Denture Dentists Michigan

Dentures are removable false teeth you wear during the day to eat and talk. Our West Michigan dentists can help you determine whether you need full or partial dentures based on your oral health. Ultimately, the decision to place one over the other will come down to how many teeth are missing from your smile. For example, you may only need a partial denture to replace a few upper teeth.

Here’s what you need to know about removable dentures and how they can improve your quality of life.

Types of Dentures

Many patients think there’s only one type of denture and that’s that when in fact, there are several versions that each cater to different needs and preferences. When you come in for an evaluation, our dentists will take a closer look at your smile and note the number of teeth that are absent. We’ll also speak with you one-on-one about what you want for your smile and how you feel about the addition of dental implants should they prove helpful.

Depending on what you need, we may recommend:

1. Immediate Dentures

If you think you would feel self-conscious going about your daily life with missing teeth, our dentists can recommend immediate dentures. Like the name suggests, immediate dentures are given to you immediately after tooth extraction and are temporary until your finalized full or partial denture is back from the dental lab.

Since immediate dentures are made prior to removing teeth, you’ll need to see our dentists to adjust the fit. Once your bones and gums shrink and heal, we will need to adjust the fit again. Immediate dentures work well in the short term but are meant to be replaced by your final restoration.

2. Conventional Dentures

Also known as full dentures, conventional dentures are made a few months after tooth extraction, once everything has completely healed. As a result, you can expect your conventional dentures to fit comfortably and need less adjusting over time.

Typically, individuals need a full set of dentures if they have lost both their upper and lower arches of teeth. This could either be due to injury, lack of oral hygiene, or scheduled tooth removal. After any kind of tooth loss, our dentists are here to help restore both appearance and function. We will not judge you!

3. Partial Dentures

Much like the other types of dentures, partial dentures are removable false teeth that help improve your ability to chew, talk, and smile after tooth loss. Having one or more teeth already gone or set to be extracted means you’re an ideal candidate for a partial. To make restoration even better and more seamless, partial dentures can be used for any type of tooth replacement, such as molars, incisors, or canines.

4. Implant-Supported Dentures

Anchored directly to your jawbone, this type of denture is not going anywhere thanks to its foundation of dental implants. Implant-supported dentures do come in removable and fixed options with the version you can take out being known as overdentures.

A patient receiving this form of tooth replacement will have a number of dental implants, or artificial tooth roots made of titanium, inserted into the jawbone by our dentists to hold the dentures in place. The presence of the implants is what gives this type of denture its stability.

On average, about 2-4 implants are placed but up to 10 can be inserted. The mouth needs to be completely healed from this process before the fixed dentures can be placed. It can take 2-6 months for the bone to grow around the implants, but you will be given immediate dentures during this time.

Denture Procedure

During your appointment, our dentists will need to take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. When you return to one of our offices a few weeks later, your dentures will be ready. It’s at that time that our dentists will make sure the color, size, and shape of the denture matches the rest of your smile. They’ll also check the fit to make sure you can wear it comfortably without issues.

Denture Care

Taking care of dentures is just as important as oral hygiene for your natural teeth. You’ll need to continue practicing brushing the teeth you still have twice a day and flossing once daily. Be sure to also take your dentures(s) out and clean them every day to remove food particles and plaque. We recommend using a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive cleaner specifically designed for dentures.

Avoid using regular toothpaste, especially those that are for whitening or contain abrasive ingredients as those can damage the surface of the denture. When your false teeth aren’t in your mouth, you’ll need to submerge them in a glass of water or denture cleanser. Otherwise, your dentures will crack and warp if you let them dry out.

Restore Your Smile With Dentures

Our denture dentists serving West Michigan want you to smile proudly and if removable false teeth are what you need, we’re here to help! Call one of our MI Smiles Dental locations down below to schedule an appointment and speak with our team.

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