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Dentures – Savannah, GA

Have the Confidence to Smile Again

Whether you’ve lost teeth to gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, it’s always a good idea to replace them when they go missing. That way, you can maintain your oral health and prevent long-term problems! With that said, you may want to try dentures in Savannah. This treatment from Compass Dental will restore your smile and make your mouth healthier. If you’d like to learn more about it, just keep reading or contact our office for details.

Why Choose Compass Dental for Dentures?

  • Natural-Looking Dental Materials
  • Highly Customizable Partial and Full Dentures
  • Dentist Is an Expert in Facial Esthetics

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?

A dentist showing a patient denture impressions

If you suffer from the effects of tooth loss, you’re likely a good candidate for dentures. After all, lacking teeth can make it hard to eat or speak in daily life. Even smiling becomes a challenge due to the embarrassment of showing your gaps. If you don’t initially make a good candidate, we may be able to work with you to restore the health of your gum tissue and bone structure so you can become one in the future. Then, we can put together a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Effects of Missing Teeth

Closeup of a missing tooth

Teeth are very strong, but they aren’t indestructible. The more common causes of tooth loss include tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, this can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and a lower self-esteem. By restoring your smile with dentures, you can improve all of these areas of your life, showing off a beautiful, complete smile again!

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Man laughing with dentures

Dentures are an excellent option for patients who have experienced significant tooth loss. Those who get dentures must also be committed to their dental hygiene routine and willing to properly care for their dentures and smile.

The number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in your mouth will determine which type of denture is best for you. One of the great things about dentures is that they are more affordable than other tooth-replacement options, making them ideal for those who are unable to invest a lot of money into their smile at this time.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Digital illustration of dental implant

If you don’t make a good candidate for dentures, or they don’t seem like the ideal option for you, you can check out some of our other solutions to tooth loss:

  • Dental Bridges: Dental bridges work by “bridging” the gap with a replacement tooth via dental crowns. This is ideal for patients who are only missing one or a few teeth. They require healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth/teeth to support the bridge.
  • Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone via a surgical procedure. To get dental implants, patients must have a solid bone structure. This option is more costly than traditional dentures, but it’s permanent. 

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

Types of Dentures

The types of dentures in Savannah against a white background

Before the actual denture treatment, you’ll need to consult with Dr. Fana. Doing so helps you grasp how your future results will look. Plus, a consultation lets our team learn your smile goals, medical history, etc.

Based on this discussion (and an oral exam), our office will suggest one of three types of dentures. These options include:

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures only replace a few teeth, typically on opposite sides of the arch. As such, they rely on a unique frame to connect to existing teeth.

In most cases, partial dentures are made of removable, replacement teeth attached to a pink acrylic base.

Full Dentures

Per their name, full dentures replace all the teeth along an arch. They thus use natural suction to keep themselves in place, forming a seal with the gums.

Full dentures consist of a plastic base colored to mimic gum tissue effectively. That base, in turn, is filled with composite resin or porcelain teeth.

Implant Dentures

Consider implant dentures if you’d like a more permanent and unwavering option. These kinds use dental implants to stay secure.

Due to relying on implants, implant dentures are made to be fixed. Only a professional dentist is qualified to remove them for replacement purposes.

How Dentures Are Made

a dentist presenting a pair of new dentures

Are you interested in restoring your bite with dentures? While this treatment is an effective way to replace missing teeth, and you can expect to appreciate a wide range of advantages to your oral health afterward, you might wonder how exactly the prosthetics are created. Here’s a brief look at the denture creation process so that you can understand the steps taken to restore your grin.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

a dentist holding up a pair of dentures

Your denture will consist of two main components: the base and the artificial pearly whites. Here’s what to expect from each part:

  • Denture Base : This portion is the foundation and “stepping stone” for renewing your bite. The base is designed to support your replacement teeth, and it can be constructed out of a wide range of materials, such as resin, metal, nylon, acrylic, or porcelain. In most cases, full dentures will likely be made from acrylic due to its durability and ability to perfectly match your natural gum tissue. For partial dentures, you might expect an acrylic base with metal clasps for support.
  • Artificial Teeth : Your replacement teeth will be fitted into the denture base, and they’ll usually be made out of resin or porcelain for their natural-looking appearance. That said, porcelain is perhaps the more popular option because of its durability and more lifelike feel. Since porcelain might be abrasive on nearby natural teeth, it’s mainly used for full dentures.

