All About Dentures: Dentures Los Angeles
Dentures are a common treatment and a form of general dentistry that you may have heard of. This type of dental procedure is very common amongst the dental community and its quite common that a grandparent or elder has had a denture in the past. Dentures are a great way to improve the oral health of a patient all the while performing a dental procedure that reaps some nice cosmetic and aesthetic upgrades as well. Below we discuss the Denture, what it does, how it is made, why to wear them and the different types that are currently available in today’s world of Dentistry. Read on to learn more about the infamous denture…
What are Dentures?
So what are dentures? Dentures are artificial teeth and gums that replace existing teeth whether because they are old and rotten or possibly because of missing teeth and gaps in the teeth that caused the periodontal gum line and jaw to shift. Either way, dentures are a great means of artificial teeth to help elicit the benefits of both restorative and cosmetic dentistry. There are many types of dentures but the most common are full and half dentures. For most, full dentures on the top and bottom are the common choice as they provide the most complete oral care and also ensure the longevity of the oral region including the gums, teeth and add to the jaw structural integrity. Regardless of what type of denture you choose to go with, all our dentures are tailored to fit the patient’s mouth perfectly – essentially tailored made – to ensure that the dentures both sit perfectly in the oral cavity and also to prevent grinding, irritation and the like. Not to mention, dentures are designed to match the existing teeth, so don’t worry if you don’t opt to go with the full denture and choose rather to do a partial denture. A new type of denture called the implant supported denture is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a secure and fitted denture that won’t fall out and that is completely anchored inside of the mouth. Below we talk more about implant supported dentures and why it is a great option for full mouth care and oral longevity.
What are Dentures made out of?
The dentures of today are most commonly made out of a hard resin material. This resin material is shaped and molded to fit the teeth, curvature and size of the patient’s mouth. Before this new advancement in dentistry, dentures use to be made out of porcelain and a plastic like material. While the materials used to make dentures are often times more fragile than the enamel of our teeth, with proper care and maintenance, you can ensure that your denture will last for a very long time. On average, dentures last about 5 years as they naturally grind down and lose their shape + natural contour as they are used. Not to worry, they can last longer if proper care and maintenance is taken and if they are regularly washed. Below we discuss the different type of dentures and what type is best for your needs. Read on to learn more about the different types.
Why do you wear Dentures?
Dentures are a fantastic option for a wide array of reasons. For beginners, they help to maintain the gum line, teeth and the jaw structure from changing or being altered over the course of time. For Example, if you’re missing teeth and don’t have anything supporting the teeth in the mouth then what naturally happens is you lose the natural concave of the mouth and over the course of time your mouth falls back in and your teeth don’t hold the structure of the mouth. The body does this naturally as by not having teeth, missing teeth or having missing bone in your mouth indirectly tells the brain that it no longers need to expend energy to hold the mouth’s structure, the jaw structure and the like. The result? A myriad of problems including bone loss, teeth that change positions, overbites, crossbite and underbites, and other possible complications. Honestly, this is no fun. Fortunately there is a great solution and a great way to prevent that from happening – Dentures! Dentures serve not only as artificial teeth that look beautiful and give you a full smile, but they also add to the structural integrity of the mouth and support the gum lines, the cheek bones, the bone in the mouth and the eye bones from slouching. Dentures are very important to maintain the structural integrity of the mouth and also to help restore missing teeth. Not to mention, for people with corroded, damaged and missing teeth, Dentures are a fantastic quick and easy to earn back their pearly whites all the while helping to maintain their oral hygiene and jaw structural integrity. With that said, another option to wear dentures is if certain teeth are causing pain and discomfort, dentures are a great way to eliminate that pain and get back on track to eliminating the pain. However, it is important to note, there are mutiple variations of dentures and not just one option. Below we talk about the different denture options and which one is best for you such as the implant supported denture, overdenture and partial denture to name a few!
Types of Dentures:
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are a great and quick option for restoring the gums and the teeth with a set of partial fake teeth. Partial Dentures are often times used when the gums or the surrounding teeth (relative to wear the teeth are missing) are not strong enough to support a bridge or a type of crown such as an inlay, onlay or partial crown. With that said, in a circumstance where the structural integrity is not up to speed, partial dentures are a fantastic option to restore the gum line, help support the cheek bones and also provide a nice set of artificial teeth that match the shade of the other teeth and blend in nicely. Partial Dentures are snapped on to the teeth where they fasten to the nearby natural teeth. While they do not lock in, they are easy to take out during sleep and also wash when needed. For a more fitting denture checkout the implant supported dentures below.
