Dentures in Columbus, IN

Patients with new dentures will have to visit the dentist more often. Your doctor will want to ensure their proper fit. With time, your mouth will change, which means you may need your false teeth replaced or adjusted. A denture adhesive is necessary when your dentures begin moving too much. No matter what issues you are experiencing, your dentist can help. 

It is very important to keep your dentures clean. Try to avoid eating foods that cause staining, gum swelling or bad breath. To clean your dentures, you may use specialty care products. At nighttime, put the dentures in water or s special cleansing liquid. 

Depending on your needs, lifestyle, and oral health, you may be offered different types of dentures. We describe the most popular ones. 

Complete (Full) Dentures

Complete dentures replace the whole set of teeth, in both the upper and lower jaws. They restore the functionality of your mouth, letting you eat, chew, and bite. Their appearance and shape are similar to your natural teeth.

It should be noted that in some cases full dentures may cause a speech impediment, such as a lisp. The reason is the necessary, thick material that covers the palate. Over time many patients adapt to it, but some do not.  

Unlike dental implants, full dentures also do not prevent bone shrinkage. 

Complete dentures are used as a last resort, only after other restorations have stopped working or have been deemed ineffective. 

Removable Partial Dentures (RPD’s)

RPD’s are artificial teeth connected to a plastic base that has been customized to look like your gum. They are offered to patients, who: 

• Have only some teeth missing, 
• Want to have removable dentures
• Are not good candidates for dental bridges. 

RPD’s are placed on metal frameworks to make them sturdier. They bring back the function, look and feel of your natural teeth. Unlike complete dentures, they can be easily removed and replaced. 

Fixed Partial Dentures (FPD’s)

FPD’s, also known as implant-supported bridges, use existing teeth as anchors. They are a good option for patients, who are missing only some teeth or to those, who are looking for fixed dentures. 

FPD’s are not removable since they use dental implants to replace missing teeth. There have to be healthy, natural teeth present on both sides of the gap for FPD’s to restore one or more teeth in a row. Fixed Partial Dentures provide a long-lasting support of are more durable than removable restorations. The do, however, put the anchor teeth at risk for decay. 

Implant Retained Dentures

They are also known as overdentures. Implant retained dentures snap into place and latch onto abutments (metal posts); they do not attach to implants permanently. Patients suffering from bone loss or needing more stability, are good candidates for implant retained dentures. Overdentures can support an entire set of teeth. They are long-lasting and can greatly improve the functioning of teeth (even better than other restorations). They need to be cleaned daily and removed to allow for tissue rest. 

Immediate Dentures

They are also called same-day dentures. They are offered to patients who go through teeth extraction and denture installment procedures in one day.  

Very often dentures are placed after the patient’s jaw had healed from teeth extractions (so anywhere from 6-8 weeks after the teeth were removed). Immediate dentures are installed right after the removal of natural teeth. These dentures are convenient, however, uncomfortable since they are not customized to fit your mouth. Usually they are meant to be “placeholders” for better-fitted and more permanent restorations.