Dentures

At Rangel Dental of Morristown, NJ, we know that missing teeth can have a serious impact on your life. Dentures can help you retain your facial structure, enhance your ability to chew and speak, improve your overall health and give you a reason to smile again. We offer several different tooth replacement options that can enhance your dental health and your smile with fixed or removable dentures.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are dental prosthetics that are used to replace teeth. Implant dentures can be fixed or removable, and are attached to implants in the jaw. Traditional dentures can be removed, and don’t require implants.

Conventional Removable Dentures

Traditional dentures are removable and can be taken out and cleaned when not being worn. Most dentures consist of a resin acrylic base and replacement teeth. Dentures mimic the appearance of natural gums and teeth and are custom-made in a dental laboratory using precise impressions and measurements taken by your dentist. The acrylic base sits over the gums, holding the denture in place. Some patients prefer to use denture adhesive or cream to prevent them from slipping or shifting.

When all of the teeth are missing in the lower and/or upper arch, they can be replaced with complete dentures. Gum tissues change shape and shrink while healing, so complete dentures are not fabricated until after teeth are removed and the mouth has completely healed, which is about 8-12 weeks.

Getting Used To Traditional Dentures

Dentures usually require multiple dental appointments to make adjustments to achieve a good fit, feel, and appearance. It’s normal to have some gum tenderness and increased salivation. Eating and speaking can be challenging when you first get new dentures, but as tissues toughen up and you get used to them, these issues will diminish. It can take a while to adjust to your new teeth, but with a little patience, your dentures should function quite well, feel comfortable, and look great. With proper care, they can last for many years.

Caring For Conventional Dentures

Using a soft-bristled brush and warm water and putting your dentures in a cleaning solution daily can keep them in good condition. Always take them out at night and put them in a glass of water to prevent the acrylic from drying out.

Removable Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are for patients who have some remaining natural teeth and are used to fill in the gaps between those teeth. They are usually held in place by metal clips that attach to adjacent teeth. Partial dentures can also be attached to crowns on either side of the denture. Partials not only fill in gaps but can prevent existing teeth from breaking or shifting. Removable partial dentures can be removed and cleaned when not being worn.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Unlike traditional dentures that rest on your gums, implant-supported dentures are anchored to your jawbone with dental implants. They can be fixed or removable and may be full or partial as well. Implant-supported dentures are stable and don’t shift or slip as much as conventional dentures can, allowing you to smile, talk, and eat with confidence.

To be a candidate for implant-supported dentures, you must have sufficient bone for the implants to be placed in your jaw. Bone grafting may be necessary if your existing bone is inadequate for implants. You must also have healthy gum tissue and a healthy immune system for an implant denture to be successful.

The Implant Process

Depending on your specific needs, you may have up to six titanium implants placed in the upper and lower arches of your jaw. The implants will take several months to heal and fuse to your jaw in a process known as osseointegration. Once they are healed and fully integrated into your jaw, the denture is snapped into place. Like traditional dentures, your implant-supported dentures have an acrylic base that looks like your gums, however, they will look and feel much more like natural teeth.

Caring For An Implant Denture

You can care for fixed implant dentures like you would your natural teeth by brushing twice a day and using an antimicrobial mouthwash. A cleaning device such as a Water Pik can be helpful for removing food particles and debris from underneath your denture. If your implant denture is removable, you should care for it as you would a conventional denture.

Why Choose Us?

Our experienced, caring team at Rangel Dental is dedicated to helping patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles so they can look and feel their best. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about fixed and removable dentures and partials and strive to provide quality dental care you can trust.

Contact Our Office To Schedule An Appointment

Dentures can help you smile with confidence, improve your oral health and enhance your overall well-being. Contact us online to schedule an appointment, or call 973-292-0001 to speak with a member of our team at Rangel Dental of Morristown, NJ today.