Dentures – Lakewood, CO

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures

If you’re an adult with decent health, chances are good that you qualify for dentures. These tooth replacements don’t require much beyond that you're dealing with missing teeth. Still, not every patient who suffers from tooth loss is a good candidate. A person who hasn’t lost all teeth along an arch may do better with a different restoration. Similarly, a would-be candidate may lack the healthy gums needed to support dentures. During your consultation with Dr. Emanuel, she will confirm if dentures are right for you. If so, we’ll proceed with drafting a treatment plan just for you. Until your visit, here are some things to take into consideration.

Effects of Missing Teeth

Tooth enamel is the strongest material in the entire body. It’s even stronger than bone! However, it can still become damaged if you aren’t careful. Teeth can be lost due to tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma to the mouth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are numerous negative side effects of tooth loss, including facial sagging, difficulty speaking, challenges when eating, and low self-confidence. By replacing your missing teeth with dentures, you can improve all of these areas, improving your overall quality of life.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are an excellent solution for people who are missing multiple, most of, or all of their teeth. Depending on the number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in the mouth, our team can put together a customized treatment plan to meet your needs. It is important that you have good oral health before you can get dentures, so any existing dental issues, like tooth decay or gum disease, need to be eliminated beforehand. Once your existing teeth and gums are in good shape, we can move on with the dentures process.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Do dentures not sound like the right choice for you? You may benefit from another tooth replacement option that we offer. Here’s how they work:

• Dental Bridge: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap in your smile with a replacement tooth. The replacement tooth, also known as a “pontic,” is supported by two dental crowns that are placed on the adjacent teeth. This is ideal for people who are only missing one or a few consecutive teeth.
• Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium, screw-like post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. This requires that the patient has a healthy, sufficient jawbone. Dental implants have a higher upfront cost, but they are intended to last for many decades or even the rest of your life.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Types of Dentures

Based on what we'll learn at your consultation, our practice may suggest one of three kinds of dentures. These types are the following:

Partial Dentures

Per its name, a partial denture is a type that only replaces a few teeth. This device normally fits over a patient’s gumline with suction or clasps onto abutments (i.e., nearby natural teeth). From there, it relies on its pink acrylic base and color-matched teeth to blend in with your smile.

Full Dentures

In contrast to partial dentures, a full one replaces an entire arch of teeth at once. It thus relies on suction force or adhesives to remain secure; it doesn’t alter other teeth by using clasps. To ensure a good fit, each full denture is also customized to sit snugly and comfortably over your gums.

Implant Dentures

If you’d like something a bit more permanent, implant dentures are the way to go. These kinds secure themselves with dental implants – posts that fuse with your jawbone. As a result, a good implant denture will remain very stable and secure for years at a time. Not only will it not slip or fall like other restorations can, but it’ll also prevent facial collapse.

The Benefits of Dentures

By getting dentures through Dr. Emanuel, you’ll enjoy perks like:

• Gorgeous Results – Modern dentures use excellent materials, so their artificial teeth look very lifelike and natural. You can trust them to fill your smile gaps seamlessly.
• More Confidence – Once dentures bring back your full smile, they’ll help you feel more confident. Wearing them will help you feel self-assured when you’re chatting with friends or family.
• Better Nutrition – Since dentures help you eat, they also expand your dietary options and improve your overall health.
• Long-Lasting Savings – Compared to other options like dental implants or bridges, dentures cost less even as they work well. They’re quite ideal for patients with limited budgets.