We know it’s a topic that most people don’t want to think about, much less read or talk about. But losing all your teeth for whatever reason is not the end of the world. Yes, it’s a setback for your appearance, eating ability, confidence to smile, and self-esteem. But our dentist in NE Calgary can offer several solutions for complete tooth loss that address all those issues — including complete dentures.
Dentures have been around for so long in one form or another that you may think you know everything about them. Think again. If you’re trying to decide how to restore your dental function and self-esteem after taking a hit due to tooth loss, make sure you understand the three types of dentures that are available. Then ask our dentist if complete dentures near you may be appropriate to get you eating and smiling naturally — and feeling confident — again.
The Three Types Of Dentures
Here’s one thing that all three types of complete dentures have in common. They’re made of a gum-coloured acrylic material designed, shaped and tinted to match your lips and face naturally. The acrylic material holds artificial replacement teeth that are shaped, sized, and coloured to appear completely natural. The days of yore when dentures were obviously, well… dentures, are long gone. Today’s modern dentures are subtle and natural in appearance.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are designed based on impressions of your remaining natural teeth before those teeth are extracted. Denture technicians will create your complete set of immediate dentures and deliver them to our dentist before any remaining natural teeth are removed. That way, our dentist in NE Calgary can place them in your mouth immediately after removing your teeth. You’ll never have to go out and about without teeth or dentures.
In the year following your extraction, your gums and jaw will heal and gradually shift and change shape. As a result, during that first year, your immediate dentures may need to be adjusted occasionally to ensure they always fit and perform properly.
Conventional Dentures
Like immediate dentures, conventional dentures are prepared before your teeth are extracted. They differ from immediate dentures because they are not placed in your mouth until after your gums and jaw have completely healed from the extractions. The downside, of course, is that you’ll be without teeth during that healing process. The upside is that the dentures will be more comfortable and require fewer adjustments because the gums and jaw will have healed before they’re placed.
Note that “fewer” adjustments do not mean “no” adjustments. Dentures of all kinds will need to be adjusted or even re-lined or replaced from time to time because the shape and mass of your jaw and gums change gradually over time.
Equilibrated Dentures
Equilibrated dentures are also known as balanced or precise dentures. They’re made with extra and extra-precise measurements to craft the perfect fit and bite. Equilibrated dentures are created with specialized equipment and techniques to produce completely customized dentures that closely ape the performance of your original teeth and align with the most natural movement of your jaw as you talk, bite, and chew. Equilibrated dentures are the most comfortable and stable form of complete dentures that require the fewest ongoing adjustments.
This brief introduction to dentures begins to tell you only some of what you may need to know about dentures. For example, if you have remaining natural teeth, partial dentures may restore full function while you keep the teeth you still have. If you’re looking for an option where the dentures are not removed every night, implant-supported dentures are available. Here’s the key — whatever the circumstances of your tooth loss or your personal goals, our dentist in NE Calgary can answer all your questions and provide information to help you decide what is best for you.