When you suffer from severe tooth loss, which could even mean losing all of your teeth, then you need a prosthetic to avoid complications when eating or speaking. In today’s blog, your Woodland Hills, CA, dentist will look at how we create a full set of lifelike dentures, and the difference between our removable and implant-secured options.
Crafting Your Dentures
To ensure not only a proper fit, but a lifelike appearance, we will custom-make the prosthetics we provide our patients. The process begins with an exam to assess the cause and extent of your tooth loss. If you have lost the vast majority of your teeth, then you may need the remaining extracted to make room of a complete denture. We then take detailed impressions and measurements of your smile as a whole, using the information to help us design and fabricate your new denture. A complete set will consist of a base made from acrylic material, which looks like gum tissue, and a full row of teeth crafted from durable and lifelike ceramic material.
Placement and the Implant Option
The removable options will be held in place with suction or the assistance of a special adhesive. They will be removed regularly for cleaning and soaking, and on average, tend to last between 5 and 10 years. You see, over time the lack of tooth roots means the body stops providing calcium and phosphorus to that portion of the jawbone. Without these nutrients, the bone tissue loses mass and density with time, causing the shape of the ridge to change to and meaning you will need new prosthetics every few years.
However! If instead of removable options we secure them by attaching them to several dental implants per arch, this stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue to ensure you don’t lose further mass and density. Your prosthetic could then last decades, possibly a lifetime, and you don’t risk losing your youthful features with time.
Benefits of Treating Tooth Loss
Remember, by treating tooth loss you won’t be forced to rely on soft foods, a complication linked to poorer overall health. You Also speak without difficulty, and can smile with confidence in social situations. Not to mention, using implants means preserving your current facial structure, and enabling your new smile to last for decades, possibly even a lifetime!
We’re Ready to Help You Enjoy a Full Smile Again
If you have lost the vast majority of your teeth, we can still help you enjoy optimal health, function and beauty! For more information on the benefits of missing tooth replacement, then please schedule a consultation by calling Woodland Hills Dental Arts in Woodland Hills, CA today at 818-347-5124. We also proudly welcome patients from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Encino, Sherman Oaks, and all surrounding communities.