“On my first visit with Dr. Master, I had an unsatisfactory upper denture and badly misaligned lower teeth from previous dental work.
“Dr Master performed a fantastic lower teeth makeover, getting everything straightened out and made an aligned upper denture which made a dramatic improvement in appearance and comfort. He did an excellent job and I am very pleased with the results.”
James
Different Types of Dentures
Dr. Master has a post-graduate specialty in Prosthodontics. A prosthodontist designs, constructs and fits crowns, bridges and complete and partial dentures to replace missing teeth and restore oral structures.
By Dr. Jiten Master, DDS, MS
Dentures, or "plates" as they are sometimes called, are sometimes the only option one has to replace missing teeth. Full, or complete, dentures can be made to replace all the teeth. Partial dentures may be made to replace a few or several teeth. Made correctly, dentures are comfortable and look esthetically pleasing.
We can make dentures that are fixed in your mouth (but detachable by your dentist): a fixed-detachable denture. They are a great solution when all or most of your teeth need to be replaced.
Additionally we make overdentures. These are dentures which use some of your own roots that can be saved to anchor your dentures in place and deter bone loss.
Full Dentures
Should you have your teeth taken out and have dentures?
Dental research shows that a pair of upper and lower full dentures are less than 1/5 as good as healthy natural teeth at chewing food. But, many people have trouble with their teeth. They may cause pain, they may be loose and unsightly, or you may just be afraid of getting dental treatment done and so, it seems that the best solution is to just remove the teeth and "be done with them". For some, there is no option but to remove all the teeth due to either extensive tooth decay, gum disease (periodontal disease) or trauma.
At Northwood Dental we understand that for those whose only option for tooth replacement is a full denture, it is of utmost importance that care be taken to ensure the most accurate fit possible, that the teeth chosen for your denture are appropriate in terms of shape, color and size so as to look natural, and that the bite (the way your teeth come together and function) is made in such a way that you can eat comfortably. When all these things are accomplished, you can have dentures that look natural and feel comfortable.
This patient received full dentures.
Removable Partial Dentures
When you are missing several teeth, one of the most efficient and economical ways of replacing the missing teeth is with a removable partial denture. There are a couple of different types of removable partial denture:
- Using conventional wire clasps to hold it in place
- Using special attachments to hold it in place
This patient has upper and lower partial dentures, but there are no wires involved.
While the conventional wire clasps do a fair job of keeping the denture in place, if too tight they will place a lot of stress on the tooth causing it to become loose. And, if the wires are too loose the denture will move during function. Sometimes, the wires are visible when smiling.
Partial dentures made with special attachments can provide excellent stability, holding the denture firmly in place without placing undue stress on the teeth that support the denture. In addition, there are no wires that can be seen. There are different kinds of attachments that can be used. Here at Northwood Dental, we will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and discuss with you the most appropriate design for a partial denture that will look natural and feel comfortable.
Bone Loss
Unfortunately, for many who take the route of dentures, this is only the beginning of another set of problems.
Your natural teeth had roots to hold them in the bone, much like trees have roots to hold them in the ground. Dentures have no "roots" to hold them in place! In addition, when teeth are removed, the bone that was once there to hold the teeth now starts to disappear, leaving less and less support for the denture. This bone loss may be so severe that the jaw bone itself may fracture or the denture may sit directly on the nerves that once were embedded in the bone and cause pain. This bone dissolves away at different speeds in different people and there is no way to predict whether the bone loss will be rapid or slow until it actually happens.
The pictures below show how flat or loose the gums can become once teeth are gone:
Flabby gums Flat gums
As the bone dissolves away, the dentures have less support and so they start to move while you eat or even while you talk. This causes mouth sores or ulcers. The face starts to change in appearance as the lips lose support and the cheeks "fall in". Since there are no roots to hold the dentures in place, you must rely on the fit of the denture, the proper positioning of the teeth and the muscles of your mouth to help keep the dentures in place.
How we deter bone loss
The most valuable thing you have in your mouth, once the teeth are gone, is the bone that remains to support the replacement teeth. There are two ways to keep the bone from dissolving away: one way is to remove the top part of the tooth above the gum line and keep the roots of the teeth, to help support the denture. A denture using this kind of support from roots is called an overdenture.
