Dentures do much more than just restore your smile following tooth loss. By filling in the gaps where teeth are missing, dentures also restore the ability to bite and chew a variety of foods. Dentures provide many other benefits, as well. One of the many skilled dentists at Complete Dental Care in Brooklyn, NY, can help you decide if dentures are right for you.
Types of Dentures
You might need a partial or complete denture depending on how many teeth need to be replaced. Partial dentures fill in the gaps where teeth are missing when some natural teeth remain, while complete dentures replace an entire arch or row of teeth. Several types of partial and complete dentures are available. An experienced dentist at our office in Brooklyn, NY, can recommend the right type of denture to meet your needs.
Partial dentures are available in two types, transitional and removable. Transitional partial dentures are usually worn temporarily either immediately following tooth extraction or while waiting for custom dentures to be made. Removable partial dentures are lighter weight and can be worn long-term.
Types of complete dentures include immediate and conventional. Like transitional partial dentures, immediate dentures can be worn right after having teeth extracted. They are often worn only temporarily and are replaced with custom conventional dentures once the gums have healed from the extraction procedure. Conventional dentures offer an excellent fit as they conform to the mouth over time.
There is another type of denture called an overdenture. This type of denture contains crowns that fit over any remaining natural teeth. If no teeth remain, dental implants are used to secure the denture in place.
Benefits of Dentures
Partial and complete dentures both provide several benefits. They restore your smile, fill in the gaps where teeth are missing, and restore biting and chewing functions. Dentures can also minimize many of the unwanted side effects that come with tooth loss, including facial sagging, changes in speech, and excess strain on remaining teeth.
The teeth provide support for muscles in the face so sagging can occur when there are fewer teeth. Replacing missing teeth with dentures provide the additional support needed to reduce sagging and drooping and restore the natural shape of the face.
Speech can also be affected by tooth loss. The teeth help guide the placement of the tongue when speaking. When teeth are missing, the tongue can slip into the gaps. Restoring your smile with dentures helps correct tongue placement when talking.
Finally, fewer teeth mean any remaining ones must take on additional work to compensate for missing ones. This puts more strain on the teeth that remain, which can cause them to become worn down. By giving you back a full set of teeth, dentures help reduce strain on the remaining natural teeth.
If your smile is incomplete due to tooth loss, dentures could be the solution. To learn more about dentures and whether they are right for you, schedule an appointment with one of our helpful dentists by calling Complete Dental Care in Brooklyn, NY, at (718) 338-5700 or at (718) 434-5800.