When to Consider Dentures

Missing one or more teeth is an incredibly common problem in the United States. You may be surprised to learn that missing teeth is more than a cosmetic issue. Your oral health is in jeopardy when you have missing teeth. 

Dr. Benedict Kim and the team at A Caring Dental Group encourage all of our patients who are missing teeth to consider replacing them. You might wonder if you’re ready for dentures or not. This post explains how dentures work. We hope it helps you in your decision-making process. 

It’s a personal decision

To find out if dentures are the best way to replace your missing teeth, come in for a consultation. You have options, and understanding them is an important part of making a decision you’ll be satisfied with for years to come. 

Dentures are often a good choice for people who are missing more than one tooth. They’re designed to replace multiple teeth, and they are often the more affordable option. 

When you come in for a consultation, Dr. Kim checks to see if you have other oral health problems, like gum disease or cavities, that need to be addressed before you get your dentures. 

You have choices

All dentures are not the same, so even after you decide you want to get dentures, you need to decide what kind. The two primary options are complete and partial dentures. The number of natural teeth you have remaining is a big factor, because partial dentures are anchored by your natural teeth or dental implants. 

If all or most of your natural teeth are missing, full dentures are probably the better option. The first step is removing any remaining teeth, then you need about eight weeks for your gums to heal. After that you can begin using your custom-fitted dentures. 

Dr. Kim and our staff can help you understand your options when it comes to materials, and we work with you to make sure your dentures fit you properly and comfortably. 

The next steps

Once you’ve decided that dentures are the best choice for you, we begin by making molds of your gums and any remaining teeth. We use the molds to build dentures to fit you exactly. 

Your dentures are made based on the molds and fitted with artificial teeth and gums that conform precisely to your gums. The process can take a few weeks, but the wait is worth it to have dentures that fit you perfectly. 

When your new dentures are ready, you come in for another appointment so we can adjust them. We want you to be as comfortable as possible while wearing your dentures, but you should know that it takes most people a little time to get used to wearing them.

If you have problems with how your dentures fit, or you just can’t get comfortable wearing them, come back in. We may be able to make additional adjustments to improve how your dentures feel. 

Are you ready to learn more? Schedule your appointment at A Caring Dental Group today!