Dentures & Partial Dentures
East Wenatchee, WA
 At Johnson Family Dental, we use both full and partial dentures as a replacement option for missing teeth. We are able to provide our patients with a variety of options, in materials, attachments, and even permanent dentures, fixed in placed with Dental Implants. Your transition begins with an evaluation, performed by Dr. Johnson, and then depending on your needs, the number of teeth you have available and the level of comfort you are seeking, we can design a treatment plan that is right for you.
Dentures are needed, both partial and full, when the condition of your natural teeth has deteriorated to the point that we can no longer place a dental crown over the tooth for restoration and it needs to be removed. The loss of a single tooth can be filled with a dental bridge, multiple teeth will require a partial denture, and all of your teeth on an arch will require the placement of a complete denture.
Partial Denture
Partial dentures are designed to replace teeth where your natural teeth are missing. This appliance is customized to fit your needs. The sections of false teeth are held in place by metal clasps that are installed on surrounding healthy teeth, which then stand as the support system for the dentures. They are easily removed to be cleaned.
Getting Partial Dentures
When you go in to be fit for your first set of partial dentures, any damaged and irreparable teeth are taken out. We will then take impressions of the spaces to be sent to a lab, where your actual prosthesis will be made. In the meantime, you will be given a temporary prosthesis so that you begin to eat and speak normally. When your actual dentures are ready, you will make another trip to the dentist to ensure proper fit.
Alternatives to Partial Dentures
When seeking information about partial dentures, there are alternative options available that will allow you to make them a more permanent, non-removable option.
One alternative is to have bridges installed. Bridges use crowns over your existing healthy teeth, which act as anchors, to install sets of missing teeth. Bridges blend into your natural teeth, rather than having visible metal clasps.
The other alternative is dental implants. Implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss, using a post implanted into the jawbone. Implants also help save the integrity of your bone, which begins to degrade around the areas where roots once stood. The posts act as a root, helping to prevent this deterioration from occurring.
Full Denture
On its own, a complete denture is a removable prosthesis, it is made of white plastic teeth that are resting on a pink gum-colored plastic base. The denture is designed to fit on the ridge of your gums, and is traditionally held in place with suction or over the counter adhesives. Dentures are not known for their exceeding comfort, but they do provide function and some aesthetics after it has been lost.
Dentures are a major lifestyle change. They will force you to adjust how you chew and speak while wearing them, and have been known to cause some patients great social anxiety. There is an option to increase your comfort when having a denture placed. Ask Dr. Johnson about implant retained permanent dentures, they will look, work, and feel like your natural teeth.
Common reasons that a patient may seek a full denture include:
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The patient no longer has any healthy teeth remaining. |
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The patient would like to restore their ability to chew foods with ease. |
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The patient would like to restore their smile, and support their facial muscles. |
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Traditional full dentures can be an economical alternative to other restorative options. |
An upper full denture will almost always feel better than a lower full denture. Though traditional dentures typically cover the roof of the mouth, which may reduce your ability to taste.
Permanent Dentures
We can dramatically improve the fit of a partial or a full denture using a retentive mechanism of placing Dental Implants. Implants are titanium posts that are placed in the jaw, they will anchor the denture appliance to be stable and permanent in your mouth, significantly improving your comfort and range of function. Sometimes, the implants can even be placed in the jaw after a denture has been in use for several years.
Caring for your Dentures
Unless permanently retained, dentures should be removed nightly and thoroughly cleaned. You can brush your dentures just as you would your natural teeth, if you are removing your device, place them in a soaking disinfectant solution as suggested by Dr. Johnson. During the day, it is advisable to remove them after eating to brush away any remaining food particles as well as clean anything out that may have gotten stuck between your gums and the dentures.
You should also brush your remaining teeth regularly as well as floss daily. This will help keep your natural teeth healthy. And always be sure to clean the gums where you are missing teeth, to prevent bacterial buildup.
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