If you are missing several teeth or all of your natural teeth, dentures in Oconomowoc can provide an effective way to restore your smile, chewing ability, and confidence. At Summit Dental Excellence, Dr. Lehman, Dr. Malak, and our dental team offer customized denture solutions based on your individual oral health, lifestyle, and tooth replacement goals.
Tooth loss can happen for many reasons, including advanced tooth decay, gum disease, injury, or other dental conditions. Whether you need to replace several missing teeth or an entire arch, dentures may be an appropriate treatment option. In some cases, partial dentures can provide a less invasive way to replace multiple missing teeth while preserving your remaining natural teeth.
During your consultation, our team will evaluate your teeth, gums, bite, and overall oral health and discuss which tooth replacement option is best suited to your needs.
Dentures in Today’s Modern Dentistry
Today’s dentures are designed to look more natural and provide greater comfort than many traditional denture designs. Modern materials and improved techniques allow dentures to be customized to complement your facial features and create a natural-looking smile.
Depending on how many teeth you are missing and the condition of your remaining teeth, you may be a candidate for complete dentures, partial dentures, or implant-supported dentures.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are designed to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. Depending on your needs, you may receive an upper denture, lower denture, or both.
An upper denture generally rests against the gums and includes a portion that extends across the palate to provide support and stability. A lower denture is typically shaped like a horseshoe to accommodate the tongue while resting along the gum ridge.
If you still have teeth that cannot be predictably restored, your dentist may recommend extraction before a complete denture is fabricated. In appropriate cases, dental implants can also be incorporated into a treatment plan to provide additional support and stability for a denture.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are designed for patients who are missing several teeth but still have healthy natural teeth that can be retained. A partial denture uses replacement teeth attached to a supporting framework that rests on or around the remaining teeth.
Partial dentures can fill gaps created by missing teeth while helping restore chewing function and the appearance of your smile. Your dentist will evaluate the condition of your remaining teeth and gums to determine whether a partial denture is a suitable option.
Implant-Supported Dentures
For patients looking for additional stability, implant-supported dentures may provide an alternative to conventional removable dentures. Dental implants are placed into the jawbone and used to anchor the denture, helping prevent unwanted movement during everyday activities such as eating and speaking.
Implant-supported dentures can be used to replace an entire arch of missing teeth and may provide improved stability compared with traditional dentures. Not every patient is an immediate candidate for implants, so a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to determine whether this treatment is appropriate.
Find the Right Denture Solution for Your Smile
Every patient’s needs are different. At Summit Dental Excellence, we take the time to evaluate your oral health and discuss your options before recommending a treatment plan.
If you are considering complete dentures, partial dentures, or implant-supported dentures in Oconomowoc, WI, schedule a consultation with Summit Dental Excellence to learn more about your tooth replacement options.
Dentures Frequently Asked Questions
Adhesives can be helpful for many patients as it increases confidence and greatly impacts everyday activities such as eating and even speech. However, if a patient feels the need to use adhesives all the time to keep their dentures from falling out, they may be poorly constructed and would need to be replaced. It’s always good to consult with your dentist or prosthodontist if you are having issues keeping dentures in place.
Eating with new dentures for the first couple of weeks may feel a bit foreign and take some practice. However, after the first initial “break in” period, most patients find that chewing and eating with dentures is a lot easier than with missing teeth. Be cautious with hot foods or foods that are stickier or extremely hard.
All dentures are custom made to your mouth, gums and jaw bone structures so that the contours allow them to stay firmly in place. The muscles in your mouth also adjust to life with dentures, placing further pressure in the appropriate spots for control. Lower dentures can sometimes shift a bit more due to the tongue, so there are alternatives to help them stay in place. Overlaying dentures onto existing teeth can sometimes be an option, as well as implants to keep them in place. Common over the counter adhesives can also be found in most drug stores.
This course of action may be the best bet when all of your remaining teeth will need to be pulled. Impressions of your mouth will be taken upon the first visit for fabrication, so that after the remaining teeth are pulled your dentures will be ready to be worn immediately. There can be some aesthetic compromises that will have to be made in some cases, due to being unable to check the fit prior to tooth extraction. This type of denture is typically temporary.
