Go ahead, guess how many Americans are missing at least one tooth? According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the answer is 178 million. Now guess how many are missing all of their teeth? The answer is 40 million.
That’s quite a few people who need some sort of option to replace their teeth!
At Portrait Dental, Dr. Minh Nguyen and our team specialize in helping patients regain their beautiful smiles with the best dentures for their situation. Here’s more information on how to determine which type of denture might be best for you.
Some reasons to replace your missing teeth with dentures are obvious. You want to be able to chew your food, you want to improve your appearance, and you want to be able to speak correctly.
Another major reason may not be as widely known: missing teeth can have a huge impact on your dental health. The bone beneath a missing tooth begins to dissolve, the teeth next to the empty space may begin to shift, and there’s a bigger chance of bacteria entering the body and causing gum disease or even diseases that affect the rest of the body.
In short, if you have lost teeth, you need them replaced.
Various types of dentures are available to meet your needs. You may need a full set of dentures or just need partial dentures.
Partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth. They can be made out of metal and acrylic or just acrylic, and are designed especially for your mouth to distribute your chewing forces over the entire surface of your teeth.
Immediate dentures are exactly what they sound like — they can be installed immediately after your teeth are extracted, avoiding the embarrassment of having no teeth in your mouth. We take an impression of your existing teeth and gums to create accurate replacement dentures.
While immediate dentures fit right over your gums, implant retained dentures are surgically attached to dental implants in your jawbone. The dentures snap firmly into place on the implants, giving you more stability and security (especially while you’re eating). They also better preserve your jawbone and provide a better appearance, but they do cost more.
The best way to determine which type of dentures are best for you is to come in for a personal examination. We give you an expert opinion about the best way to help.
Factors we consider include how many teeth you’re missing, your age and overall health, the condition of your jawbone, how quickly you need the dentures, and whether or not you want implants.
To schedule your dentures appointment, call our office in Katy, Texas, or use our convenient online scheduler today.
