Dentures – San Antonio, TX
Regain a Functional, Beautiful Smile
Your teeth can serve you for a lifetime if you care for them properly over the years. Unfortunately, even with the best preventive efforts in place, you may have an incomplete smile. Although you may feel isolated, it is a common problem. Whether due to decay, disease, infection, or an injury, 120 million Americans have lost at least one tooth and another 35 million do not have any remaining. There is hope to restore your smile with removable partials or dentures in San Antonio. With today’s advanced dental technology, they are more lifelike and comfortable than ever before.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are the most traditional solution to replace missing teeth because they are convenient and affordable. They are custom-made to meet your exact specifications to reinstate a healthy, functional smile. Dentures can be removed and put back into your mouth with ease while allowing you to smile with confidence, speak clearly, and eat many of your favorite foods again.
Although they will never feel like your real teeth, new advancements now allow them to be more comfortable than ever while also creating a natural-looking appearance.
How Do Dentures Work?
After an initial consultation to assess your oral health and to discuss your preferences, Dr. Christopher J. Holland creates a customized treatment plan. He uses the latest technology to craft a gum-colored acrylic base that fits over your gums. To replace the upper arch, the denture features a palate that covers the roof of your mouth. The lower denture has more of a horseshoe shape to accommodate your tongue.
Your dentures are made to meet your exact needs in a dental laboratory using impressions of your mouth. Dr. Holland uses digital imaging and computer-aided design/manufacture (CAD/CAM) technologies to take innovative and comfortable impressions to ensure more precise results.
The 3D imaging and CAD digital impressions allow Dr. Holland to design the dentures right in our office. This saves you time and money without compromising the fit or aesthetics of your new smile. The dental lab then makes them to your specifications from high-quality materials that allow them to fit better and last longer.
Which Denture is Right for Me?
Depending on how many teeth you are missing, Dr. Holland determines which type of denture best meets your needs.
Partial Denture
If you have a few healthy teeth remaining, a partial denture may be right for you. Prosthetic teeth are created to match the color, size, and shape of your natural ones to blend in when you smile. They are held in a gum-colored base, which features a metal framework. This allows the partial to anchor to your remaining teeth using a clasp or a clip. Many patients prefer a partial as an alternative to a traditional bridge because it is removable.
Conventional Full Denture
In some cases, you will need to have tooth extractions, or some tissue removed before you can receive your new dentures. If you do not have any remaining teeth, you may need a conventional denture to replace an entire arch. The gum-colored base is made to fit your mouth, which is held in place using suction or an adhesive. You cannot receive the denture until after you have healed from any prior treatments, which may take several months.
Immediate Dentures
In most cases, Dr. Holland can offer immediate dentures. These removable dental restorations are crafted in advance and placed on the same day your preparation is completed, so you do not need to go without any teeth. This process can require up to 5 appointments to allow our team to plan and design the dentures before the final dental preparations. After the custom denture is complete, we remove any teeth necessary and otherwise prepare smiles before placing the denture.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Our practice also offers implant-supported dentures and partials for qualified patients. These rely on dental implant posts to secure your denture to your jawbone. If you would like to know whether this alternative option is right for you, our team would be happy to assess your smile and make a recommendation.
What If My Dentures are Loose?
After you receive your new smile, it will feel a bit awkward at first, but in no time at all you can speak and chew with ease. At first, your denture may feel a bit bulky or loose, but as your muscles in your cheeks and tongue learn to hold it in place, the issue should subside.
If you are still having problems with the denture slipping, you may need to try a different adhesive. If the irritation or soreness is too much, you may need to have them adjusted.
How Long Do Dentures Last?
Unfortunately, your dentures will not last forever, but there are several things you can do to promote their longevity. Over time, your denture will need to be relined, remade, or rebased because of daily wear and tear. Rebasing is a process that puts a new base on the denture while keeping your existing teeth. As you age, your mouth will also change, making your denture loose. We can help to resolve the issue before you need to have a new one made about every 5years.
How Do I Care for Dentures?
With the right care, you can help to ensure your new smile lasts for as long as possible. When caring for your denture it is best to:
- Handle your denture with care. Place a folded towel on the floor or counter top to provide a layer of protection in case you drop it.
- Do not let your dentures dry out. If they are not in your mouth, they need to be soaking in a special solution or water.
- Brush your dentures every day to remove food particles and plaque using a soft-bristled toothbrush. This helps keep your dentures odor-free and beautiful.
- Brush your gums, tongue, and palate twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque.
Restore Your Smile Today!
Do not let missing teeth in San Antonio hurt your self-esteem or your quality of life any longer. We can restore your smile and your oral health with dentures. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Holland.
