Which Type of Dentures are Right for Me?

The team at First Impression Dental provides outstanding general and cosmetic dental services for people of all ages living in and around the California community of Fresno. Our overriding goal is to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth functional as well as beautiful for a lifetime.

If, however, you’re missing many or all of your teeth, our efforts turn to providing you with the most comfortable, stable, and natural appearing dentures possible. Here’s what you should know about the different types of dentures available.

Full dentures

Recommended for extensive tooth loss, full dentures are designed to replace all the teeth in your upper and lower jaw. Custom-made to fit snugly over your gums and carefully configured to create a balanced bite and smile, full dentures help keep your facial structure intact and provide a reliable chewing surface.

Modern dental materials also make it possible to shade the gum portion of the dentures to a realistic hue and create teeth with a natural translucence or shine. Once you’ve adjusted to the fit and feel of full dentures, they can restore your confidence as you smile, speak, and chew.            

Partial dentures

Partial dentures are designed to replace several teeth along the upper or lower jaw. Anchored to remaining teeth via metal clasps or attachments, partial dentures undergo the same meticulous shading processes and other design techniques as full dentures. That helps them blend with your natural smile. Like full dentures, they must be removed nightly for cleaning. Most individuals adjust quickly to partial dentures.

Implant-supported dentures

Dental implants are small titanium posts that are permanently affixed in your jaw and act like the roots of natural teeth. 

Implant-supported dentures are crafted to snap over an implant post. That keeps the denture in place and prevents slippage as you chew, speak, or smile. These dentures normally require two implants in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw to secure a full set of removable dentures. Many individuals prefer the stability offered by implant-supported dentures. 

Which denture type is right for me?

Dr. Lent completes a full evaluation before making denture recommendations. That may include X-rays and other diagnostic studies to assess the health of your jaw and calculate your bone density since this can affect your ability to retain implants.

You can also anticipate a detailed discussion of your goals and expectations regarding dentures as well as information regarding their care, use, cost, and longevity. Dr. Lent also takes time to discuss the procedures required to prep your mouth for dentures and tips for adjusting to life with dentures.

For more information about dentures or any of the outstanding services we offer at First Impression Dental, schedule a visit with Dr. Lent today!