More than 36 million Americans have no healthy teeth to speak of, and about 15% of them turn each year to dentures for a full, new smile. At Mitchell & Crosby Family Dentistry in Casa Grande, Arizona, dentists Jeffrey Mitchell, DDS, and David Crosby, DMD, and their team make custom full and partial dentures to restore or complete your smile. To find out if dentures are the right option to replace your teeth, call Mitchell & Crosby Family Dentistry or book an appointment online today.
Dentures Q & A
What are dentures?
Dentures are dental appliances that replace many missing teeth in a row or all of your teeth. They’re designed to look natural and fit comfortably in your mouth, and they often include an artificial gumline.
Several types of dentures are available at Mitchell & Crosby Family Dentistry to suit your needs:
Conventional dentures
Conventional dentures require that you have no remaining teeth since they constitute a full set. If you have a few teeth left but not many, your dentist extracts the remaining teeth to make room for the dentures. You’ll heal for a few weeks before getting your dentures.
Immediate dentures
Immediate dentures are a lot like conventional dentures, but you get to wear the dentures immediately after removing your remaining teeth. Your dentist takes measurements and examines your mouth during a preliminary visit, and the dentures sit over your jaw as it heals from the extractions.
Overdentures
Overdentures allow you to keep any remaining teeth that you have, and the dentures use them for support. If you don’t have any remaining teeth, overdentures can also anchor onto implants in the same way.
When are dentures the right choice?
Your dentist at Mitchell & Crosby Family Dentistry assesses your case to decide if dentures are a good fit. They’re typically necessary if you’ve lost most or all of your teeth at once because of an accident, decay, or after years of aging and losing your teeth gradually.
If you lose many or all of your teeth, your face loses some of its structure. Your cheeks become sunken and your facial length becomes shorter. Dentures restore your facial shape and structure. Once you get used to them, you can use them naturally to eat and speak.
How should I take care of my dentures?
It’s easy to take care of dentures. As long as you clean them in the right ways and remove them while sleeping, your set can last 5-8 years before you need a new one. To care for your dentures, you must:
Remove them from your mouth for cleaning
Rinse off any food and debris
Brush them with a soft brush and a denture cleaner
Rinse them again after brushing
Brush your gums and tongue with toothpaste while they’re out of your mouth
When you take them out to sleep, you must submerge them in warm, clear water.
If the loss of your teeth is imminent, don’t hesitate to call Mitchell & Crosby Family Dentistry to book a denture consultation. Call our Casa Grande, AZ office today at (520) 836-7111.
