Are You A Candidate For Dentures?

Anyone will tell you that your teeth say a lot about your personal hygiene. In this day and age, your pearly whites, or lack of them plays a significant role in life. Potential love interests and even employers consider the state of your oral cavity. Aesthetics plays a major part, and your teeth say a good deal about you. Unless you are a baby under six months of age, nothing is a bigger turn off than a toothless smile.

Common Causes of Tooth Loss

Before we tackle dentures, let us talk about the factors that contribute to tooth loss. Accidents and trauma towards the oral cavity can contribute to this problem. Gum disease and periodontal problems are common factors. Age, coupled with trauma may also cause teeth to loosen, either due to gum recession or poor bone density. However, the most common culprit is inadequate oral hygiene.

The truth is that most of us don't practice proper oral hygiene. Once plaque and tartar start to build up around the tooth, this can cause gum recession and allow the bacteria to invade the subgingival sulcus, which in turn leads to common problems like cavities and gum disease. Another concern would be improper brushing habits. Too much pressure can cause gum laceration and tooth abrasion as well.

Types of Dentures

• Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace your upper and lower dentition or both. These are custom made to provide you with the perfect fit. Your dentist and the laboratory collaborate to create dentures that provide you with aesthetic perfection and a comfortable fit. The dentist begins by assessing the height of your alveolar ridge, the size of your tongue and your facial muscles. He or she will be able to create a denture that does not impinge your tooth ridge and matches your face shape as well. Please note that these dentures are not used right after extracting the damaged dentition. This is created once the bone and tissues have healed.

• Immediate Dentures

Nobody wants to go home toothless after tooth extraction. As the bone and tissue need time to heal, immediate dentures are crafted. This will provide the patient with a way to enjoy his or her favorite food and acts as an aesthetic aid as well, unless one is comfortable going to public places and entertaining guests without teeth. Please note that it will take at least three months after the extractions for your bone and tissue to heal completely.

• Over Dentures

The term provides enough of a clue. The over denture is a prosthetic that resembles the complete denture. However, not all the teeth have to be extracted. One or more natural teeth are used to keep this prosthetic in place. It provides better stabilization, especially when one is chewing tough food. Please note that the teeth must have little to no mobility and be in perfect periodontal health, as these teeth will absorb the forces caused by mastication.

• Partial Dentures

If you are missing two or more teeth, you may opt for dental implants. However, many prefer partial dentures. This type of prosthetic may be removable or fixed, depending on your preference and the recommendation of your dentist. If you are missing one to two teeth in an area, it would be best to have these made right away to prevent the teeth around the area to shift and cause malocclusion.

Are You A Candidate For Dentures In Anchorage?

If you have lost one or more teeth and would prefer dentures to dental implants or have a condition that makes you an unlikely candidate for the procedure, then dentures are definitely for you.

McKinley Dental has been offering dentures in Anchorage for over 20 years. The denture practice is currently ran by Dr. Erin Rose and works under Dr. Scott Laudon DMD.

People with tooth mobility that exceeds the normal movement patterns and left untreated are perfect candidates as well. Lastly, older individuals or genetically predisposed people of any age with severe gum recession who have few healthy teeth might want to consider dentures.

Dentures provide completely and partially edentulous people with the confidence they need to go about their lives. They allow people to enjoy tough food that they crave yet have to avoid because of tooth mobility. For more information regarding dentures, visit your dentist in Anchorage for a consultation.