Dentures & Partials – Colorado Springs
Enjoy a Full Smile Again
Dentures are prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored base, and they provide a natural-looking, stable solution for replacing several or a whole row of missing teeth. Here at Anderson Family Dental by Espire, we provide full and partial dentures in Colorado Springs.
Why Choose Anderson Family Dental by Espire for Dentures & Partials?
- Custom-designed prosthetics for every patient
- Implant-retained dentures available
- Partnered with the best local dental labs
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Most people with moderate to extensive tooth loss can get dentures. When you attend a consultation with our team, we will carefully evaluate your situation, learn about your oral health, and determine what type of tooth replacement is best for you. If you are not currently a candidate for dentures, you may become one after some restorative treatments, such as gum disease therapy or other services that will prepare your mouth to support prosthetic teeth.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Missing teeth can be the result of injury, gum disease, severe decay, or other causes. Regardless of why your smile is no longer complete, you may be facing a number of difficulties. For example, individuals with missing teeth often find it difficult to eat a wide variety of foods. Your speech may also be adversely affected. It is even possible that your cheeks have a somewhat hollow, sunken look that makes you appear years older than you really are. All of these issues can have a great negative impact on both your self-esteem and your quality of life. Fortunately, dentures are often able to help.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures may be ideal for you if:
- You have lost a significant number of teeth. (If you have only lost one or two teeth, a bridge might be a better option for you.)
- Your remaining natural teeth are extremely sensitive or suffering from severe decay.
- Your teeth are loose due to advanced gum disease.
- You are looking for a cost-effective way to rebuild your smile.
There are a few different types of dentures. During your consultation, we will determine if full dentures, partial dentures, or implant dentures are the best fit for your circumstances.
Alternative Tooth Replacement Options
If dentures are not right for you, we might suggest an alternative way to replace your lost teeth, such as:
- A fixed bridge. A bridge uses the remaining natural teeth for support. It is a strong and long-lasting way to replace 1 – 3 missing teeth in a row. If your natural teeth are still pretty strong, this solution may be perfect for you.
- Dental implants. Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots. In addition to being able to support dentures, they can also support single crowns and multi-unit bridges. If your jawbone is strong enough to integrate successfully with implants, our team will likely recommend them as the best way to rebuild your smile, regardless of how many teeth you are missing.
Partial Denture
Just like the name suggests, a partial denture is one that replaces several missing teeth when some natural teeth are still present in the gums. The partial can be permanently fixed in place or left removable for easy cleaning. A fixed partial denture is more commonly called a bridge, and it is often used when several teeth are missing in a row. A removable partial can replace teeth from various parts of the mouth. When not secured with dental implants, partial dentures are held in place with a metal frame that clasps to the remaining teeth. The fixed bridge uses the surrounding teeth as anchors for the prosthetic teeth that fill the gap in between.
Full Denture
Also called a complete denture, full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth. A full denture can be held in place by dental implants, with natural suction, or through the use of denture adhesive. Many patients go through an adjustment phase wearing non-implant retained dentures. Don’t be alarmed if you notice sore spots on the cheeks or gums immediately after you receive your dentures – they will heal with time.
How Dentures Are Made
Once you commit to getting dentures, you may have some questions about what to expect during the treatment process. How are dentures made? What are they made out of? How long will you have to wait for your new prosthesis? While the process can vary slightly from case to case, there are some general steps that hold true for the vast majority of patients. Whether you are getting a full or partial denture, here is an overview of how your new teeth will come into being:
What Are Dentures Made Of?
Dentures consist of two main parts: the base and the artificial teeth. Here is a closer look at the materials that compose each section of your prosthetic:
- The base: The base of your dentures is designed to resemble your gums; it provides support for your new teeth. In most cases, it is made out of acrylic resin because it tends to be comfortable and flexible. In some cases, though, nylon or other materials are used. If you are getting a partial denture, metal clips may be attached to the acrylic base to help your teeth stay in place.
- The teeth: Usually, the teeth are made out of acrylic or porcelain. Both have their advantages. For example, porcelain offers beautiful aesthetics and outstanding durability. If you still have some natural teeth, though, acrylic may be better because it poses less risk of damaging your enamel.
The Denture Creation Process
The denture creation process usually goes like this:
- Impressions. Our team will take detailed impressions of your mouth. They will serve as the basis for designing your new teeth. We may also take some measurements of your jaw.
