Dentures

What are dentures?

Dentures are removable sets of prosthetic teeth used to fill gaps in your smile. They’re lined with a fleshy, acrylic gum-like base, and are horseshoe-shaped to fit snugly inside your mouth and accommodate your tongue. Sometimes, they’re referred to as overdentures, because they fit over natural teeth or dental implants.

The team at Prospect Heights Dental Care provides full dentures, which are sets of prosthetic teeth that replace an entire set of missing top or bottom teeth.

How are dentures made?

When it comes to getting a new set of dentures, there are two types offered: non-surgical and surgical.

For non-surgical dentures, the team at Prospect Heights Dental Care custom-produces your new set using detailed impressions of your teeth and gums. Using these impressions, taken during your initial visit, an outside dental lab custom produces your dentures.

It typically takes about two weeks for the lab to finish making your dentures. Once they’re ready, you return to the office for a fitting to make sure your new dentures are comfortable. If you have implants, you can have your dentures attached to them, which helps limit any movement of your restoration.

For surgical dentures or immediate dentures, you have your dentures placed during one in-office visit. First, a Prospect Heights Dental Care team member removes any remaining natural teeth in your arch. They place your immediate dentures, either via implants or metal clasps, and shape the healing, supportive tissue in the arch. In this method, you leave the office with a new set of healthy-looking teeth, even though remaining teeth have just been removed.

What are the benefits of dentures?

Your dentures will match the look, feel, and function of natural teeth, instantly improving your overall quality of life. When you’re missing teeth, your jawbone can erode and negatively affect your profile. This is referred to as “facial drooping.” Dentures help reverse the effects of this process and improve your profile.

Dentures also improve essential functions affected by missing teeth, including chewing and digestion. Since teeth are a crucial part of speaking, you’ll also notice that your speech will improve due to less slurring.

How long do dentures last?

As long as you take excellent care of your dentures, they should last between five and eight years, if not longer. Follow the dental team’s instructions on how to care for them and keep them clean.

If you’d like to learn more about dentures and find out if you’re a good candidate, call Prospect Heights Dental Care, or schedule a consultation online.

Plan your visit in Prospect Heights

If you want more stability than a traditional denture provides, ask about implant-supported options at your consultation.

Care is provided by Dr. Devin Platt at our Flatbush Avenue office. You can see directions, hours, and patient reviews on our Google Business Profile, or call the office to request an appointment.