The other way is to have dental implants placed. Dental implants act like the roots of the teeth and help to preserve the bone that would otherwise be lost after tooth extraction. Dental implants can be used to provide different forms of tooth replacement.
Using Dental Implants to deter bone loss
Below are some of the ways in which dental implants can be used to help either keep dentures in place and/or provide support for the dentures so that the threat of bone loss causing future problems is reduced or, in some cases, even eliminated.
A Fixed Implant Denture - this is the most tried and trusted method of replacing all, or the majority, of the teeth in a jaw. This type of denture is not removed by the patient (although it can be removed by the dentist as needed). It is screwed in to the implants that support it. It works best in the lower jaw due to its design which must allow space under the appliance for cleaning. Dental research has shown that this type of appliance is very long lasting and has a high degree of acceptance from patients.
Reprinted from the book An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Dental Implants (c) 1993 by Scott D. Ganz, D.M.D.
A Removable Implant Denture - as can be seen in the pictures below, a bar is made and attached to dental implants. A denture is then made that fits over the bar. Inside the denture are nylon, or metal, "attachments" that attach onto the bar itself or a custom made part of the bar. This type of denture is removable, but has the added advantages of the dental implants preserving the bone and providing support and the extra hold that comes from the special attachments that are placed in the bar and the denture.
At Northwood Dental, we will carry out a detailed examination of your mouth and carefully discuss the pros and cons of each type of tooth replacement available to you, to ensure that you receive the appropriate restoration for your lifestyle and needs.
An Overdenture - an overdenture is a special type of removable denture. It can replace all of the teeth ("full" or "complete" overdenture), or some of the teeth ("partial" overdenture).
Why have an Overdenture and not a regular denture?
A tooth has two parts: the "crown" of the tooth, which is the part of the tooth that is visible above the gum line and the "root", which is below the gum line and holds the tooth in the bone. The bone that holds the root is very special bone made just to hold the tooth roots. Thus, when a tooth is extracted, the bone has no root to hold and so that bone starts to dissolve away. Unfortunately, this bone loss is inevitable if the roots are removed, and the speed and extent to which it happens varies from patient to patient.
This bone loss most severely affects patients who need removable dentures to replace the teeth they have missing or are about to lose. This is because the stability of a denture depends on how much bone is left to support a denture.
Can something be done to prevent the bone loss? Yes. If the roots of the teeth are kept, and only the top part of the tooth (the "crown") is removed, then the roots will preserve the bone and help to support the denture. The roots may be used not only to preserve the bone but, in addition, can have special "attachments" added to them so that they actually hold the denture in place:
The metal attachments are bonded to the The buttons in this denture fasten onto the
roots of the teeth.
gold studs on the left.
So if you need dentures and some of your teeth can be saved, overdentures are an excellent way to replace your missing teeth.
No-Charge Consultation with Dr. Master
Dr. Master will evaluate the state of your teeth and gums, taking any needed x-rays, and recommend which denture solution would work best for you. They will also discuss the pro's and cons of using dental implants instead of dentures, and whether you would be a candidate for dental implants. You will get an opportunity to get any questions you have answered.
You can take advantage of our No-Charge Consultation where we will evaluate the state of your teeth and gums, take any needed x-rays and recommend the denture solution that will work best for you.
We will listen to any concerns you have and you will be able to get any questions answered, including discussing the pros and cons of using dental implants instead of dentures, and whether you are a candidate for dental implants.
Dr. Master is a prosthodontist, which is a dentist who specializes in replacing missing, broken-down or decayed teeth with permanent teeth.
A British native, Dr. Master is a graduate of London Dental School and has a second dental degree from Ohio State University, where he also completed three years of specialty training in Prosthodontics and a Dental Implant Fellowship. He has very wide and extensive experience in dental restoration and other dentists frequently refer him denture and other patients.
To schedule your no-charge consultation, call 727-470-6844 or click here.
Northwood Dental - 3023 Eastland Boulevard, Suite 112, Building H, Clearwater, FL 33761 - Tel. 727-797-5161
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