Our last blog focused on partial dentures and the benefits they offer patients in Astoria, NY, with missing teeth. But what if you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, or a vast majority of them? You will need more than a partial, and fortunately, we can deliver with a complete denture. Find out how we create them and the difference between our removable and implant-secured options.
Total Tooth Loss and Facial Structure
When we lose most or all of our teeth, the body stops supplying the areas of the jawbone with missing teeth with doses of calcium and phosphorus. Deprived of these essential nutrients, the bone tissue begins to degrade and deteriorate. This could lead to your remaining teeth becoming lost, and also cause you to develop a much older appearance. In order to prevent these impacts on your facial structure and appearance, you need to replace your teeth and stimulate the growth of the jawbone tissue. Fortunately, dental implants accomplish both.
Creating Your New Smile
First, we will take detailed impressions, measurements, and images of your smile. If we’re going to secure your denture with implant dentistry, then we will use this information to plan the optimal placement area of the dental implants. Typically, between six and eight per arch will be needed to secure your prosthetic. We then use the impressions to design the prosthetic itself, creating a base from acrylic to mimic the appearance of gum tissue, and crafting teeth from ceramic to ensure a lifelike appearance and the ability to absorb bite forces. We then attach the prosthetic to the dental implants. If your denture will be removable, then we will use natural suction to hold them in place. A removable denture tends to last about 5 to 10 years, requiring replacement as the jawbone ridge changes shape. However, with implant dentistry your prosthetic could last for decades, as the dental implants stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue and preserve the ridge structure.
What to Expect in Your Day-To-Day Routine
We will provide detailed instructions on the care and maintenance of your prosthetic. For removable options, we will discuss removing them for cleaning and soaking. For implant options, we will discuss the proper methods to brush and floss them, protecting them from bacteria and periodontal disease. If you have any questions about your oral health, or about addressing tooth loss, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a full and functional smile once more!
Do You Have Questions About Tooth Replacement?
If you have lost a significant portion of your natural teeth, then we may have a custom and natural looking solution. For more information on our prosthetic options, then schedule a consultation, call Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