Full Dentures
Full Dentures. A common type of denture in the world of dentistry. How do you know how to distinguish between all the different types? Well, a full denture is a full set of artificial teeth that replaces either the lower or the upper teeth and acts as a substitute to the natural teeth in the mouth. Often times they are adhered to the lower or the upper gum line and fit tailored so that they are custom to your mouth and fit appropriately. You may hear these type of dentures referred to as full upper dentures or full lower dentures. This type of denture is most commonly used when there is a lot of dental decay and damage to the teeth or when there is no teeth or missing teeth in the mouth.
Immediate Dentures & Overdentures
These type of dentures differ from the common full and partial dentures. These type of dentures are different than normal dentures in that they require the denture to be placed immediately after extracting any and all teeth. In addition, these type of dentures are created immediately after tooth extraction and thus are a great option for dentures as they are the closest dental apparatus to real natural teeth. Immediate dentures are fantastic for ensuring that the denture sits in the correct position, that the teeth are sitting properly and that the denture is aligned with the natural gum line and the natural contour of the gum line. Additionally, these type of dentures are easier to adjust after post-op gum swelling goes down to make sure that they fit properly.
In addition to Immediate Dentures, overdentures are another common and sough after type of denture. Overdentures are an alternative to traditional partial dentures. Some patients complain of partial dentures and that they irritate the teeth in the mouth. If this is the case, partial dentures can be a great alternative and help to make the denture process more comfortable. Overdentures are fitted over the natural teeth and thus provide a solid structure for the jaw and also rely on the teeth for support. With that said, as another option, these type of dentures can be supported by dental implants and do not have to rely on the natural teeth to support the denture. More of this to come in the next paragraph below.
Implant supported Dentures
Last but not least, implant supported dentures, a terrific choice when it comes to dentures. These type of dentures are supported by dental implants and thus fit extremely well. In addition, they are also the most fitted style of dentures as the implants make it so that you have real teeth. The dental implants help to anchor the denture in the mouth thus providing support for the cheek bones, the jaw, the teeth and the actual bone inside of the mouth thus preventing further bone loss as a result. These type of dentures can be utilized to replace as many teeth as necessary whether it be 3 teeth or all the teeth in your mouth. Going along with that, the actual denture is composed of a hard resin material while the implant is most commonly made out of a titanium material also referred to as titanium implants.
Implant supported dentures lock into the mouth and “snap in” due to the implants that are positioned in the mouth, but they should be treated like regular dentures in the sense of the maintenance and care. For more information regarding the cleaning and care of your dentures be sure to read below where we discuss how to maintain and clean your dentures as well as ways to keep your dentures in good shape.
Denture Maintenance & Cleaning:
So how do you properly take care, maintain and clean your denture? Well, regardless of what type of denture that you have, you are surely to have bacteria and other plaque that gets built up in the dentures. To properly clean your dentures you should take out the denture, run them under warm water and use a denture brush or a toothbrush to get rid of plaque, tartar and other bacteria that may have built up on the dentures. In addition to doing this, if the dentures are really dirty, you can let them soak in hydrogen peroxide to help eliminate bacteria and kill anything that may cause gum disease. After cleaning, make sure to rinse well to get all the cleaner and or solutions off and then go ahead and place them back in your mouth or let them dry.
When your dentures are out of your mouth, wash your gums with a soft toothbrush or your finger. You can use toothpaste and also mouth rinse to clean the surface area and get rid of the dental decay, bacteria and built up food that may have gotten lodged and stuck. It is important to do this smoothly and lightly to avoid abrasive rubbing that may damage the gums and cause bleeding – this is a sensitive area so remember to keep that in mind!
Keeping your Dentures in good shape:
It is good practice to remove your denture before you go to bed. Most people keep them in but this not only can affect your oral cavity and the air passage of your mouth but it also makes the dentures wear out faster. With that said, to properly maintain the dentures and keep them in good shape make sure to wash them in a Luke warm/hot solution and then rub them with a toothbrush or some type of instrument that helps to eradicate dirt, grime and plaque from the denture. This is important not only to maintain good oral hygiene but also to ensure that the denture stays fitted in the mouth and that it lasts for a long time to come.
Finding a Dental Surgeon Near you in Los Angeles:
So how do you find a dental surgeon or prosthodontist in los angeles that can help with your dentures and make sure that the care that you get is the absolute best? Well, the first step you can do is to search google for “Dentures near me” or “Dentures Los Angeles” and then go through and look at the reviews of the respective doctors that show up. If you’re looking for a fantastic dental surgeon in los angeles be sure to checkout Dr. Arash Hakhamian DDS – Cosmetic & Emergency Dentist & Dental Implants Specialist who was named one of the best dentists in america this past year by incisal magazine. Dr. Arash is an incredible dental surgeon in los angeles and will make sure to take the upmost care of your mouth and your overall oral hygiene. For a free no risk no obligation consultation be sure to give us a call today and schedule an appointment with Dr. Arash Hakhamian who was named the best dentist in los angeles by la magazine in the 2018 July edition.
Call today (310) 666 – 5701
2002 S Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90007