Howard County Smiles offers treatment options for replacing missing teeth, including full dentures, partial dentures, and denture implants. We offer cosmetic dentures in our Columbia, MD dentist office near you because they’re highly aesthetic and feel natural. Full or partial dentures are restorative dentistry procedures we offer in Howard County, Maryland.
We custom-design dentures to fit comfortably and look natural. Then we work with labs to create dentures from high-quality materials.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Many people don’t realize how important teeth are for the way your face looks. When you lose teeth, it can make your lips and cheeks sag or droop because there’s no support underneath. This can make you look older, even when you’re not smiling.
Replacing missing teeth can help your face look fuller and more youthful. But it’s not just about looks. missing teeth can also lead to bone loss. Your jawbone stays strong because of the pressure and movement from chewing.
When teeth are missing, the bone doesn’t get that stimulation and can start to break down over time. That’s why replacing missing teeth keeps your jawbone healthy.
The Benefits of Partials: Patient Testimonial
“I feel wonderful, I can chew, I can eat, no sensitivity to the heat or cold, it’s perfect.”
Types of Dentures
Columbia, MD dentist Dr. Ray Becker offers several varieties of dentures available to address specific issues, from partial dentures to dental implant-supported dentures. The best option for you will depend on your individual situation.
The main two types of dentures are full and partial dentures. Full dentures replace all of a person’s upper or lower teeth. A partial denture replaces several missing teeth, similar to a dental bridge. These dentures can either be removable or fixed. Fixed dentures anchored by dental implants are often called implant dentures.
What are Implant-Supported Dentures?
Implant-supported dentures, also known as all-on-four or fixed dentures, have an extremely high success rate and level of patient satisfaction. While there’s a greater investment for implant dentures, they do provide superior long-term benefits over removable dentures:
- Secure fit, no worries about dentures falling out when you eat or speak
- Improved bone retention, implants help to prevent bone loss
- Ability to eat foods without restrictions
- No adhesives necessary
Dental implants serve the same purpose as the roots of natural teeth: anchoring the replacement teeth to your jawbone. Just like natural tooth roots, they lie under the gum line and aren’t visible in the mouth. Only the lifelike prosthetic teeth attached to them (the fixed denture) can be seen by you or anyone else. Dental implants are extremely stable and reliable because they’re made of titanium, a metal that can fuse to living bone.
Getting a Traditional Denture
The process starts with a full dental exam. Dr. Becker will check your gums and any remaining teeth to make sure a traditional denture is the right choice for you. Then, we’ll take impressions of your mouth to create a denture that fits comfortably and looks natural. We send these impressions to a local lab and will provide temporary dentures.
Once your final dentures are ready, Dr. Becker will make sure they fit properly and feel secure. It may take a little time to get used to wearing them, but we’ll give you tips on how to adjust and care for your new teeth.
About the Denture Implant Procedure
The procedure for denture implants is the same as the procedure for having a single dental implant. But rather than having one dental implant placed, we’ll strategically place several dental implants.
Before treatment, we take X-rays to see if you have enough healthy jaw bone. If you have bone loss, we’ll recommend bone grafting to build up the jaw so the implants can anchor the denture or partial denture.
After placing the implants, we’ll fit you with a temporary denture while your permanent denture is being made in the dental lab. Over the next few months, your implants will slowly bond with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. Once they’re fully healed and secure, we’ll attach your permanent denture.
Dentures and Partials FAQs
Read answers to popular questions about dentures in Columbia, MD.
Are store-bought dentures the same as traditional dentures?
No. Store-bought dentures or do-it-yourself dentures aren’t comparable to professionally made dentures. Dentures from a dentist are custom-made for your mouth and use high-quality materials.
What happens when you first get dentures?
It takes time to get used to your new bite after you receive dentures. We recommend that you avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods, and stick to a soft diet. Eating softer foods and chewing on both sides of your dentures will help keep your restorations in place.
Stay hydrated and soak your dentures if you receive removable dentures. If you have implant-supported dentures, gently brush and floss your restorations to keep them clean.
Can an old denture cause pain and dental issues?
Yes. Your mouth changes over time, but old dentures do not change with your mouth. Your gums slowly recede, your jawbone deteriorates, and more things happen to your mouth as you age. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your dentures every 5 to 7 years.
Do you need to lose all of your teeth to get dentures?
We may sometimes need to remove a patient’s teeth due to severe decay or damage and replace them with full dentures. However, dentures can also benefit you if you have rows of teeth missing but have some natural teeth remaining. You can benefit from partial dentures if you’re missing multiple teeth.
Should I repair or replace my old dentures?
We recommend replacing your old dentures. This is the best course of action because it will save you time and money from having to repair dentures that are already old and don’t fit right.
What can I do if my immediate dentures no longer fit?
If you’ve recently lost your teeth and received an immediate denture, it’s normal to find some tissue shrinkage and bone loss occurring. In several months you may find that your immediate dentures no longer fit well.
You will have two choices at this point. First, you can have your immediate (temporary) dentures re-lined. This means that material is added under the denture’s base to better conform to the new contours of your alveolar ridge.
A better option is to move to a set of conventional full dentures. Conventional full dentures last longer and fit better. With proper care, dentures offer a functional, aesthetic and economical solution to the problem of tooth loss.
Can I get dentures for my upper and lower teeth?
Yes, you can get dentures for both your upper and lower teeth. If you’ve lost teeth on both the top and bottom, our dentist can create full dentures to replace them. Full dentures are made to fit comfortably in your mouth and will help you chew, speak, and smile naturally again.
We can also secure your dentures with multiple implants. Our office does not need to replace every single missing teeth with an implant.
Will dentures change the shape of my face?
Yes. When you lose teeth, the muscles and skin around your mouth can start to sag, making your face look different. Dentures support your cheeks and lips. They help keep the shape of your face more natural.
Dentures can also prevent the sunken-in look that can happen when you lose teeth. So, wearing dentures can make your face look fuller and more youthful.
Are dentures covered by insurance plans?
Most dental insurance plans include some restorative coverage, but it may be limited to a certain percentage of the cost. Your insurance provider determines whether the cost of dentures is covered. Contact your provider directly for specific coverage options.
Schedule a Dental Exam and Consultation
If you’re missing teeth and want dentures in Columbia, MD, schedule an appointment with Dr. Becker. He’ll discuss your cosmetic goals and budget concerns to determine which kind of dentures are right for you.