Are you wondering if you need to get dentures? From how many teeth they replace to the types of dentures we offer, here’s everything you need to know about the decision process and when to get dentures.
10 Signs You Might Need Dentures
- You Have Missing Teeth
Dentures are one of the most traditional options for replacing missing teeth. They’ve been used for generations and can restore a few teeth to all of them at once.
- Dental Bridges Aren’t an Option
A bridge replaces up to a couple of teeth at a time, but it requires healthy teeth on either end to support it. If you’re lacking those supports, a removable partial denture is the best solution.
- Your Teeth Are “Going Bad”
Are your teeth starting to become mobile?
Do you have aggressive gum disease or recession?
Has extensive decay or trauma caused your teeth to break or wear down aggressively? Replacing them with a denture may be the answer.
- You’re Not Able to Chew Your Food Well
Malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies often start in the mouth. Are you able to properly chew and break down healthy foods for digestion? People with missing teeth may need a denture to help their bodies get the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
- Your Face is Starting to Look “Sunken In”
Tooth loss creates excess space behind your lips and cheeks. The bone that your teeth were rooted in will also start to resorb (shrink), changing your facial shape. These situations can lead to premature ageing or a sallow appearance in your cheeks, mouth, and overall facial profile. Replacing your teeth with something like a denture can add support underneath your soft tissues to give you a fuller-looking appearance.
- All (or Several) of Your Teeth Need to Be Extracted
Do you need to have multiple tooth extractions? Perhaps due to aggressive gum disease or a serious injury? If so, dentures allow for a quick replacement of your missing teeth all at one time.
- You’re Self-Conscious or Embarrassed About Your Smile
Feeling embarrassed by the way your smile looks can interfere with both your personal and professional lifestyle. Advanced dental disease can discourage you from smiling in photos, laughing in front of others, or even feeling confident when you’re speaking to a group. If you qualify for dentures, you can play a crucial role in planning what you want your new smile to look like.
- Your Remaining Teeth are Starting to Wear Down
Missing teeth means you have to put extra pressure on other parts of your mouth to bite and chew food. Even though enamel is strong, it can’t withstand more weight than it’s made to. Excessive use of the same teeth over and over will lead to premature, advanced wear.
- You Don’t Qualify for or Want Dental Implants
Dental implants offer great benefits when it comes to replacing missing teeth; however, not everyone qualifies for or wants dental implants. Dentures are a tried and true missing tooth treatment that are the next best option.
- You Need a Fast, Affordable Way to Replace Missing Teeth
Dentures can be designed and delivered within a couple of weeks. They’re non-invasive, fast, and the most affordable way to replace all of your missing teeth at one time.
How Many Teeth Can You Lose Before You Need Dentures?
For partial dentures, most people are missing one or more teeth. On the other hand, full dentures replace all of the teeth in your upper or lower arch (which is usually around 14 of them). Full dentures can’t be placed if you still have remaining teeth; dental extractions may be necessary.
Types of Dentures as Treatment Options
Traditional Full Dentures (“Plates”) — An acrylic prosthesis that rests directly against your gum tissues, creating a seal and replacing all of the teeth in the entire arch.
Traditional Partial Dentures — Set on a stable chrome framework, partials replace specific teeth while snapping around the healthy teeth you’re able to preserve (preventing unnecessary extractions.)
Acrylic Partial Dentures — These tend to be temporary appliances.
Implant-Supported Dentures — These are removable or secured hybrid appliances that sit on top of implants for added stability throughout the day.
Getting Dentures in Ottawa
Your new dentures are something you will rely on day in and day out. Choosing your dentist — along with a great lab — will help to ensure that you have access to all of the benefits you’re looking for.
Getting dentures starts with an exam. Our Ottawa dentist will make sure you need dentures, discuss any applicable treatment options (such as dental implants or extractions), which type of dentures you need, and how you want your new smile to look. Yes, you even get to play a role in choosing the colour, size, and contour of the teeth on your new prosthesis!
After the initial consultation, you’ll need a set of extremely accurate impressions taken of your mouth. These moulds will ensure a proper denture fit, that’s as secure and comfortable as possible. Keep in mind that if you require any extractions, those must be performed as well. Sometimes an interim denture is delivered post extractions while your mouth heals, and then a final denture is designed after your gum and bone tissues have settled.
The typical process for getting dentures in Ottawa requires 2-3 appointments (give or take). Our lab will need about two weeks between each appointment to handcraft the final design of your permanent prosthesis. Rest assured, there are options available to prevent you from having to go without teeth throughout this process.
Reserve a Denture Consultation Today
For more information on denture designs, custom options, and whether or not you need some type of full mouth prosthesis, trust Parkdale Dental Centre. Call today to get started!