A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position, similar to a bridge. Complete dentures are either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional denture is placed in the mouth about a month after all the teeth are removed to allow for proper healing, whereas an immediate denture is placed as soon as the teeth are removed.
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, Dr. Crane can provide traditional or implant-supported dentures at our Ladson, SC office to rebuild and rejuvenate your smile. We offer both traditional and implant-supported dentures, and Dr. Crane will help determine which option is best for you. To learn more about how dentures can restore your smile and your quality of life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Crane.
Dentures can aid to restore your health, appearance, and confidence.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures rest on the gums, held in place with a combination of suction and a mild adhesive. To create a traditional denture, Dr. Crane will take an impression of your gums. Our partnering dental lab will use this information to create a set of dentures that achieves a proper fit and provides comfortable balance between your jaws. Traditional dentures are typically more affordable than implant-supported dentures.
Implant-supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are the best way to rebuild a severely compromised smile. This type of restoration is secured using dental implants, which are biocompatible titanium posts inserted into the jawbone. Dental implants replace missing tooth roots to provide the ultimate foundation for dentures. Dr. Crane can restore implants alongside one of our trusted implant specialists using the advanced All-on-4® method, which can restore patients’ smiles in a single appointment. This involves placing just four dental implants to support your dentures. In many cases, the implants can support dentures immediately following surgery.
Benefits of Implant-supported Dentures
Although they are typically more expensive and require oral surgery, implant-supported dentures offer patients many important advantages over traditional dentures:
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- Improved stability: Implant-supported dentures are anchored directly to your jaw, so they do not require any messy adhesives.
- An enhanced appearance: Greater security can give the prosthesis a more realistic and attractive appearance. This can also lead to a boost in the patient’s confidence.
- Jawbone tissue retention: Following tooth loss, the upper or lower jaw will eventually begin to atrophy, or shrink. The absence of tooth roots can stimulate the body to begin distributing bone cells elsewhere in the body, slowly weakening the jaw and causing it to reduce in size. To date, dental implants are the one and only restorative treatment that can halt this process. This is a very important reason to consider dental implants if you have lost one or more teeth.
- Superior chewing ability: Traditional denture wearers have difficulty eating foods like apples, steaks, nuts, and jerky. With implant-supported dentures, you can enjoy all the sticky, chewy, and tough foods you choose, without having to worry that your dentures will slip out of place.
- Greater comfort: Implant-supported dentures do not tend to irritate gum tissue the way that traditional dentures can. The excellent stability of implant-supported dentures also makes chewing and speaking much more comfortable.
We can Help You Choose the Right Denture
If you are suffering with missing teeth, Dr. Crane and our dental team can help you decide whether a traditional or implant-supported denture is the best fit for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about dentures, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Crane.
