouth before putting your dentures in. Maintaining a balanced diet is one of the best ways to improve your oral health, so make healthy choices in the kitchen to help your dentures last as long as possible.
Since your teeth change over time, your dentures will have to be adjusted now and then. Schedule regular cleanings and exams at Dental Express so we can check the fit and wear of your restoration and the health of your jaw and gums. If you take proper care of your dentures, they’ll last anywhere from five to ten years
Insurance Coverage
With dental insurance, your policy may cover some of your expenses. Our treatment planner will contact your provider to verify your coverage and put your policy to work for you. Dental Express accepts several payment forms to help make your dentures affordable with or without dental insurance, including low-interest medical financing.
