Dentures – Pepper Pike, OH
Eat and Smile with Confidence Again
If there’s a noticeable gap in your grin due to missing teeth, you don’t need us to mention the laundry list of inconveniences that creates. You’re already aware of the difficulties in speaking, eating, and smiling. Fortunately, at Dental & Cosmetic Solutions, we offer an easy way to replace your lost teeth with full or partial dentures. Keep reading below to learn more about dentures in Pepper Pike and how they can allow you to eat and smile with confidence again.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Are you missing one tooth? Several? Or an entire arch? Regardless of your situation, you may be eligible for dentures in Pepper Pike. These prosthetic teeth are incredibly versatile and designed to restore your unique smile. If you’d like to find out whether or not you’re a good candidate for dentures, you should set up a consultation with our team at Dental & Cosmetic Solutions. Don’t worry – even if you’re not a viable candidate, you can possibly become one with our help!
Effects of Missing Teeth
It’s important to recognize the most common causes of missing teeth. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, these reasons include gum disease, tooth decay, and physical injury. Failing to address these issues while they’re still treatable can lead to tooth loss.
When you have gaps in your smile, your jawbone may begin to shrink due to a lack of stimulation of blood flow. This may eventually cause the bone tissue to weaken, increasing the risk of further tooth loss. If you don’t have a root to promote a strong jawbone, you may begin to experience complications like facial sagging, difficulty eating, trouble speaking, and lower self-confidence.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures are a great option for patients with extensive tooth loss. For decades, this solution has helped people eat, speak, and smile with greater confidence. The materials and techniques may have changed over time, but the prosthetics are still able to provide a complete smile once again.
Keep in mind that the number of teeth you’re missing will ultimately determine which type of denture is best for you. Based on your situation, we may recommend full, partial, or implant dentures. One significant advantage of dentures is that they’re more affordable than other solutions, making them a great choice for those on a budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Not a good candidate for dentures? Don’t worry – you can explore other options! At Dental & Cosmetic Solutions, we offer alternative solutions like:
- Dental Bridges – If you’re missing one or several teeth in a row, dental bridges are a great option to consider! You simply need to have nearby healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the restoration.
- Dental Implants – Thanks to their unique placement, implants provide unmatched stability and durability. Good candidates require a strong facial structure and sufficient bone density. Although it’s a bit more costly than other methods of tooth replacement, you can enjoy your results for a lifetime.
Types of Dentures
The three main kinds of dentures include:
Full Dentures
A full denture is typically what you think of when someone says the word “dentures.” It consists of an entire row of prosthetic teeth attached to a pink based designed to closely resemble gum tissue. It uses natural suction against the gums to stay in place, with the help of a denture adhesive if need be.
Partial Dentures
For patients who are only missing some teeth, we typically recommend a partial denture. Partials are made of a metal framework onto which as many false teeth as you need are anchored. They use metal clasps to attach themselves to your remaining teeth while looking like a perfectly natural part of your smile.
Implant-Retained Dentures
To prevent the slipping that sometimes comes with dentures, we can secure your prosthetic teeth in place with an average of four dental implants. Because the implants fuse with your jawbone, there’s no need to get them replaced every few years, making them a longer lasting and more cost-effective solution than traditional dentures alone.
Benefits of Dentures
It’s not an exaggeration to say that getting dentures can change your life. When designed by a skilled dentist in Pepper Pike like Dr. Csok, dentures can help you:
- Smile confidently again
- Annunciate your words more clearly
- Chew a wider variety of healthy foods
- Improve your oral health
The Process of Getting Dentures
While you may have heard your grandparents complain about their ill-fitting or unnatural-looking dentures, rest assured that modern dental technology has come a long way since then. Today’s dentures are more lifelike than ever before, and they’re designed with your comfort in mind. Our dentist will make sure your new teeth resemble the ones you were born with to a tee by partnering with only the most skilled dental labs.
The whole process begins with a consultation. After we conduct an oral exam and take detailed x-rays to get a full picture of your oral health, we’ll use these data to create an initial mold of your dentures. Over the course of the next few visits to our dental office, you’ll try on different models and we’ll adjust them accordingly until we find the perfect set of teeth for you. Once this process is complete, we’ll send off the mold to our lab to cast your final dentures, and you’ll return in a few weeks to have them fitted.
For implant-retained dentures (also known as All-on-4), we’ll surgically place an average of four implants at strategic locations and angles throughout your jaw. In most cases, we can give you at least a temporary denture on the same day we place your implants so that you won’t have to go another day without teeth!
Living with New Dentures
Whether you receive a full or partial denture, it may take some time for your mouth to adjust to wearing it. To help you get used to chewing, we suggest cutting your food up into bite-sized chunks at first and applying even pressure with both sides of your mouth. Reading out loud will help make speech easier. You can expect to deal with a little soreness in your gums for the first few days, but if the discomfort persists, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Dentures Frequently Asked Questions
Now you know all about the different types of dentures, their benefits, and the process! However, it’s natural to still have some questions, especially if you’ve never had them before. To help make the research process seamless, we’ve taken the time to answer a few frequently asked questions below. If you’d prefer to speak directly with our dentist in Cleveland about your questions, then don’t hesitate to contact our dental office.
How Do I Care for My Dentures?
Thanks to advancements in dentistry, dentures today can rebuild your smile, restore your bite, and perfect your speech for decades – if they are cared for properly. Fortunately, that task is relatively easy if you simply follow the below best practices:
- Brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and denture-friendly cleaner daily
- Keep your remaining natural teeth in pristine condition with a solid oral hygiene routine
- Handle them with care when they are out of your mouth
- Soak them in a denture-friendly solution each night (which will preserve their shape and give your gums a rest)
- Visit your dentist every six months for a professional checkup and cleaning
Can I Eat Normally With Dentures?
Since modern dentures in Cleveland are custom-made from high-quality, extremely durable materials, they come with minimal food restrictions. That being said, it may take some time to adjust to your new set of teeth. Therefore, we always recommend starting with soft foods, like yogurt and soup, and working your way back to your regular diet from there. As you become more proficient, you’ll be able to chew harder or sticky foods. To help, you can use a few pea-sized drops of denture adhesive to stabilize them as you learn to maneuver them with ease.
Will My Partial Dentures Match My Remaining Natural Teeth?
If you aren’t using full dentures to completely rebuild your smile, then you may be wondering if your partials will stick out like a sore thumb. The answer? Absolutely not! Our team at Dental and Cosmetic Solutions are experts in the art of shade matching, which will ensure your prosthetic teeth will blend in seamlessly with your natural ones.
How Much Do Dentures Cost?
Sadly, there is no all-encompassing answer. After all, the number of teeth being replaced, dental insurance, and necessary extractions beforehand are just a few factors that influence the final cost. Fortunately, you can easily find out the exact price of renewing your smile with dentures by scheduling an appointment with our team at Dental and Cosmetic Solutions. After completing a thorough dental exam, discussing your unique dental needs, and finalizing the details of your treatment plan, we will provide you with the price and the financial options available.