Types of Dentures and Denture Services
Our Newport Beach dentures are an efficient way to replace all of your missing teeth at one time. Depending on how many missing teeth you have, whether or not you want to incorporate dental implants, and your long term goals, there are a variety of denture choices to choose from.
Weighing the pros and cons of different denture designs will help you feel more confident when it comes to a smile restoration plan. Since there’s no right or wrong answer, familiarizing yourself with the various techniques may give you some type of clue as to which path you want to choose.
Choosing a Denture Design
Depending on where you go, some of the different types of denture designs that you’ll find throughout Newport Beach include:
Traditional Dentures — “Plates”, as many people call them, are full mouth dentures that restore all of the teeth on one arch at a time. Traditional dentures come in varying types of materials and cosmetic “levels” depending on your priorities. The appliance rests directly on top of your gum tissues, creating a seal between the denture and your mouth. If you still need to have teeth extracted, an immediate loading denture can provide the option of having to go without teeth while your permanent prosthesis is being designed.
Partial Dentures — Removable partial dentures work well if you have several teeth in a row that are missing. Especially if you don’t qualify for something like an implant-supported bridge. Partials simply fit around your remaining teeth, frequently using small extensions or clasps to help stabilize them inside of your mouth.
Partials come in two designs. One is a chrome base, which is quite sturdy and can support multiple teeth across the prosthesis. The other is an acrylic or “Valplast” partial, which is a bit more flexible and blends in with your gum tissues. Acrylic partials tend to work best for single-tooth replacement of a molar or premolar, as long as there are stable teeth on either side.
Overdentures/Implant Stabilized — An overdenture looks nearly identical to a traditional denture, but on the under-side of it there are “locators” or “snaps”. These locators snap onto a corresponding dental implant placed at a specific point in your mouth. In some case-by-case scenarios, newer traditional dentures can actually be retrofitted into a snap-on denture.
Overdentures are still removable. But they incorporate dental implants to prevent rocking, shifting, or slipping of the prosthesis during the day. This technique is helpful for people who may have bone loss or a narrow ridge of bone, which is difficult to fit a conventional denture to.
Implant stabilized dentures are still removed at night. They’re not permanent, like other implant restorations. Since the corresponding implants are simply adding reinforcement, as few as 2-4 implants per denture are needed.
Permanent Implant Dentures — Depending on where you are and who you ask, these specific types of dentures are also referred to as “hybrid” or “All-on-4” implant dentures. Essentially, they blend the permanency of dental implants with a streamlined version of a denture. Unlike overdentures, these appliances are non-removable. Once they’re installed, they don’t go anywhere.
Treatments like an All-on-4 appliance hug the curve of your smile but don’t cover the roof of your mouth with a “plate”. And since they’re permanently affixed to implants you don’t have to worry about anything slipping or rubbing.
What About Cosmetic Dentures?
Working with an experienced cosmetic dentist can help you get the most out of your denture design process. Since your appliance is also responsible for supporting your soft facial tissues like your lips and cheeks, it affects the way your profile looks. Some individuals go as far as to say their new dentures give them a “facelift” because of the fuller-looking skin tone that’s achieved once all of their missing teeth are replaced.
Not only can dentures add depth back to sullen facial features, but they can also be customized for optimal aesthetics. Our Newport Beach cosmetic dentist will dictate how each of the teeth on your denture are shaped and colored. The key is to find natural-looking hues and contours that compliment your individual appearance, that way your smile is both beautiful as well as natural looking.
Should I Get Dentures?
As a general rule of thumb, our priority is to help you preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible. So, if you have intact, stable teeth that can be restored via other solutions, it’s typically best to not extract them. Instead, Dr. Yazdan can help to repair those teeth and then replace the ones around them with something like a partial, dental bridge, or implant.
Smile Reconstruction in Newport Beach
For a customized smile rejuvenation plan, call The Center For Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry to reserve an appointment.
About Dr. Yazdan
