Full & Partial Dentures in Gulfport, MS
Is there something missing in your smile? You’re not alone — about 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. Living with missing teeth can affect the way you speak and eat and lower your overall quality of life. But solutions are available!
To help you regain the full use of your bite, John Hopkins, DDS, at Centre for Smile Designs recommends dentures. Learn more about the many options you have.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable or fixed oral appliances that replace missing teeth. There are many types of dentures, including:
- Full dentures
- Partial dentures
- Overdentures
Full dentures can replace an entire arch of teeth. These dentures sit on top of your gums, relying on the roof of your mouth (palate) or your jawbone ridge for support. To keep full dentures in place, you may need to use denture adhesive.
Partial dentures can help people who still have some natural teeth. These dentures are removable but provide more stability because they attach to your teeth. They still rely on your gums or jawbone bridge for support.
Overdentures — the latest option for people who need dentures — are the most stable solution. They use mini dental implants to stay firmly in place. These implants are small titanium posts that are fixed into your jawbone and gums. Overdentures attach to the implants but can be removed at night.
When you get a new denture, it fits firmly in your mouth. As time passes, however, you may notice that the device gets looser. This can occur because your gums have changed. A denture reline can allow Dr. Hopkins to refit the device to your gums.
Another option available at Centre for Smile Designs is a soft reline. If you have sores or tender gums, you may not be able to wear regular dentures. Dr. Hopkins can reline the denture with a pliable material that does not put pressure on the gums.
You can also get a temporary reline. If you have inflammation in your gums, getting an accurate impression to create soft or hard relines can be difficult. A temporary reline is medicated, allowing your gums to heal while still improving the fit of your current dentures.
How Mini Dental Implants Help
Mini dental implants are titanium posts that are affixed to your jawbone. A false tooth sits on the implant, and overdentures snap onto the false tooth. Mini dental implants make your dentures more stable — the dentures do not slip or move at all when you smile, eat, or speak.
When you choose dentures retained by mini dental implants, you have access to the full force of your bite again. With traditional dentures, you can’t chew as you naturally would, but with overdentures, you will have the strength of your jaw behind each bite. This allows you to eat a variety of foods that traditional dentures could not handle.
Mini dental implants can also help prevent some jawbone loss. Your jawbone relies on the stimulation of the roots of your teeth to create new bone cells. When your teeth are gone, that stimulation is no longer there, and bone loss occurs as a result. Mini dental implants function as tooth roots that help keep your jawbone strong.
Finally, dentures that use mini dental implants can save you the hassle of using adhesives. And because these newer denture options do not rely on your gums to stay in place, you have less risk of developing sores on your gums.
Getting Dentures
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, turn to Dr. Hopkins for a consultation.
During this consultation, he will ask you about your medical history, your oral health, and whether you have used other types of dentures in the past.
Dr. Hopkins will take CBCT X-rays to see if you have jawbone loss so he can make the right recommendation. If you have a bit of bone density, he will usually recommend dentures that mini dental implants retain, like overdentures.
At this consultation, Dr. Hopkins can also talk to you about the costs of the dentures and offer some payment options to help you get the care you need.
He will then take impressions of your upper and lower jaws, including any remaining teeth. He will send these impressions to a dental lab that can make a replica of your mouth to help with the creation of your personalized dentures.
If you are getting overdentures, Dr. Hopkins will choose the best locations for the implants and fit them into place by making small holes in your gums and jawbone. Because mini dental implants are so small, there is no need to wait for the bone to grow around them.
Once your dentures arrive from the lab, you will have a fitting appointment, where Dr. Hopkins will make any necessary adjustments. He will then show you how to clip the dentures onto the mini dental implants.
Caring for Your Dentures
You need to brush your dentures at least once a day. A good habit is to brush them after every meal to remove bacteria. After removing the dentures, rinse your mouth as well.
Handle your dentures with care — metal parts can bend if you apply too much force.
Don’t wear your dentures to sleep. Place them in the cleaning fluid that Dr. Hopkins will recommend. Before using them again, rinse them with water.
You also need to schedule regular checkups to ensure the dentures are always at their best. If you feel any changes in the way they fit, reach out to Dr. Hopkins immediately.
Get Quality Dentures in Gulfport, MS
Getting dentures can help improve your life, making it easier to once again enjoy your favorite foods and talk without worrying about people not understanding you. With all of the dentures available, you may be unsure about which option works best for your needs — that is what Dr. John Hopkins can help you with at Centre for Smile Designs.
Using the latest diagnostic and imaging tools, Dr. Hopkins can provide the comprehensive care you and your family need. Don’t spend another day worrying about your missing teeth. Instead, turn to an expert for help. Call Centre for Smile Designs today.
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