Dentures – Castle Rock, WA

Effects of Missing Teeth

Living with missing teeth not only puts a damper on your physical appearance and confidence but also creates significant challenges when it comes to eating and speaking. You may not realize just how essential your teeth are when trying to say certain sounds or words, but over time, you’ll notice that you begin to slur your words because of your incomplete smile. Not to mention, eating some of your favorite meals may no longer be enjoyable because of the struggle to bite and chew.

Without a full set of teeth, you may begin to experience malnutrition, depression, lack of self-confidence, and other problems associated with your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

There are a few things that you need to be considered for dentures:

• Good general oral health (i.e., no signs of gum disease or existing tooth decay)
• Supportive jawbone
• Willingness to commit to taking care of your new artificial teeth

Most individuals who are without a full set of teeth can expect to be recommended for full, partial, or even implant dentures. Ultimately, the decision is based on your preferences, budget, and oral and overall health status.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

If you discover that traditional dentures are not right for you, there are other options to replace missing teeth:

• Dental Bridges – Using two dental crowns and free-standing replacement teeth that connect the two restorations, a dental bridge fills in the gaps of your smile using healthy abutment teeth on either side of the gap.   
• Dental Implants – Made of titanium and capable of fusing with bone tissues, dental implants are placed within the jawbone and offer maximum support for customized partial and full dentures. Not to mention, their lifespan can range from 30 years to a lifetime!

What Are Dentures Made Of?

Two parts make up a denture – the base and the teeth. Here is a brief breakdown of both:

• The Denture Base – As the foundational structure of your new smile, the base serves to support your customized teeth. In general, most are crafted using acrylic, porcelain, resin, metal, or nylon; however, acrylic seems to be the most common. This is especially true with full dentures, as they can be created to closely match your gum tissue. Partial dentures are also made out of acrylic but also include metal clasps that attach the prosthetic to natural teeth.
• Artificial Teeth – The teeth that sit atop your denture base are commonly made out of porcelain or resin because of the natural appearance they provide. Porcelain is often the most popular, as it looks and feels like regular teeth, and it is highly durable.

The Denture Creation Process

The dentures you receive will be different than those someone else receives. The reason is that each denture is custom-made to fit a patient’s smile. The creation process requires several steps, which include:

1. Your dentist, Dr. Kennington, will take impressions of your upper and lower gums. This will be used to create a mold that will replicate your mouth. This same mold will then be used to make sure that your final denture fits properly in place.
2. The cast of your mouth will be sent to a dental laboratory, where technicians will begin to make your dentures. A wax version of your gumline will be created.
3. They will craft your artificial teeth and set them in place before a mechanical articulator helps to attach them with wax. They will then make small adjustments by shaping the wax to ensure they look like your gums.
4. Your wax dentures will then be returned to Dr. Kennington’s office so that you can undergo a fitting. If everything looks right, they will be sent back to the lab for completion. During this time, you will wear temporary dentures until your real ones are ready.
5. Once your dentures are returned to the lab, technicians will boil them down to remove any wax. They’ll then be placed in a flask so that plaster can be poured in to help maintain the shape of the dentures. The flask is then submerged in hot water so that the dentures are melted.
6. Small holes are drilled into the teeth so that they can be attached to the material. A liquid separator is then incorporated into the plaster so that the acrylic no longer sticks. Additional acrylic is then injected into the flask to replace any wax.
7. After removing the plaster, your dentures will be revealed, and they will be placed in an ultrasonic bath to help remove any remaining plaster.
8. Technicians will then remove excess acrylic before being polished to perfection.
9. The final step is for you to return to your dentist’s office for a final fitting. If additional adjustments are needed, they will be carried out there in the office if possible.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

After receiving your dentures, you can expect there to be some discomfort in the beginning. However, this will dissipate over time once your mouth becomes more well-adjusted. Some mild soreness is likely, and you may experience difficulty eating certain foods and/or speaking in the days and weeks after denture placement. To avoid a prolonged adjustment phase, you can take steps to move the process along much quicker, such as:

• Eating softer foods until you are more comfortable biting down and chewing with your dentures.
• Reading aloud in front of a mirror or someone else to practice certain words and sounds that prove difficult with dentures.
• Practice certain facial exercises so that your mouth becomes accustomed to your new teeth.
• Try using denture adhesive to add a bit more security when eating or speaking.

Psychological Benefits

A complete smile does more than just improve your appearance. It also enhances your mental and emotional health. When you’re pleased with what you see in the mirror, you’re likely to speak more positively about yourself, try new things, and feel empowered to take better care of your overall health and well-being. 

Clear Enunciation

To speak clearly, the tongue needs teeth to make various sounds and words. Without something for the tongue to press against, the desire to engage in conversation with others decreases significantly. However, with custom dentures, you can expect to feel confident when talking with family, friends, and colleagues. Instead of slurring your words or forgoing discussions altogether, you can talk more freely than before.

Improves Nutrition

Dentures are known to improve your bite force, so instead of missing out on your favorite meals, you can freely eat without feeling embarrassed. Your new teeth will allow you to bite down and enjoy the taste of the foods you’re eating, and the denture adhesive that helps to hold them in place will minimize the potential of slippage during your meal. This positive impact will ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Preserves Oral Health

Missing teeth can have a negative impact on your oral health. Apart from jawbone resorption and possible dental drift (if you have any existing natural teeth), it can increase your chances of developing systemic conditions such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and even diabetes. However, once you have dentures, you can expect your oral health to improve. The benefits you’ll experience will make you want to take proper care of your new smile for as long as possible.

Expands Opportunity

Dentures at any age are bound to help expand your opportunities. Whether you are working your way up the corporate ladder or enjoying a newfound retirement, your dentures will give you the confidence you need to try new things. From a job interview or presentation to meeting someone new in the hopes of reigniting a personal relationship, your new smile will help you along the way.

Can I Sleep With My Dentures?

You are strongly advised against sleeping in your dentures simply because your mouth needs a chance to rest. When wearing your prosthetics throughout the day, it is easy for the gums and bone to become fatigued. At night, while soaking your dentures, your mouth will be given the chance to breathe and attain vital nutrients commonly lost throughout the day.

Also, as more bacteria build underneath your dentures, your risk for potential pneumonia increases.

Keeping your teeth clean as well as your mouth can help minimize complications and keep your dentures looking and feeling their best.

Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?

Your tongue is more than just a large muscle inside your mouth. It is used to push food through the oral cavity and help you speak. However, once you receive dentures, you may notice some difficulty in forming certain words and syllables. This is normal, so do not be alarmed. A slight lisp might develop but may only last a short while.

To minimize the changes caused by your dentures, you’ll need to practice speaking slowly and thoroughly pronouncing certain words. You can do this by reading aloud to yourself or others as well as watching yourself talk in front of the mirror. Over time, the problem will go away once your tongue becomes accustomed to the new prosthetics.

Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?

During your appointment with your denture dentist in Castle Rock, he will recommend that you do not use regular toothpaste to clean your dentures. The reason for this is that normal toothpaste brands are highly abrasive and can scratch the materials used to create your prosthetics. This is why it is best if you find non-abrasive products.

Dr. Kennington will be happy to recommend several options you can use at home to keep your dentures clean and bacteria-free.

Will Dentures Change the Shape of My Face?

When suffering from tooth loss, it is common for many individuals to experience what is referred to as “facial sagging or collapse.” When the lips turn inward, the jowls sag, and the nose dips further downward, it can create an aesthetic that causes you to appear older than you really are. Fortunately, by choosing dentures, these promising prosthetics fill in these areas of your facial structure, allowing you to look younger and feel better about your appearance.