Dentures – Rockville, MD
Durable Prosthetics for Longer-Lasting Smiles
Dentures in Rockville are a timeless option for tooth replacement. Giving patients the ability to enjoy a full, complete smile that is functional makes them a safe, reliable, and time-tested solution. At Rockville Family Dentistry, our team of professionals is here to deliver high-quality prosthetics that not only look natural but feel comfortable and remain durable. If you would like to be considered for dentures, call our office today to schedule an appointment.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Dentures are ideal for those who have experienced significant tooth loss. Each type of denture is different in its abilities and function, but all offer the same great result – a full, complete smile that patients love and appreciate for years to come. When considering dentures, patients need to schedule a consultation with us. Read on to learn more about the effects of missing teeth and the qualifications you need to meet to get them.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Multiple factors contribute to tooth loss with the most common including tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, missing teeth have several consequences, including facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and low self-confidence. Fortunately, dentures can improve all of these areas of your life.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
The majority of adults are able to get dentures without issue. They are ideal for those who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth. Denture-wearers must maintain healthy gum tissue and have sufficient enough jawbone. After missing teeth for a long time, the jawbone is reabsorbed by the body, therefore resulting in bone loss. If you currently have any dental implants, including gum disease or tooth decay, these things will be addressed before you can move forward in the process of getting dentures.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If you are not a good candidate for dentures, or they don’t sound like something you are interested in, you should consider alternative tooth replacement options. Here are the other ones that we offer.
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap in your smile. This is great for patients who are only missing one or a couple of consecutive teeth. A dental bridge requires that the patient has healthy adjacent teeth surrounding the empty space to support it.
- Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium, screw-like post that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Patients need a strong jawbone structure and be healthy enough to undergo a minor surgical procedure. Dental implants are more costly, but they last for multiple decades or even the rest of your life.
Types of Dentures
There are currently three types of dentures our team will discuss with patients when they arrive for an appointment – full and partial dentures as well as implant dentures.
Partial Dentures
A partial denture relies on healthy abutment teeth to remain in place. Crafted with a gum-colored, acrylic base, artificial teeth are placed in appropriate areas to help fill in the gaps in a person’s smile. Complete with metal clasps, these attach to healthy teeth for a secure foundation.
Full Dentures
Similar to partial dentures, full dentures are crafted much in the same way except there are no metal clasps. Instead, when fabricated and prepared for placement, patients can expect to rely on their natural suction to help hold their new teeth in their proper place. Also, denture adhesives can be used for added security.
Implant Dentures
The more expensive option is implant dentures, but their benefits are many. Made from a titanium post that mimics the natural tooth root, a dental implant looks similar to a screw. When receiving implant dentures, it is typical for a dentist in Rockville to place between four and six posts along an arch before securing a newly fabricated denture on top. With proper care and maintenance, these prosthetics can last 30+ years or even a lifetime.
How Dentures Are Made
Dentures are custom-made to fit your facial aesthetics perfectly. For that reason alone, it’s no surprise they’re still one of the most popular methods of tooth replacement! Although you may have a general idea of what to expect, what does the process actually look like? Understanding how they’re made and which materials are used will help you appreciate your smile much more. If you’d like to learn what it takes to get to the final results, continue reading!
What Are Dentures Made Of?
There are two main components that make up dentures: the base and the prosthetic teeth. Let’s take a closer look at what comprises each one:
- Denture Base: This foundational structure supports artificial teeth. It can be made of several different materials, including acrylic, nylon, or resin. Full dentures are often made with acrylic while partials use metal clips with an acrylic base.
- Artificial Teeth: Your artificial teeth are attached to the denture base. They’re often made from resin or porcelain because they both have a natural appearance. However, porcelain is a more popular option because it looks and feels just like natural teeth.
The Denture Creation Process
Since each denture is custom-made for the patient’s mouth, it requires a multi-step process. The first thing Dr. Modarres will do is take impressions of your upper and lower gums using a thick paste. This will be used to create a plaster model that is an exact replica of your mouth. With this model, he will ensure the final denture fits your smile perfectly.
After getting the model, it will be sent to a dental laboratory where your dentures will be made. There, they’ll create a wax replica of your gumline and place the artificial teeth into it with a mechanical device known as an articulator.
Once adjustments are made, the wax dentures will be sent back to the office for a fitting. If they’re good to go, they will be sent back to the lab for the final step of the process. It’s completed by placing the dentures in a flash, adding plaster to hold their shape, then placing the flash in hot water to melt away the wax portions. Holes are made in the teeth and acrylic is injected into the flask to replace the wax.
Then, the plaster is carefully removed from the denture using special tools. The dentures are placed in an ultrasonic bath to remove any remaining plaster and excess acrylic will be cut from the denture. Lastly, the restoration will be polished to perfection.
When your dentures are ready, you’ll return to the office for a fitting. If needed, adjustments will be made by Dr. Modarres to ensure everything is working properly and smoothly.
Adjusting to Your New Dentures
After getting dentures for the first time, you may experience a bit of discomfort. Luckily, this is temporary and should go away with time. Once your mouth adjusts to your new smile, it’ll feel very similar to natural teeth! While you adjust, it’s a good idea to stick to softer foods and exercise facial muscles. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if your discomfort is persistent.
The Benefits of Dentures
When you put your new dentures in your mouth for the first time, it will feel like you just got a new lease on life. Dentures have the ability to boost not only your physical health, but also your confidence and morale. By allowing you to speak, eat, and smile with pride once again, you’ll find that the variety of benefits of dentures in Rockville are well worth the investment.
Psychological Benefits
Missing several or all of your teeth throughout an arch can cause your self-esteem and confidence to deteriorate. In fact, tooth loss has been associated with a variety of mental health concerns, including social anxiety, depression, and sadness. With a fully functional and whole smile thanks to dentures, you can speak and interact more confidently, positively engaging with your friends and family more often.
Clearer Enunciation
Your teeth and tongue play essential roles when it comes to being able to pronounce certain words and sounds. Without a full set of teeth, though, this can become a difficult feat, causing you to lisp, slur, and fumble with your words. Although your dentures will take a little bit of time to adjust to, after a couple of weeks, you’ll find that you can speak more easily and clearly with them in.
Improved Diet & Nutrition
You’ll no longer have to turn down your favorite foods in order to accommodate the fact that you can’t effectively chew them. With your dentures, you may find that your indigestion improves and you feel a bit more lively, as they’ll make it easier for you to eat a greater variety of proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Having a balanced diet that contains essential vitamins and nutrients is important for your health and bodily function!
Boosted Dental Health
Tooth loss gives way for declining oral health, which can in turn lead to even more tooth loss. With a full or partial denture, you’ll be able to maintain your current dental alignment as well as prevent other complications caused by missing teeth. When secured with dental implants, you can also maintain your jawbone density and facial structure.
Restored Confidence
By far one of the most life-changing benefits of dentures in Rockville is that you’ll notice a drastic boost in your confidence, which can open countless new doors in both your personal and professional life. With a complete set of pearly whites that you feel proud of, you’ll be able to enter any job interview or go on first dates without the anxiety of another person fixating on your incomplete smile.