The Denture Creation Process

a lab technician constructing a denture

Creating your dental prosthetic will involve multiple steps over a couple of appointments. Here’s what you can expect from the process:

  • Our team will take impressions of your smile as well as measurements of your jaw—both of which will be used to construct a plaster replica of your mouth. This cast will then be sent to a dental lab so they can create your dentures.
  • Using the replica, the lab technicians will develop a wax version of your gum line so that they can place artificial teeth with an articulator. Minor adjustments will be made to ensure the wax perfectly matches your natural gums.
  • Once the wax dentures are fabricated, they’ll be brought to us for a fitting. Should we approve them, we’ll send them back to the lab for finalization.
  • At the lab, the technician will place the dentures in a flask of which plaster will be poured to preserve the shape of the prosthetics. This flask will then be boiled in hot water to melt off the wax.
  • Holes will be made in the teeth so that the material can stick to them. The plaster layer will have a liquid separator added to it to keep the acrylic from attaching, then acrylic will be injected into the flask to replace the wax.
  • The technician will then carefully remove the plaster with special tools to uncover the dentures before placing them in an ultrasonic bath for more thorough plaster removal. Any excess acrylic will be cut away before the dentures are trimmed and polished for completion.
  • Once your final dentures are ready, you’ll return to us to receive them. We’ll make any minor adjustments to ensure they properly fit before letting you make the most of your new smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

a patient checking her new dentures with a mirror

Some minor degree of discomfort is to be expected when wearing your dentures for the first time. Your gums and any other existing teeth will need to grow accustomed to the new prosthetics, which can make it difficult to eat and speak effectively at first. Thankfully, with a little time, repetition, and practice, you can help your new smile feel much more natural and comfortable in no time! Don’t hesitate to consult our team if you need help with this adjustment process, as we can provide you with adhesive if necessary. Be sure to also stick to softer foods and exercise your facial muscles regularly.

 

The Benefits of Dentures

A woman enjoying her dentures in Savannah

Considering all the struggles those with tooth loss face, getting dentures becomes an obvious no-brainer. Dentures effectively replace missing teeth for years at a time. Since they often last 7-10 years, they tend to be a good investment—that’s just one example! These prosthetics restore both function and appearance, which means they offer practical as well as priceless, intangible benefits.

Psychological Benefits

man with glasses smiling with confidence

When you have gaps in your smile, you may experience embarrassment or be hesitant to draw attention to yourself, talk, or eat around other people. Due to being custom-made, dentures look like natural teeth and blend seamlessly with your smile. As a result, you may not mind standing out in front of others. You can feel more confident showing your prosthetic pearly whites and feel a significant boost in your self-esteem.

Clearer Enunciation

people talking in a coffee shop

Missing teeth can make pronouncing certain words difficult to put it mildly, and being unable to clearly communicate verbally can be isolating. However, dentures provide the oral structure needed to articulate sounds. Consequently, you can more easily connect with those around you. Just imagine the conversations you can have with friends, family, and others!

Improves Nutrition

man eating food

Gum tissue is sensitive and soft—not the best for biting and grinding up food. If you don’t have a complete set of teeth, eating can present a challenge. Unfortunately, soft foods tend to be less nutritious. On the other hand, with replacement teeth like dentures, you’ll find it easier to bite and chew your favorite foods. They’ll thus let you eat a more nutritious diet that boosts your overall health.

Preserves Oral Health

diagram of implant dentures

For those with natural teeth left, a partial denture maintains the proper spacing, which preserves these teeth for as long as possible. Otherwise, these teeth will shift out of alignment and be at an increased risk of future extraction. In addition, implant dentures, specifically, can prevent facial collapse. In maintaining your jawbone, then, they’ll keep your cheeks from looking hollow!

Expands Opportunities

two professional men talking

Whether you would like to get a better job, meet new people, or even find a romantic partner, having a whole, confident smile can open doors. In fact, studies show that those who with an attractive smile are more likely to be promoted and get hired. Who knows what could result from replacing your missing teeth with natural-looking dentures?