Do you have rows or full arches of lost teeth? Restore your smile with traditional dentures or implant-supported dentures. At Integrated Dental, we help patients renew their smiles’ full function while providing an aesthetic solution to missing teeth. We offer several types of customized dentures in Sarasota, FL and the surrounding areas for replacement of missing teeth. This restorative dentistry treatment will help you restore the functionality and beauty of your smile.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are restorations that allow patients to speak, bite, and chew normally while restoring the appearance of teeth. A basic denture is made up of false teeth that are fused to base. Denture bases are made of a sturdy, acrylic resin. This material looks similar to natural gum tissue and will blend in well once in place inside the mouth.
There are several types of dentures available. A partial denture is for patients that still have some healthy teeth remaining. It will essentially filling the gaps with false teeth. A full denture is for patients missing all of their teeth. We curate dentures to match the exact size, shape, and color of patients’ natural teeth to give them a very natural appearance and function.
Types of Dentures
Dr. Melvin Benson must examine each patient’s dental health to determine which type of denture they will need. Dentures can be complete or partial, depending on how many teeth the patient is missing or will be extracted. You can also choose between conventional or immediate dentures depending on your personal preferences. They can be removable or secured with dental implants.
Full Dentures
Full dentures, also called complete dentures, are dental appliances that replace a row of missing teeth. They are removable, and have been used for many years to successfully replace teeth. A full denture will resemble a row a natural teeth, and will blend in once in place in your mouth. They are capable of replacing an entire top or bottom row of teeth.
Complete dentures are made up of false teeth that are fused to an acrylic base that is the same color as gum tissue. They remain in place with suction and sometimes adhesive. You will need to remove them nightly for cleaning and to give your gums a rest.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are dental appliances that your dentist will use to replace several missing teeth on an arch. Dr. Benson will suggest this tooth replacement option if you still have healthy teeth remaining. A partial can be placed on the top or bottom row of teeth.
The false on a partial are fused to plastic and/or metal framework. This framework has clasps that will snap on to the remaining teeth to hold the prosthesis in place. Just like a full denture, the teeth will look completely natural however sometimes the metal clasps can be seen when you open your mouth.
Conventional Dentures vs Immediate Dentures
Complete and partial dentures may be either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional denture is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, usually taking about 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the patient will be without teeth.
Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, we will typically take new impressions for a new denture or make the proper adjustments to the existing appliance. This is a common option for patients who are concerned about having to go without teeth during the healing phase of treatment.
Implant-Secured Dentures
Dentures can also be secured to dental implants. Utilizing dental implants to secure a denture will make it more stable and durable. Denture implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. They are not as bulky, and have little eating restrictions. Dr. Benson will use up to eight dental implants to the denture. These implant fixtures will be surgically placed in the jaw bone where they will fuse to bone.
Dental implants also act as teeth roots which will help prevent bone loss in the jaw. This is a common side effect of traditional dentures and tooth loss. However, denture implants are more costly and require several months (sometimes up to a year) to complete treatment.
Treatment with Dentures in Sarasota, FL
Before treatment, we will work with you to determine if you want traditional or implant-supported dentures. Our team will also determine if you require a partial or complete denture. We will discuss every step of dentures process before beginning, to ensure that patients are aware of the treatment process. We take multiple dental impressions to create the base and false teeth to create an immediate denture. Additionally, we work with patients to color-match the false teeth if they have many of their natural teeth left. This ensures that dentures blend in seamlessly with patients surrounding teeth, and are virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye.
About The Implant-Supported Dentures Process
Dr. Benson has advanced training in implant dentistry and can help edentulous patients achieve a stable new smile with an implant-supported denture. Using several strategically placed implants that hold your denture in place, implant dentures are permanent and stable. Dental implants can create a more stable bite, longer-lasting restorations, and ease of use. Securing dentures with implants also reduces the risk of jawbone deterioration.
For implant-secured dentures, we begin treatment by taking dental impressions to create a temporary denture. Then, we place the implants. We place the implant posts underneath the gums in the jaw bone. Over time, the implants fuse with the jaw bone in a process called osseointegration to create a stable foundation for the dentures. Once patients gums have healed and the implant has fused with the jawbone, we place an abutment. The abutment is what the dentures will attach to. Once we attach your dentures to the abutment, patients leave our office with a new, functioning, and aesthetically pleasing smile.
The process of placing an implant denture may require several months of healing between the two major phases of treatment. Dr. Benson will recommend the most suitable plan for replacing your teeth, and in some cases, immediate placement is possible with advanced planning.
We offer the benefit of in-house digital technology and the ability to perform all phases of treatment in our office. This consistency of care supports a successful outcome and helps patients feel more comfortable throughout the process.
Schedule a Consultation for Dentures in Sarasota, FL
Are you missing multiple teeth or all of your permanent teeth? Schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Melvin Benson by calling our office at 941-270-9755. You can also request an appointment online by filling out the form.