Dentures are a great restorative dental treatment to replace all your teeth. However, many patients may think dentures look fake or feel bulky. Dentures don’t need to look like false teeth. With the right dentist, your dentures should look and feel natural. Dr. Trace Bridges will work with you to create natural-looking dentures and partials in his Tulsa, OK, office.
Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry uses high-quality materials and expert techniques for dental restorations. Our dentures use metal, acrylic, and porcelain materials that last. These materials also blend in with the appearance of natural teeth. Dr. Bridges’s experience as a surgeon and cosmetic dentist will ensure your tooth replacement matches your goals. He will work with you to find the right dentures for you.
How to Get Natural-Looking Dentures
The key to gorgeous dentures is your dentist’s approach and the materials he or she uses. For example, many dentists use acrylic teeth because they are easy to work with and inexpensive.
Unfortunately, acrylic dentures have some drawbacks. They are prone to stains and lack the qualities necessary for the beauty of natural-looking teeth.
Natural teeth are translucent and offer subtlety in color variations. Acrylic dentures also wear down quickly.
With denture bases, there are also a variety of materials to choose from. You can get beautiful, natural-looking teeth because of the many high-tech materials available to cosmetic dentists.
The philosophy and artistic sensitivity of the dentist also affect the outcome. Dental schools tend to teach that dentures should be a little unattractive to be truly natural.
Dr. Bridges doesn’t hold to that philosophy. If you want beautiful, white teeth, Dr. Bridges can make your dentures look natural. Dr. Bridges ensures dentures match the color of natural teeth. That way, you can have a smile you’ll be proud to show off.
Types of Dentures in Tulsa, OK
Whether you have rows or arches of missing teeth, we can help restore your smile. There are several common types of dentures to choose from:
- Conventional: This complete set of dentures benefits patients who are missing all their permanent teeth. After your gums completely heal from a tooth extraction, you can recieve a conventional denture.
- Immediate: We can provide an immediate denture after removing remaining natural teeth. Our office will need to remove problem teeth like infected or decayed teeth before treatment. Immediate dentures are temporary. You will wear these dentures as you wait for your permanent denture.
- Overdenture: This type of denture uses support from dental implants. This denture can use multiple implants for support.
Traditional and Implant Dentures and Partials in Tulsa, OK
Dentures are complete or partial. Full dentures restore full tooth arches, while partial dentures replace consecutive rows of missing teeth. Here, we will compare removable, traditional dentures and implant-supported dentures.
Traditional Dentures
A beautiful set of dentures is certainly better than not having any teeth. However, traditional removable dentures have some limitations. First, your chewing efficiency will not be the same as with your natural teeth. Eating may take an adjustment period to feel normal.
Dentures rest on gum tissue. Because of this, they often move around and could slip. Slipping dentures are often embarrassing when eating around other people.
If you’ve lost all your teeth, your body will begin to reabsorb the minerals in your jawbone. After about 20 years, you will have lost most of the bone structure in your jaw.
Implant Dentures
Patients with missing teeth who wear traditional dentures can experience facial collapse. However, dental implants can protect you from this problem.
Multiple dental implants can support dentures with help from the jawbone. Dental implants fuse with the jawbone after three to six months of placement. The titanium implant posts support healthy jawbone and gum tissue. The posts make it much easier for patients to bite and chew.
Dental implants also prevent facial collapse because they use bone for support. Problems like facial sagging make your face appear sunken in and older. We can also provide grafting to ensure you have enough healthy bone before implant treatment.
While implants cost more than removable dentures, they last longer. Implants do not need frequent relining or rebasing.
What is “Teeth in a Day”?
“Teeth in a day” refers to removing teeth, placing implants, and then placing a temporary denture. This process ensures you won’t be without teeth while waiting for your final denture.
“Teeth in a day” is valuable for denture wearers because many patients have missing teeth that show when they smile. We often remove infected or impacted teeth before replacing missing teeth. Then, we can provide temporary dentures so you will not be without teeth. An immediate denture will also help you get used to wearing dentures.
How to Care for Dentures
If you get removable dentures, you can wear them during the day. Then, you must remove your false teeth during sleep. You can place your dentures in a cup of water with a dissolvable cleaner to keep them moist. Dry dentures can crack and break. This cleaner will also remove harmful bacteria from your denture.
If you do not have any remaining teeth, brush your gums after you remove your dentures. Keeping your gums clean will prevent gum disease.
Implant-supported dentures are easy to maintain. You can brush and floss your dentures like natural teeth. Our office can teach you how to floss between your false teeth and natural teeth. We will often recommend water flossers for patients with dentures.
Then, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your denture, any remaining teeth, and gums. Maintaining dentures will improve your oral health and prevent further tooth loss.
Dentures and Partials FAQs
Read answers to common questions about dentures in our Tulsa, OK dental office:
Are dentures affordable?
At Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, we will work with you to fit dentures within your budget. Removable dentures are less costly compared to implant-supported dentures.
Implants require more office visits and different materials. However, removable options do not last as long. Pretreatments like tooth extraction, gum disease therapy, or root canal treatment can also add to treatment cost.
Dental insurance can cover most restorative treatments. Our dental office accepts dental insurance and CareCredit to help make dentures affordable.
How do bridges compare to partial dentures?
Bridges replace one or more consecutive missing teeth. Partials can replace multiple teeth in different parts of the mouth. You can get a bridge or partial denture with the support of implants.
Can I get implants if I have a removable denture?
Yes, you can get implants even if you currently wear removable dentures. Dental implants can be a great way to improve the fit and comfort of your dentures. Implants can help secure your dentures in place. They’re more stable and less likely to shift around while you talk or eat.
Which dentures look natural?
The most natural-looking dentures are custom-made to match your smile. Modern dentures use high-quality materials that mimic the look of natural teeth and gums. Our office will match the size, shape, and color of your teeth and gums to create a realistic look.
We recommend dentures secured with dental implants. Because they fit snugly against your gums, they look and feel more like natural teeth. High-quality acrylics and ceramics can make the teeth and gums look more lifelike. These materials also reflect light like natural teeth.
Can dentures change the way I speak?
At first, you might notice that certain words sound different with new dentures. This happens because your mouth is adjusting to the new shape of the dentures.
The good news is that your speech will improve with practice. Implant-supported dentures can help you speak more clearly than a removable option.
Can you sleep with implant dentures in your mouth?
Yes, you can sleep with implant dentures in your mouth. Unlike traditional removable dentures, implant dentures are securely fixed to dental implants in your jaw. This means they stay in place, even while you sleep.
Can I get a tooth extraction and then get dentures?
Yes, you can get a tooth extraction and then get dentures in our Tulsa, OK office. We may recommend immediate dentures right after your teeth are removed. These temporary dentures help you avoid being without teeth while your gums heal. We can begin denture treatment once your gums are fully healed.
How long does denture treatment take?
The length of your denture treatment will depend on the type of denture. Implant dentures can take more time than removable dentures because you need time to heal after surgery. Pretreatments like tooth extractions or gum disease treatment can also add to your treatment time. While implant treatment can take months, it offers longer-lasting results compared to removable dentures.
Restore Your Missing Teeth
Do you have rows or full arches of missing teeth? Are you looking for a long-lasting tooth replacement? Call us for dentures in Tulsa, OK today at 918-347-1114. You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Bridges on our website.
We serve Woodbine, Cedar Ridge Park, and Shadow Ridge. Please let us know if you have questions about denture treatment in our Tulsa dental office. We’re here to help.