- Lab work. A dental laboratory will receive your impressions and a plaster model of your mouth. They will create a wax version of your gumline and then use a device known as an articulator to create your new teeth and make sure your bite will work well.
- Communication with your dentist. The lab may send a wax-up to your dentist so they can approve the denture’s design. You may be asked to come to the office for a fitting.
- Creation of the final denture. After the wax-up has been approved, the lab will finish working on the denture. The final acrylic/porcelain version will be trimmed and polished to perfection.
- Delivery of the denture. Once the denture is ready, you will come to our office for a fitting. If any necessary final adjustments are necessary, we will take care of them accordingly.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
Your denture may feel a little uncomfortable at first. Some mild soreness is to be expected. It might even be a bit challenging to eat and speak. Be patient and remember that such experiences are common. As the days and weeks go by, you should gradually adjust to your prosthetic. In the meantime, you should do your best to practice with it as much as you can. Eating soft foods and speaking out loud can help you get used to how your new teeth function. If you have any questions or concerns during the adjustment period, you should feel free to reach out to us.
Adjusting to Your Denture
Even the comfortable, natural-looking dentures we provide at Anderson Family Dental by Espire may seem difficult to live with at first, but that’s just your mouth’s initial reaction to a foreign object. Speed up the adjustment phase with your denture by persevering through it. As tempting as it may be to remove your denture, wear it as directed to help your mouth get used to the new device. Practice reading aloud to retrain your speech with dentures. After a few weeks of continued use, most people find they can eat, speak, and smile with full confidence once again.
Implant-Retained Dentures
People who are eligible for dental implants should consider retaining their dentures using implant dentistry. Implants are tiny titanium implants that provide unparalleled stability for a denture, and they improve oral health by stimulating the jawbone for years to come. Dental implants take the place of your missing tooth’s root, resulting in a truly comprehensive solution to tooth loss.
The benefits of retaining a denture with dental implants include:
- No need for denture creams or adhesives
- The denture fits properly from day one
- Oral health improves with dental implants
- The most stable option in tooth replacement
Ideal candidates for dental implants are adult patients who enjoy good oral and overall health and are free of gum disease and other health conditions that affect the immune system. Anderson Family Dental by Espire performs the entire dental implant procedure in our state-of-the-art office.
Are you already missing teeth or teetering on the brink of tooth loss? We can complete your smile with partial or full dentures in Colorado Springs. Contact Anderson Family Dental by Espire to schedule an appointment today!
Dentures FAQs
Our team would be delighted to help you rebuild your smile with dentures. Before you commit to anything, though, you may want to know more about the road in front of you. To assist you in your endeavor to gather information, we have compiled the following list of FAQs, along with succinct answers. If your specific questions are not touched on here, reach out to us directly — we look forward to speaking with you!
How Long Will You Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Your Teeth are Pulled?
Most patients must wait 6 – 8 weeks after getting their teeth extracted before they can receive dentures. The waiting period allows the gums to heal and allows a bit of extra time for our team to ensure that your prosthetic will fit properly.
Of course, some patients have a different wait time. Some choose to get immediate dentures, which are prepared before the extractions and can be worn right away after the teeth are pulled. The disadvantage of immediate dentures is that the way they fit is not always ideal, and they usually need to be replaced within the first year of use.
Other patients get implant dentures, which may be placed months after the extractions. The implant denture procedure involves some extra steps that necessitate a longer overall treatment time.
Should I Have All My Teeth Pulled to Get Dentures?
Whenever possible, we want our patients to hold onto their natural teeth. Therefore, if your remaining teeth are still in fair condition, we may urge you to keep them. To replace your missing teeth, we may provide a partial denture, which will fit in around your remaining dentition.
Of course, if your natural teeth are severely damaged, we may recommend that you get them removed so you can receive a full denture.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
When you first get your denture, we may recommend that you keep it in your mouth for 24 hours. After that, though, we strongly advise you to remove your denture every night. Taking it out of your mouth will allow you to clean it thoroughly. It will also give your gums a chance to rest so you have a reduced risk of infections and sores.
What Is the Average Age for Dentures?
About 66% of adults ages 40 – 64 have at least one missing tooth, and more than half of people ages 65 – 74 wear some sort of denture.
Although it is usually older people who wear dentures, that is not to say that younger people cannot get them. If you have suffered significant tooth loss due to an accident, genetic factors, or other circumstances, we would be happy to evaluate the situation and come up with a plan for rebuilding your smile.