Who Are Good Candidates for Dentures?
At The Smile Center, patients in the Virginia Beach area can receive excellent dental care that enhances the beauty and health of their smile. When patients are missing teeth, for instance, our team can consider a number of options, from removable appliances to bridges or dentures fixed in place by dental implants.
We'd like to take a moment right now to consider the nature of dentures and who are the ideal candidates for them.
About Dentures
Dentures are dental appliances that are used to replace teeth along the dental ridge. They are held in place by pressing around the jawbone and gum tissue that remains along the dental arch. For additional stability, it is possible to use denture creams an adhesives.
With dentures in place, a patient can smile with confidence and also experience restored ability to bite and chew.
The Difference Between Full and Partial Dentures
There are two kinds of dentures that can be used: full dentures and partial dentures.
Full dentures are ideal when a patient is missing most of the teeth along the dental arch. Partial dentures are ideal when patients are missing many teeth along the dental arch but not most of them.
General Candidacy for Dentures
Ideal candidates for dentures are people who have experienced significant tooth loss. They should have enough healthy jawbone structure and gum tissue in place in order for the denture to grasp around. Patients should also have realistic expectations about what dentures can achieve and understand how to properly care for their dentures. These instructions for denture care will be provided during the consultation process.
Extent of Tooth Loss Is Important to Consider
One important factor that defines candidacy for dentures is the extent of the patient's tooth loss. This doesn't just refer to the use of partial dentures or full dentures. If a patient is only missing a few teeth, then he or she may be better served through the use of a dental bridge. Bridges work by latching around the tooth structure that is adjacent to the tooth gap.
Treatment Option: Dentures Fixed in Place by Dental Implants
In addition to removable dentures, it is possible to get dentures that are fixed in place by dental implants. These are artificial tooth roots that are surgically embedded into the jawbone and the gum tissue of a patient's mouth. Eligibility for dental implants to support a denture will be determine by the bone density, the gum tissue density, and the patient's overall suitability for oral surgery.
Making the Best Decision for Your Needs
During the consultation process, our team will go over all of your options for addressing your tooth loss. We will carefully consider which treatments would be most ideal for you and your needs so that you can smile with absolute confidence and achieve great dental health in the process.
Contact The Smile Center
For more information about dentures and your many options for dealing with tooth loss, it's important that you contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. At The Smile Center, we will work closely with you to ensure that you look your very best and your mouth is as healthy as possible.
