Dentures

What are dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic appliances that dentists all over the world use to replace missing teeth. They’re manufactured to both ensure superior comfort and usage flexibility, and are designed to be as close to your natural teeth as possible.

Not only do dentures get rid of unwanted gaps, but they also protect your gums from disease, decay, and other dangerous injuries.

With high-quality dentures, you should expect the muscles in your jaw and your bite to become strong again after teeth have gone missing.

Are there different kinds of dentures?

There are four primary kinds of dentures. At Muncie Dental Care & Denture Center, Dr. Welch offers:

Traditional full dentures

Traditional full dentures are the most common type of dentures out there. If you choose this type of denture, Dr. Welch removes any unwanted or damaged teeth and cleans out the affected area thoroughly. After allowing some time for your mouth to heal, he places the full denture.

Immediate full dentures

Immediate full dentures are effective if you want to avoid seeing yourself without any teeth while your mouth heals. Dr. Welch performs the same procedure as he does for traditional full dentures. However, he makes a mold of your teeth and immediately places a temporary denture on the affected area.

While this guarantees that you get immediate results, it might cause problems down the line because your mouth might not have enough time to heal. When the traditional dentures are ready, Dr. Welch replaces the temporary ones.

Partial dentures

Dr. Welch uses partial dentures if you want to keep one or more natural teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures use these natural teeth as support. They’re removable and can be cleaned easily.

Implant retained dentures

Implant retained dentures use dental implants to support a fixed denture. These implants are surgically placed directly into your jawbone and use crowns to hold the denture in place.

How are mini implants used in denture treatment?

Mini implants function similarly to traditional implants, except they are much smaller. They either use titanium posts with a ball on the end and a sock with a rubber O-ring or a rounded post with a gasket.

Mini implants are a good option if you lack enough bone to support traditional dental implants, but you still want the secure hold that implants provide.  

Dr. Welch places mini implants at the base of your denture to fix any instability or to secure the denture in the lower dental arch. The mini implant snaps at the base of the denture and holds it firmly in place.

What do dentures feel like?

The primary purpose of dentures is to resemble and feel like your natural teeth.

Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that they're prosthetic, so you’ll most likely need to get used to them before they feel entirely comfortable.

Dr. Welch recommends that you wear them as often as possible so that you can get used to them expediently.

Get in touch with Muncie Dental Care & Denture Center today by phone or online to book an appointment.