Dentures – Orange Park, FL
Comfortable & Natural-Looking Replacement Teeth
It’s hard to just live your life when you’re missing several or all of your teeth. Every bite, word, or smile becomes a potential source of pain or anxiety, causing many to start avoiding the people and activities they enjoy. If this sounds familiar, then know that dentures in Orange Park from Crovatto & Edwards Family Dentistry can help you reclaim your smile and confidence at the same time.
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Almost anyone can get dentures as long as they have some degree of tooth loss. Of course, it may not always be completely obvious on the surface whether they truly are the best tooth replacement option in your case. We encourage you to schedule a consultation at our practice in Orange Park as soon as you can; once we have examined your mouth, we can help you figure out whether you’re a good candidate for dentures and explain what steps you should take next.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Teeth do have the potential to stay in your mouth for the rest of your life, but unfortunately, you can potentially lose them under a number of circumstances. From gum disease to tooth decay to physical trauma, there are several reasons why you might end up with empty space in your smile.
Losing any number of teeth can lead to various consequences. For example:
- The lack of support from your teeth can affect your facial appearance, possibly leading to sunken cheeks or a permanent frown.
- If the teeth involved in speaking are lost, you may have a harder time pronouncing specific words.
- An incomplete set of teeth can affect your ability to chew properly; consequently, you may not be able to enjoy some of your favorite foods anymore.
- When you’re unhappy with your appearance due to missing teeth, your self-esteem is likely to suffer.
Simply put, it tends to be in your best interest to have missing teeth replaced as soon as you can.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
You may want to think about getting dentures if you have already lost multiple teeth in one or both arches. You likely qualify for this form of tooth replacement if:
- Your gums are in good enough health.
- There is plenty of bone in your jaw.
- You are willing and able to commit to taking care of your dentures in the long term.
We can discuss the criteria for getting dentures in more detail during your initial consultation. Additionally, we will need to narrow down the kind of denture that you will get, whether it’s a partial denture, a full denture, or an implant denture.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Dentures are a highly reliable form of tooth replacement that almost 41 million Americans currently benefit from. Nevertheless, they aren’t necessarily the best choice for everyone. It’s important to remember that there is more than one way to re-complete your smile after tooth loss:
- Dental Bridges: If you have lost one tooth or multiple teeth in a row, the empty space can be filled with a dental bridge. Note that this type of tooth replacement requires you to have healthy teeth on both sides of the gap in question.
- Dental Implants: You need to have a certain level of bone density before you can get dental implants. This form of tooth replacement comes with all kinds of unique benefits, and it can last for the rest of your life with the right care.
Types of Dentures
Thanks to the advancements made in dentistry over the decades, today’s dentures are much more comfortable and natural-looking than the ones you might have seen growing up. On top of this, there are multiple options we can offer so we can find the solution that best fits your situation.
Partial Dentures
For patients who still have healthy teeth, partial dentures are designed to fit between them like the last piece of a puzzle. Small clasps are attached to a framework that holds a unique number of teeth that will fill in any gaps.
Full Dentures
These are probably what come to mind when you hear the word “denture.” Full dentures are meant to bring back a complete row of teeth and do so by sitting directly on the gums. With the help of natural suction and denture adhesive, they’re able to remain rock-solid.
Dental Implant Dentures
With dental implant dentures, the prosthetic teeth are rooted to your jawbone using small titanium posts. This not only makes the prosthetic incredibly stable and strong, but the new roots also stimulate the jawbone from within. This prevents bone loss over time and enables the denture to maintain its initial fit for much longer compared to removable prosthetics.
The Benefits of Dentures
- Be able to eat anything you want again
- Renewed sense of daily confidence
- Protect your gums to reduce oral pain and risk of infection
- Clearer speech
- Balances the bite to prevent jaw pain and headaches
- Increases the height of the face to create a more attractive appearance
- Support the skin of the lips and cheeks to help someone look younger
How Dentures are Made
The concept of dentures may seem straightforward and simple at first glance, but the process of creating custom tooth replacements is actually complicated. Instead of fabricating them in the office, we order your dentures from a dental lab, where they specialize in these kinds of restorations. The overall process can take several months to complete, but by the time your dentures are finished, they’ll fit snugly and comfortably inside your unique mouth. If you have questions about any stage in the process, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask.
What are Dentures Made Of?
Dentures can consist of several different types of materials, but they are usually broken down into two groups: the gum-colored base and the prosthetic teeth.
Gum-Colored Base
This part of the denture needs to look like natural gum tissue, which is why this material is usually resin, acrylic, or nylon. Acrylic is the most common. These give you a realistic look and provide a foundation for strong replacement teeth. For partial dentures, the acrylic base may have metal hooks that attach to the surrounding teeth for more stability.
Prosthetic Teeth
To have a more natural look and feel, prosthetic teeth in dentures are usually made of porcelain or, in some cases, resin. Both substances can be crafted to appear like real teeth, but porcelain tends to be favored because of its durability and stain resistance.
The Denture Creation Process
With multiple steps, the denture fabrication process starts by our team taking impressions of your upper and lower arches digitally. A small device scans the exact size and shape of your mouth, creating a 3D image of your oral cavity. We send this information to our trusted dental lab, where technicians basically print a copy of your oral cavity and create a mold for the dentures. From this physical model, technicians use wax to replicate your gumline. Once prosthetic teeth are created, they are attached to wax dentures.
These working dentures arrive at our office, where you’ll visit for a fitting. If adjustments need to be made, you may need to have several fitting appointments just to be sure we get it right. When everything seems to fit properly and looks good, the dental lab will move forward and use the mold, pouring in the acrylic and attaching the porcelain teeth. Before sending the final product to our office, the technicians will polish the dentures, so they look picture perfect.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
Although they have been customized to your mouth, brand-new dentures may not feel completely comfortable for a short while when you first get them. After a bit of time, they will feel just as natural as your teeth used to. At the beginning, we recommend eating softer foods and exercising your facial muscles. If you find that your discomfort continues for a long time, let us know about it. We want you to enjoy your dentures!