Dentures – Tustin, CA

Effects of Missing Teeth

Teeth are incredibly strong. After all – tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the entire body! However, they aren’t completely indestructible. Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common include tooth decay, gum disease, and trauma to the mouth. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are numerous negative effects of tooth loss. They include facial sagging, difficulty speaking, difficulty eating, and lower self-confidence. When you replace your missing teeth with dentures, you can improve all of these things, therefore improving your quality of life.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are a great solution for those who have experienced significant tooth loss. People who get dentures must also be committed to their oral hygiene routine and willing to properly care for their new replacement teeth. The number of teeth that you are missing and where they are located in the mouth will determine which type of denture best meets your needs. One of the many benefits of dentures is that they are more affordable than other options, like dental implants. This makes them great for people who aren’t in the position to invest a lot of money into their smile at this time.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you aren’t a good candidate for dentures, or they don’t sound like your cup of tea, you may want to consider alternative tooth replacement options to complete your smile. Here are some of the ones that we offer:

• Dental Bridges: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth using dental crowns on the two adjacent teeth. This works well for patients who are only missing one or a few teeth consecutively. To get a dental bridge, you need to have healthy teeth surrounding the gap to support the replacement tooth.
• Dental Implants: A dental implant is a screw-like titanium post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth. This requires that the patient has a strong and sufficient jawbone structure. Dental implants are more costly than dentures and dental bridges, but they are made to last for many decades or even a lifetime!

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What are Dentures Made Of?

No matter its type, every denture has a base and artificial teeth. These two parts are the core components of the restoration. So, consider their features as described:

• Denture Base –  As the main structure, a denture's base will support its many artificial teeth. The latter is thus made from acrylic, nylon, resin, or metal. Full dentures often use acrylic, as this plastic can match your gums. Partials, though, use metal clips with an acrylic base.
• Artificial Teeth – Of course, the artificial teeth are a denture’s pearly whites. These bits are crafted from lifelike resin or porcelain. That said, porcelain is more popular due to its toothlike looks. It’s typically only suggested for full dentures.

The Denture Creation Process

A given denture is custom-made for a patient's distinct mouth. Therefore, making one involves a multi-step process. The relevant steps are:

• Step 1: Dr. Zhang will take a dental impression. From there, he’ll make a plaster model that matches the final denture’s size and shape.
• Step 2: Our office will send the plaster model to a lab. Once it arrives, lab workers will use it to create a wax gumline.
• Step 3: The lab will set artificial teeth in the wax base. Doing so will lead to a prototype denture, which will be used to make the final one.
• Step 4: The wax denture will go to the dentist for a fitting. After testing, it’ll return to the dental lab to finish the final restorations.
• Step 5: A worker will boil the denture to remove its wax. Next, they’ll place the prosthetic in a flask. This flask will receive plaster and sit in hot water.
• Step 6: A separator will go into the plaster layer, preventing the acrylic from sticking. This acrylic will be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: The plaster will be removed to reveal the denture. Afterward, the restoration will be placed in a bath to remove lingering residue.
• Step 8: Excess acrylic will be cut from the denture. Said denture will then be polished.
• Step 9: The patient will have the denture fitted. At that time, the dentist will adjust your denture to work smoothly.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

True enough, your mouth may ache when you start using dentures. It could even feel sore and struggle to eat or speak. Even so, rest assured that such effects are normal. They’ll quickly fade as you adjust to the dentures. After this adjustment, your new teeth should feel like your other ones.

If you’d like, you could speed up the adjustment process. One approach would be to exercise your facial muscles. In contrast, eating soft foods for a week is another helpful method. You could even apply denture adhesives to keep the restorations in place. By using these tips, you’d further ensure your dentures feel familiar.

Should your discomfort last a while, call us at once. Your denture may need further adjustment.