Dentures – Sweeny, TX
A Proven Way to Achieve a Complete Smile
At Sweeny Family Dental, we are committed to crafting one-of-a-kind prosthetics to help patients suffering from incomplete smiles. Whether it is a significant gap along the upper or lower arch or an entire row of missing teeth that is the problem, we can provide proven solutions that will enhance appearances and improve oral health, one of which is custom dentures in Sweeny. If you would like to learn more about how you can get started with these trustworthy prosthetics, give us a call today.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you’ve lost some teeth, you’ll likely qualify for our office’s dentures. These restorations don't often have strict requirements. That said, you should still consult Dr. Funk regarding your final procedure. He can check whether dentures suit your smile and map out your care. If you don’t initially qualify, our team can also suggest preliminary services that’d make you a good candidate. We can even show you the other restorations we offer. So, please learn more by reading below or book a visit today.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Before you fully consider dentures, take time to review tooth loss’ causes and effects. This effort will help you grasp how dentures help your smile.
For starters, the potential cause of tooth loss are many. A few teeth could fall out of your mouth if they suffer severe decay or infections. On the other hand, you may lose a tooth to gum disease as it loses the support of the tissues keeping it secure. There’s also the ever-present chance that an accident knocks teeth out of your mouth.
Meanwhile, the effects of tooth loss are harsh but consistent. Lacking teeth will make many of your daily tasks – seating, speaking, smiling, etc. – harder. It’ll also result in smile gaps that erode your jaw if it goes unchecked. In fact, those spaces could also tilt your remaining teeth until they fall out.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
As stated before, most adults with tooth loss could qualify for dentures. These restorations don’t require much else to use. Still, there are some facts you should note.
Firstly, dentures only work when your oral health is decent. They can’t restore your smile if the gums and jaw supporting them are too weak. In that case, the restorations won’t remain in place or stable. However, minor oral issues are exceptions; dentures can replace sensitive or decayed teeth.
Next, your number of missing teeth will shape the kind of denture you need. The first type is a partial denture that replaces only a few teeth. In contrast, the second kind is a full denture – a device that replaces all teeth along an arch.
Lastly, finances strongly impact whether dentures are a good choice. These restorations are actually the least costly tooth replacements. So, they’re ideal for patients who have a limited budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If you don’t qualify for dentures, don’t worry; we have other restoration treatments on offer. You’d just need to consider the following:
- Dental Bridges – As a fixed restoration, a dental bridge consists of two crowns fused to a pontic (i.e., an artificial tooth). It thus secures itself to nearby teeth (i.e., abutments) to remain stable and fills large smile gaps all at once. You should also note that placing it will remove some enamel from your abutments.
- Dental Implants – Dental implants are small titanium posts. Once placed, they slowly fuse with your jawbone to become permanent parts of your mouth. Due to this and other high-quality traits, dental implants are pricey; their unique benefits tend to raise their cost.
Types of Dentures
At Sweeny Family Dental, we offer three types of dentures, which we will go over during your initial consultation:
Partial Dentures
To fill in gaps left behind by missing teeth, our team can craft a partial denture that consists of a metal framework, gum-colored acrylic base, and artificial teeth. Metal clasps help to hold the denture in place, as it is connected to healthy abutment teeth on either side of the gap.
Full Dentures
An entire arch of missing teeth can easily be restored with the help of full dentures. Using the same gum-colored acrylic base and artificial teeth, these prosthetics rely on denture adhesive and natural suction to ensure a secure fit. It’s also possible to have these secured to implant posts.
Implant Dentures
Whether multiple teeth or an entire arch need to be replaced, titanium implant posts can be positioned within the jawbone to provide maximum stability and foundational support. Once fused with the bone tissues, a customized denture can then be secured in place to deliver a stronger bite, greater functionality, and a more youthful appearance.
Benefits of Dentures
Choosing dentures will allow you to experience one-of-a-kind benefits that you may not expect, such as:
- An improved bite force so that you eat more of the foods you love
- Prosthetics that can last several years before needing replacement (traditional dentures) or 30+ years (implant dentures)
- A more youthful appearance because of how they fill out your cheeks and facial features
- Greater oral health
- Reduced risk of jawbone resorption (implant dentures)