I have always been one of those people who loves to get out into the world and talk with other people, but a few years ago, I realized that I had to do something about my smile. My teeth were yellow and unattractive, and it was really discouraging to see how much different my smile was. I knew that I needed to get my teeth fixed, so I started working with a professional dentist to make things right. Within a few short months, my smile was completely transformed, and I knew that I owed it all to my dental professional. Check out this blog for more information about working with a dentist.
Harper Hughes
If you have gum disease and are losing your teeth, there are different options you can choose from to replace your teeth. A cosmetic dentist will determine which option would work best for you. Below is some information about these options so you can understand them better.
Partial Dentures
If you are not losing all your teeth, the cosmetic dentist will choose partial dentures for you. The teeth are attached to an acrylic base, which is the same color of your gums. Partial dentures are attached to your natural teeth using metal clamps to hold the partial denture in place.
If the dentist is having problems fitting the dentures in your mouth correctly, they will likely put caps or crowns on your teeth to attach the dentures to. This works well because the caps will be special made to fit your teeth and will give the teeth a more uniform size.
You can remove the partial dentures to clean them. You may not have to wear the partial dentures 24 hours a day. For example, the cosmetic dentist may tell you to wear your partial dentures during the day and remove them at night.
Full Dentures
If you are losing all your teeth you will require full dentures. The base on these dentures covers the roof of your mouth and your gums. The bottom base will be made to fit around your tongue. Once the dentist removes your teeth, they will wait until you have had time to heal before they start measuring your mouth for your new dentures. This healing time will likely take several weeks. While you are waiting, the dentist can make measurements now and have a temporary set of dentures made for you.
The dentist may also choose immediate dentures for you. This type of denture is already made, and the dentist will position them in your mouth as soon as they finish pulling your teeth. Over time, however, your gums and bones will shrink during the healing stages. Because of this, you will have to go back to the dentist to have readjustments made to your dentures so they fit correctly.
Dentures Supported by Implants
Another type of denture is implant supported dentures. The doctor will make a mold of your gums and have implants made for you. When finished, the doctor surgically places the implants in your gums and attach them to your jaw bone. Implant supported dentures cannot be removed but they look and feel like your natural teeth. You take care of them just like you would your natural teeth also when it comes to brushing and flossing.
A cosmetic dentist from a clinic like Dr. Jerry F. Maymi & Associates can go over these three options with you in much more detail.